From Me to You: Austerity to Profligacy in the Language of the Beatles

Abstract

Imagine that it is 1962, you are in the Cavern, the Beatles are playing and you are hearing — for the first time — ‘Love Me Do’. The quality of the group’s PA system means that the only words you are sure you understand are those in the title. But that doesn’t matter; the song has an overall effect on you as a performance, in which lyrical detail is not important. Later that year, you buy the single and soon you can sing all the words along with the group. But you don’t give the words any close, reflective consideration, because it’s not that kind of song. Jump now to 1967, where you and your friends have been listening to ‘A Day In The Life’. Like everyone else, you have only heard it on disc, because the song is never performed live. Not only are the words clearer, they are also printed out for you to follow on the record cover. As the song finishes, someone says, ‘What do you think it’s about?’and everyone has an opinion.