Love: A Journey with The Beatles
by Blake Baxter
In spring 2009, when I was an 18-year-old senior in high school, I put together a short piece for a creative writing assignment using only Beatles song titles (with a couple of lyrics here and there, for flow). The story follows a young man’s love life, tracking it from a passionate romance to a tumultuous break-up to some coping and strange dreams in the aftermath and, ultimately, to finding the love of his life.
Once every few years, I think to revisit it and I always find it painfully earnest but charming. I cringe a little bit, not so much because of the words I strung together in themselves, but because I remember who I was and where I was in my life when I wrote them. I remember how I felt and what I believed, and how those things evolved with life experiences. Back then, I thought I had it all figured out, only to see my convictions challenged and changed many times over the next 12 years. To others, it might be a little goofy and incoherent, but to me, it’s a window to a younger version of myself, an uplifting message written in the language of my lifelong favorite band.
For that reason, it remains one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. In light of the recent release of Get Back, Peter Jackson’s extraordinary documentary on The Beatles in 1969, I’ve decided to post it online for the first time.
First Stage: Attraction
Good day sunshine. Do you want to know a secret? I want to tell you. I wanna be your man. I want to hold your hand. Got to get you into my life. I’m happy just to dance with you. All I’ve got to do is act naturally. I don’t want to spoil the party. You really got a hold on me. I want you. Please please me. I’ll get you. I will.
Second Stage: Dissatisfaction
Honey don’t. Don’t bother me. Don’t pass me by. Don’t let me down. Baby you’re a rich man. Money. You never give me any money. Can’t buy me love. Why don’t we do it in the road when I get home? No reply? Girl. Think for yourself. Tell me why. Tell me what you see. We can work it out? Wait. I’m looking through you. Every little thing. It won’t be long. Things we said today. It’s all too much. Fixing a hole. I should have known better. Misery. I’m down. I’m a loser. Hello, goodbye!
Third Stage: The Aftermath/ The Dreams
It’s getting better. With a little help from my friends, Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on. Everybody’s trying to be my baby. Eleanor Rigby. Julia, Lady Madonna, Lovely Rita, Maggie Mae, Dear Prudence, Polythene Pam, Martha My Dear, Michelle, Her Majesty, Long Tall Sally, Anna, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, and Sexy Sadie. I’m so tired. Goodnight. I’m only sleeping…
Golden Slumbers. Lucy in the sky with diamonds. Back in the USSR. Rain. Revolution! Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Rocky Raccoon. Taxman. The Ballad of John and Yoko. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill. Glass Onion. Strawberry Fields Forever. Old Brown Shoe. Yellow Submarine. Doctor Robert. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Mean Mr. Mustard. He’s a real nowhere man. Matchbox. Rock and Roll Music. I am the Walrus. Mr. Moonlight. The Sun King. Mother Nature’s son. Rollover Beethoven. Get Back!
Fourth Stage: Love
Good morning, good morning. Here comes the sun. I’ll follow the sun. I’ve just seen a face. She’s a woman. I saw her standing there on Penny Lane. I’ve got a feeling. Happiness is a warm gun, for I have got another girl.
She’s leaving home. She came in through the bathroom window. She said, she said she loves you. And I love her. Eight days a week. What goes on is a magical mystery tour. Love me do. Love you to. Love from me to you. Ask me why. Any time at all. Oh darling, baby it’s you. You’re a taste of honey. Honey Pie. Wild Honey Pie. Hold me tight. I need you.
Life is a long and winding road, an octopus’s garden: Dig it. A day in the life or a hard day’s night, you can run for your life or let it be and come together. All together now. You’ve got to hide your love away? It’s only love, and in my life, I love you more because across the universe, here, there and everywhere, all you need is love.
The End.
