Question: What are the major "Paul is dead" musical clues in Beatles songs?
(NOTE: Since all accounts of the PID story have Paul dying no earlier than fall of 1966, musical clues will be limited here to albums that came out after Paul's supposed demise -- although that inconsistency hasn't stopped fans from "finding" PID "clues" as far back as 1964's A Hard Day's Night album. Since it's possible for creative minds to read anything into anything, this site focuses on the main clues that are repeated most often by PID believers and non-believers. Clues which are based on clearly erroneous information are listed in italics.)
Answer:
This song details the arrival of William Campbell; the Beatles are pretending to be another band in order to reveal the hoax.
With A Little Help From My Friends
The introduction announces "Billy Shears," a pun on words which means "Billy's here," referring to the arrival of William Campbell.
She's Leaving Home
The opening line "Wednesday morning at five o'clock" indicates the time of Paul's crash.
Lovely Rita
Details Paul catching a glimpse of Rita the meter maid, which led to the crash.
Good Morning, Good Morning
The phrases "nothing to do to save his life," "and you're on your own you're in the street," "people running around it's 5 o'clock," and "watching the skirts you start to flirt, now you're in gear" are all details of the crash. Notice the time of the crash matches that in "She's Leaving Home."
A Day In The Life
The person John wrote about in these famous lines is reported to be Tara Browne, heir to the Guinness fortune. But PIDers see these lyrics as a motherlode of crash details, including "He blew his mind out in a car. He didn't notice that the lights had changed. A crowd of people stood and stared. They'd seen his face before..."
The fool is apparently Campbell, who is doomed to be ignored for "the sound he appears to make." Or the fool is Paul, who is dead and buried, which is why he lies "perfectly still."
I Am The Walrus
This song features a sampled recording of a BBC production of Shakespeare's King Lear. The sampled passage goes like this:
"Here's another clue for you all, the Walrus was Paul." The Walrus, in India, is a symbol of death. (Not true.) A "glass onion" is an English term for a see-thru coffin. (Also not true.)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
George is singing "Paul, Paul, Paul" at the end of the song. (Actually, he's just moaning.)
I'm So Tired
The gibberish at the end, when played backwards, becomes "Paul is dead, man, miss him, miss him."
Don't Pass Me By
Ringo sings "You were in a car crash / And you lost your hair." This is what happened to Paul.
Revolution #9
The repeated phrase "Number nine," when played backwards, becomes "turn me on, dead man." There's also a lot of recorded conversation in this music-free track, much of which has been taken by listeners as clues to Paul's crash and death: "his voice was low and his eyes were high and his eyes were closed" and "his legs were drawn, his hands were tied, his feet were bent and his head was on fire and his glasses were insane. This was the end of his audience," and "My wings are broken and so is my hair. I'm not in the mood for wearing clothing." You can also hear the crash, a fire, sirens, and Paul screaming "Get me out."
Written by George in reference to the band's publishing company, Northern Songs, this song contains several lyrics that reference Paul's replacement, such as "When you're listening late at night / You may think the band is not quite right," and "You may think the band's a little dark and out of key," before announcing "There's nobody there."
Hey Bulldog
Although this is John's song, both John and Paul sing lead vocals, which makes the line "You think you know me, but you haven't got a clue" suspect to PID enthusiasts.
"One and one and one is three" refers to the three remaining Beatles.
The phrase "Let It Be," played backwards, becomes "He is dead."
The line "Wednesday morning papers didn't come" refers to <i>an English newspaper recalling Wednesday's paper which reported Paul's crash</i> (which happened, according to the legend, on a Tuesday). (There's no evidence of any papers being recalled on the day in question.)
Revolution
John sings "Paul died, Paul died" at the end. (He's actually singing "All right," a continuation of the phrase used in the chorus.)
You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
After the cuckoo clock chimes, a phone rings, and a number is recited. Calling this number will present you with a recorded announcement containing more clues.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandThis song details the arrival of William Campbell; the Beatles are pretending to be another band in order to reveal the hoax.
With A Little Help From My Friends
The introduction announces "Billy Shears," a pun on words which means "Billy's here," referring to the arrival of William Campbell.
