The Beatles – Yer Blues

The Beatles – Yer Blues: A Tongue-in-Cheek Exploration of the Blues

The Beatles, a name synonymous with revolutionary rock music, defied expectations throughout their illustrious career. One such instance is their 1968 song, Yer Blues, a track nestled within the sprawling double album simply known as “The White Album.”

Yer Blues departs from the band’s usual sonic palette, offering a playful and satirical exploration of the burgeoning British blues scene of the late 1960s.

Background

Released in 1968, The White Album marked a period of introspection and experimentation for The Beatles. Following the global phenomenon of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the band sought a more personal and diverse sound.

Yer Blues embodies this spirit, showcasing a rawer and more stripped-down approach compared to their earlier psychedelic masterpieces.

While credited to Lennon-McCartney, the song’s authorship is primarily attributed to John Lennon. Drawing inspiration from his time in India studying transcendental meditation, Lennon penned Yer Blues as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the British fascination with blues music.

The song playfully mocks the perceived inauthenticity of these emulations, particularly the stereotypical blues wailing often employed by white British musicians.

The lyrics, imbued with Lennon’s signature wit, weave a tale of exaggerated misery. Lines like “I’m so lonely I want to die” and “Feeling tired, feeling weary” are delivered with a deadpan seriousness that accentuates the song’s satirical nature.

The blues, a genre traditionally associated with raw emotion and social commentary, is transformed into a vehicle for playful subversion.

Video

Lyrics

🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤

Yes, I’m lonely
Want to die
Yes, I’m lonely
Want to die
If I ain’t dead already
Oh, girl, you know the reason why

In the morning
Want to die
In the evening
Want to die
If I ain’t dead already
Oh, girl, you know the reason why

My mother was of the sky
My father was of the earth
But I am of the universe
And you know what it’s worth

I’m lonely
Want to die
If I ain’t dead already
Oh, girl, you know the reason why

The eagle picks my eye
The worm he licks my bone
I feel so suicidal
Just like Dylan’s Mr. Jones