The Beatles – Paperback Writer

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  Song Meaning:This song is so cool! Its about a man who wants to be a perback writer so he wrote a novel about a man who has a son that is working as a mailman but wants to be a paperback writer.
  In other words, its about a man who wants to be a peperback writer and he wrote a novel about a man who wants to be a paperback writer. The Beatles are so COOL!

  Flag PeaceLoveHazmaton February 22, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:"Based on a novel by a man named Lear" I think it could be about LSD, based on the fact that Timmothy LEARy is known as the father of LSD, just a thought

  Flag LedZep94on November 06, 2010   Link

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    This is a great song. One of The Beatles Best! I love the lyrics because if you listen he is saying - He wrote a book about a man named Lear, who's son is a mailman but wants to be a paperback writer. In other words its about a man who wants to be a paperback writer and he wrote a book about a man who has a son who wants to be a paperback writer. The Beatles are so Cool.

    Flag PeaceLoveHazmaton February 22, 2012  
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  Song Meaning:This song is actually about a French man that Paul and John met out on the streets. They were looking for inspiration for a song that wasn't about love, and could have a deeper, or more simplistic meaning about, well... something else.
  The man in the song was French, and he spoke in broken English and had proclaimed that he wanted to be a "Paperback Writer." He said the book was "based on a novel by a man named lire." Based on, in French ("fondé sur") also can mean "written by." When corrected to an English translation, its actual meaning is "I am the man who made this book, please read it." Notice, "lire" (not lear or leer) is the verb tense of "read" in French. This explains why he says he wants to be a "Paperback Writer," because in actual translation, he wanted to be a "published author." In order to further the French reference, the backing lyrics are "Frère Jacques." You may better understand them as "Freeeeeh-Raaaaaaah -- Shaaaaah-Gueeeeez."
  
  In basic, this song is about a beggar on the street who wanted to publish a story, yet could not due to his economic position.
  Song Meaning: It's about the starving artists who couldn't get their name out there. And that was deep enough for The Beatles.

  Flag Kalypsoon February 13, 2010   Link

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  Song Meaning:"It's based on a novel by a man named Lear"
  
  Edward Lear was an actual author (also a painter), and while he didn't write novels, he wrote nonsense poems and such, and Lennon liked his writing.

  Flag KaabiStaron November 15, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:this song is about someone who wants a break as a paperback writer.
  but i don't think it's just about the one man in the song who wants to be an author. it's about anyone who wants to be something, anything. it's about anyone with a dream. =)
  
  wow, that sounds like a hallmark card.

  Flag Seezleon July 31, 2009   Link

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  Memory:Douglas Adams had this song played at his funeral. I always think of him and Kurt Vonnegut when I hear this song. They were the true kings of paperback fiction.

  Flag Linuson January 28, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:Well, cant disagree with you about taste, or opinions generally. But I will disagree about this song, so here's my opinion: its one of the Beates' best ever, easily in their top 10. Great guitar work, great harmonies, and the lyrics stand out as one of the first popular rock songs that had nothing to do with love or the opposite sex...revolutionary at the time. Frankly, I think most of the people who dislike this song are Paul-dissers. And I'm not a John-disser: his song Rain, the B side of this one, is also incredibly great, in the Beatles' top 10 IMO.

  Flag kevwizon October 08, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:I agree with efleming, but I do have to say, out of all the songs though, how on Earth could this be viewed as the worst by anybody!? Piggies? You know my name look up the number? Whats the new Mary Jane? - joke songs with no glimpse of power or harmony found in paperback writer. I thin when they said its their weorst song, they only maybe own a greatest hits album.

  Flag Jimmy Heavenon July 03, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:Logically, how can you debate a personal opinion? I like Division Bell better than Dark Side. I like Coke better than Pepsi. Is it really that big of bone of contention with you that I don't prefer one thing over another?
  
  Opinions are like assholes. If you offer yours up too often, someone is likely to pound away at you.

  Flag eflemingon June 13, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:Least favorite Beatles song?? Good grief! Let me guess, then you must love Michael Bolton probably? =)

  Flag kevwizon May 10, 2008   Link

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