She's Leaving Home
The opening line "Wednesday morning at five o'clock" indicates the time of Paul's crash.
Lovely Rita
Details Paul catching a glimpse of Rita the meter maid, which led to the crash.
Good Morning, Good Morning
The phrases "nothing to do to save his life," "and you're on your own you're in the street," "people running around it's 5 o'clock," and "watching the skirts you start to flirt, now you're in gear" are all details of the crash. Notice the time of the crash matches that in "She's Leaving Home."
A Day In The Life
The person John wrote about in these famous lines is reported to be Tara Browne, heir to the Guinness fortune. But PIDers see these lyrics as a motherlode of crash details, including "He blew his mind out in a car. He didn't notice that the lights had changed. A crowd of people stood and stared. They'd seen his face before..."
Magical Mystery Tour
Fool On The HillThe fool is apparently Campbell, who is doomed to be ignored for "the sound he appears to make." Or the fool is Paul, who is dead and buried, which is why he lies "perfectly still."
I Am The Walrus
This song features a sampled recording of a BBC production of Shakespeare's King Lear. The sampled passage goes like this:
Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse.
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body
And give the letters which you find'st about me
To Edmund, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out
Upon the English party. O, untimely death!
Death!
I know thee well: a serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
What, is he dead?
Sit you down, father. Rest you.
The chanting at the end, when played backwards, reveals the chanted phrase "Paul is dead! Ha ha!"
Strawberry Fields Forever
At the end of the track, when it fades back in, John is heard saying "I buried Paul." (John actually says "cranberry sauce," as proven on the Anthology outtakes.
Hello Goodbye
"You say goodbye, I say hello" is William Campbell's mention of his arrival and Paul's departure.
All You Need Is Love
At the end of the track, John sings, "Yes he's dead," and "We loved you, yeah, yeah, yeah..." (Examination of the audio proves that John is singing "Yesterday" and that Paul joins him in singing "She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah / She'd love to, yeah, yeah, yeah...")
The Beatles (known as "The White Album")
Glass Onion"Here's another clue for you all, the Walrus was Paul." The Walrus, in India, is a symbol of death. (Not true.) A "glass onion" is an English term for a see-thru coffin. (Also not true.)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
George is singing "Paul, Paul, Paul" at the end of the song. (Actually, he's just moaning.)
I'm So Tired
The gibberish at the end, when played backwards, becomes "Paul is dead, man, miss him, miss him."
Don't Pass Me By
Ringo sings "You were in a car crash / And you lost your hair." This is what happened to Paul.
Revolution #9
The repeated phrase "Number nine," when played backwards, becomes "turn me on, dead man." There's also a lot of recorded conversation in this music-free track, much of which has been taken by listeners as clues to Paul's crash and death: "his voice was low and his eyes were high and his eyes were closed" and "his legs were drawn, his hands were tied, his feet were bent and his head was on fire and his glasses were insane. This was the end of his audience," and "My wings are broken and so is my hair. I'm not in the mood for wearing clothing." You can also hear the crash, a fire, sirens, and Paul screaming "Get me out."
Yellow Submarine
Only A Northern SongWritten by George in reference to the band's publishing company, Northern Songs, this song contains several lyrics that reference Paul's replacement, such as "When you're listening late at night / You may think the band is not quite right," and "You may think the band's a little dark and out of key," before announcing "There's nobody there."
Hey Bulldog
Although this is John's song, both John and Paul sing lead vocals, which makes the line "You think you know me, but you haven't got a clue" suspect to PID enthusiasts.
Abbey Road
Come Together"One and one and one is three" refers to the three remaining Beatles.
Let It Be
Let It BeThe phrase "Let It Be," played backwards, becomes "He is dead."
Singles
Lady MadonnaThe line "Wednesday morning papers didn't come" refers to <i>an English newspaper recalling Wednesday's paper which reported Paul's crash</i> (which happened, according to the legend, on a Tuesday). (There's no evidence of any papers being recalled on the day in question.)
Revolution
John sings "Paul died, Paul died" at the end. (He's actually singing "All right," a continuation of the phrase used in the chorus.)
You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
After the cuckoo clock chimes, a phone rings, and a number is recited. Calling this number will present you with a recorded announcement containing more clues.
