Comments on: Hello, Goodbye

By: Teddy Boy

Teddy Boy — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 11:56:03 +0000

Once again, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your comments and debate about “Hello Goodbye” as the song of the day.
My observations will be brief. Like the 45 rpm release of “Eleanor Rigby” (side A) and “Yellow Submarine” (side B), the Beatles (and record company) on occasion, would release a more serious song with a lighter one. I believe that “Hello Goodbye” and “I Am the Walrus” reflect this juxtaposition perfectly. I think that both songs were intended to be seen as an example or snippet of the creative diversity of the Beatles at that point in time. Of course, this would be totally demoralizing to other recording artists of the time because no one could top the Beatles for writing such incredible music.
Another thing, this song was the first single released after the death of Brian Epstein. I truly believe that Paul’s lyrics are a direct reaction to the loss of their manager who tried to tightly control them as a group. The negative side of the antonym, in my opinion, reflects Brian’s attempts whereas the positive side reflects their newfound freedom with Brian’s passing.
These are just my thoughts. No one mentioned Brian Epstein’s passing so I thought I’d put my two cents in.

By: MikeP

MikeP — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 01:29:03 +0000

It’s hilarious that John would say about this song : “three minutes of contradictions and meaningless juxtapositions”, while advocating his song of meaningless, chanted phrases and disjointed words.
Having said that, I never thought much of this song and rarely listen to it. But, I think the same of “Walrus” as a song. That’s another example of the recording / arrangement being far better than the melody and lyrics.

By: Mr. Kite

Mr. Kite — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 20:02:09 +0000

This song is an absolute throwaway, one of the few by Paul.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 02:55:10 +0000

Me and My Monkey is not the name of the song, and to call it lackluster is laughable. To call Dear Prudence lackluster with weak lyrics is even more laughable.

By: Laurence Blaho

Laurence Blaho — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 20:13:45 +0000

dear marcos i agree Ringos drumming drives that song just saw him and the All stars great showman

By: rog

rog — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 23:06:42 +0000

Ego much?

By: Saltie

Saltie — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 07:16:55 +0000

I am the Walrus may be the better of the two, but that doesn’t make it deep and meaningful. A clever song, full of playground references. Personally I’m not so keen on Paul’s more whimsical songs, but mainly because they detract from the brilliance of his other songs. A simple song (as Paul’s sometimes appear on the surface) can be just as hard to write or play, if not more so, than a ‘complex’ one. Paul’s Beatles output is not shallow, and to say it is commercial is pointless (you could say the same of the great classical composers for that matter). Such dated attitudes belong back in the 1970s.

By: Saltie

Saltie — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 06:48:15 +0000

I am the Walrus may well be the better of the two but that doesn’t it deep and meaningful. A
clever song, full of playground references. And to write a simple song (as many of Paul’s seem on the surface) can be just as hard to write or play as a ‘complex’ one. Personally I’m not so keen on Paul’s more whimsical songs, but mainly because they detract from the brilliance of his other songs. Paul’s Beatles output was not shallow, and to call his music ‘commercial’ is pointless (one could accuse the great classical music composers of the same thing for that matter). Such dated opinions disappeared in the 1980s.

By: Saltie

Saltie — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 11:49:16 +0000

Personally I’m not so keen on Hello Goodbye or any of Paul’s more whimsical songs, mainly because they detract from the brilliance of his other songs. Unfortunately, as well, they appear to provide an opportunity for his detractors to take cheap pot shots at his songwriting. I am the Walrus may well be the better of the two, a clever song full of playground references, but deep and meaningful it is not. Paul is not shallow and too often the subtlety of his songs is mistaken for simplicity. Whatever the case, simple songs can be just as difficult to write, if not more so, than supposedly ‘complex’ songs. And shouldn’t lyrics fit the mood and style of the music for a song to work as a whole? For it to be a case of whether John is better than Paul or vice versa seems pointless. Accusations of Paul’s songs being more mainstream or “commercial” are old hat and unnecessarily dismissive. After all, many of the great classical composers were commissioned to write pieces for the royal courts of Europe, and ordinary people of the day thronged to hear live performances of their works.

By: Slipper of the Yard

Slipper of the Yard — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 19:45:39 +0000

I was the A side because it was a hit single all over the world, getting to Number one for Christmas and staying there for 7 weeks. What is it you don’t understand about music marketing?

By: Slipper of the Yard

Slipper of the Yard — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 19:38:03 +0000

You are correct. George Martin done a fantastic job on Walrus.

By: Slipper of the Yard

Slipper of the Yard — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 19:32:59 +0000

Let’em In is anything but nonsense, it’s a song of praise for members of his family and people Paul has admired and respected over the years. People who have made a positive impact on the world like Martin Luther King, The Everly Brothers . Hardly nonsense.

By: PC

PC — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 01:44:29 +0000

The best part of the song was always the hula dancers…

By: Hugh Jones

Hugh Jones — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 01:49:04 +0000

“Why-why-why-why-why-why [lots of echo, sound pretty trippy] DO YOU SAAAAAY GOODBYE, GOODBYE? Ohhh! Oh no!!!! YOU say Goodbye, and I [little bass guitar trill] say hello”

Backing vocals: “Hello Goodbye Hello Goodbye, Hello Goodbye, Hello Goodbye”. (Ascending scale on lead guitar).

It’s a GREAT track! 🙂

By: Hugh Jones

Hugh Jones — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 01:46:38 +0000

Nah. “You say WHY and I say I DON’T KNOW” sounds much better. You need to have something that’s a break from the main pattern.

By: Hugh Jones

Hugh Jones — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 01:45:40 +0000

I always thought this song was on Pepper. One day I was looking at my Pepper CD thinking “Where the hell is Hello Goodbye?” I think there’s a video for it and they’re in their Pepper costumes.

By: Teddy Salad

Teddy Salad — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 17:18:13 +0000

Interesting that Paul said he was advocating the more positive side of the duality, yet in the very first line he takes the negative side. And, considering context, “go, go, go” could be negative as well.

By: Teddy Salad

Teddy Salad — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 17:00:44 +0000

I’ve always heard that same thing on the original, but when he performs it live he always very clearly sings the “Heba” lyrics.

By: Teddy Salad

Teddy Salad — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 16:55:34 +0000

Read his comment again. He didn’t say Walrus is not a great song. He said it has nonsense lyrics, which is true.

By: dgw28

dgw28 — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 23:37:43 +0000

Always thought it a pity they didn’t work it into MMT somewhere. Riding off in the bus singing ‘Hello, Goodbye’, kind of fits.