A subject of a Beatle song dies

[Eye See You]

Monday, July 18, 2005

The Taxman dies.
Edward Heath 89 years old, the former Right wing prime Minister of Great Britain died yesterday. A nondescript British prime minister will only will be remembered in history for being a subject of a George Harrison song. (See lyrics below). As being a Yank, the only albums I heard was the Capitol record releases. On the American release, “Revolver” the first cut was: Taxman. A lot of Beatle aficionados say that Revolver was a companion piece to Rubber Soul. In my opinion, “Revolver” was the warning shot prior to Sergeant Pepper. The LP had elements of psychedelic and protest. Taxman was the first protest song the lads did. The irony here is it was written by the so-called, “quiet Beatle”. However, George Harrison wrote a loud song. Well…it was considered loud back then. The Rickenbacker guitar was the sound of 1966. It had that ringing quality to it and had this sustain that was rich. A year later, the Fender guitar would be popular.
Taxman had that Rickenbacker sound. Harrison played an Indian scale on his guitar during the instrumental section of the song. Which made the song innovative.
Most rock stars in that era were being Tax to death by England George just wrote about it. So, Mister Heath! You will live forever not in a history book, but in a Beatle song!

Taxman
(Harrison/Lennon)

One, two, three, four...
Hrmm!
One, two, (one, two, three, four!)

Let me tell you how it will be;
There's one for you, nineteen for me.
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

(if you drive a car, car;) - I’ll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I’ll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I’ll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet.

Taxman!

'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Don't ask me what I want it for, (ah-ah, mister Wilson)
If you don't want to pay some more. (ah-ah, mister heath)
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Now my advice for those who die, (taxman)
Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman)
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

And you're working for no one but me.

Taxman!


My political group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Enronscam/

[Maple]

1. PM Heath will be remembered

for a great many things.

This is not among them.

[karynnj]

3. In fairness, it WAS the first thing I thought of when I saw the news

I'm not proud of this as I'm a fairly serious person. But I am an American who was 13 at the time of the US British invasion - I was already fascinated by England and its history and only became more so.

For people who are English, they will of course remember him from what he did as PM, but for a lot of us US babyboomers - well, this might be our first or possibly only frame of reference.

[Maple]

5. Well I was

17, and Canadian...and we have a much closer connection to the UK.

I was at the first Beatles concert in Canada too.

Don't even remember the song.

I do remember Heath and his many contributions to England.

Luckily history does not judge people based on a passing musical fad.

[Diogenes2]

8. Maybe you were at the 1st Beatles concert in Canada

but you don't sound like much of a fan. Never heard of "Taxman"? LOL
I'm sure there is a solemn, dignified thread somewhere to honor Mr. Heath, even though mainstream British politics in the 1960's is more of a "passing fad" than the Beatles will ever be, IMO, unless the Tory & Labour cats & kittens recorded some incredible culture-changing music no one has heard! :) Same for the U.S.-- I don't know who the Sec. of the Treasury was in the Eisenhower administration, but Chuck Berry and Little Richard are immortal! "Passing fad" indeed!

[Ravenseye]

4. Bringing the UK into the European Community in 1973 (nt)

[Captain Hilts]

2. Ted Heath hated Margaret Thatcher. Following winds, Ted. (nt)

[Zen Democrat]

6. FYI: Paul McCartney played lead guitar on Taxman though Harrison wrote it

Heard this on a radio special back on June 18th for Macca's birthday.

[Jade Fox]

7. Harrison, God love him, was notoriously cheap.....

Always tried to get out of paying, hid his money in his sock to claim he
had no cash on him, etc.

[Torgo Johnson]

9. A right-winger who actually taxed the rich

What a novel concept.

[hughee99]

10. And a progressive who was upset about it... n/t

[slackmaster]

12. Reminds me of the old saying conservatives have about themselves

A conservative is a liberal who has been mugged.

:D

[slackmaster]

11. I've had that song stuck in my head all day

:argh:

It was the first thing that came to mind when I heard Mr. Heath had died.