Beatles were pretty much the rage when we were in school. The Fab 4 had just about the most fanatic fan following worldwide of all the major bands of the time and Beatlemania seemed omnipresent no matter which part of the globe they toured. It was a phenomenon that was unique and hitherto unheard of both in terms of its intensity and geographic footprint. Every teenybopper even had their hair cut in the style of the Beatles and police had to be called in at many places to maintain a semblance of order as screaming girls (& boys) raised the decibel level and tore the barricades down. The Fab 4 loved and revelled in the frenzied adulation, of course, and churned out hits by the dozen in a career that lasted barely a decade. The influence has lasted much longer, though the effects are still apparent half a century later. The royalties from their songs continue to earn millions.

The song was written by Paul when he was still a teenager, and it is amazing a 14 year old schoolgoing boy was looking 50 years into the future. Although Paul wrote the song himself, in keeping with their understanding when they formed the band, the songwriting credits on the Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band are in the joint names of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. When they formed a band, that’s how most songs appear. Very few songs were written by Ringo or George.

I love the song which has a strong, very noticeable background with 3 clarinets (two regular ones and one bass clarinet) throughout. https://youtu.be/HCTunqv1Xt4

I wonder how a teenaged boy could conjure imagery of someone who would be 50 years older, think of what was happening in their lives and make it so relatable even today.

When I’m sixty four

When I get older losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine

If I’d been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four

You’ll be older too
And if you say the word
I could stay with you

I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride
Doing the garden, digging the weeds
Who could ask for more

Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four

Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight, if it’s not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck and Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away

Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four

Amazing song that was after the recording by the Beatles up, sped up at Paul’s specific request to make his voice sound younger.

When the YouTubers made the video, they posted pics of Paul with Linda, his wife who sadly passed away from a malignancy 3 years after it was diagnosed. https://youtu.be/OTgbWmaxu5s

The song was written more than a decade before the two ever met, Linda had come to England on a photo assignment. On May 15, 1967, while on a photo assignment in London, Linda Eastman (as she was known at the time) met Paul McCartney at the Bag O’Nails club, where Georgie Fame was performing. They met again four days later at the launch party for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at Brian Epstein‘s house. When her assignment was completed, she flew back to New York City. A very unglamorous beginning to a very durable marriage. They married a couple of years later and stayed together throughout. Paul’s later marriages weren’t anywhere close to this on the happiness index.

A lovely song that has given me much joy for more than half a century. When I did pop the question on the opportune day, I was gratified to get a response in the affirmative.

Stay healthy and happy folks and may you enjoy a wonderful weekend