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What real life locations are mentioned in songs, band names or album titles?

Real Places Mentioned in Songs, The Beatles

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The Beatles', "A Day In The Life"
The Lyrics:
I saw a film today, oh boy The English Army had just the won the war A crowd of people turned away But I just had to look Having read the book I'd love to turn you on
I read the news today, oh boy Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire And though the holes were rather small They had to count them all Now, they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall I'd love to turn you on
Why:
"A Day In The Life" is probably one of the most recognizable songs that does not contain the title of the song in the lyrics of the song, and also gaining it's status while never being released as a single (probably second in that category after Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven"; gaining it's status via FM radio stations of the 1960's willingness to play full albums). "A Day In The Life" is from the Beatles' smash and historic 1967 album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". The song appears at the end of the second side of the album (on the later CD near the end of the CD). At 7:07 it shares with "Within You And Without You" (written and mainly performed by George Harrison) being the longest song on the album. In the second verse, John Lennon sings about England (via the English Army reference). John Lennon had appeared, in 1967, in the film "How I Won The War" as an enlisted officer during World War II named Gripweed, which was a solo project Lennon did outside of the Beatles (his first time acting in a role playing other than himself). In the fourth verse he mentions the real city of Blackburn, Lancashire. Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county in northern England not to far away from Liverpool -- on the coast. The 4000 holes mention is about the unofficial fanzine "4000 holes" for the Blackburn Rovers Football (in England, soccer) Club. Also in the fourth verse is the shoutout to the real landmark, the Albert Hall. The Albert Hall is located in the Knightsbridge area of the city of Westminster which is now part of the city of London, England. Queen Victoria had dedicated Albert Hall to her late husband, Prince Albert. Albert Hall is a place that holds music concerts, sporting, school, community and charity events, award ceremonies and lavish banquets.
Submitted by: Peter
The Beatles', "A Day in the Life"
The Lyrics:
...."4000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire...."
Why:
Peter made the right connection, but said that this line in the song was derived from the name of unofficial fanzine for Blackburn Rovers - wrong! It's the other way around. The fanzine adopted its name some 15+ years later from the lyric. The line with "4000 [pot-]holes" in the song was a disparaging, but accurate, observation of the condition of the town's roads.
Submitted by: Alan
The Beatles', "A Day in the Life"
The Lyrics:
...."4000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire...."
Why:
Peter made the right connection, but said that this line in the song was derived from the name of unofficial fanzine for Blackburn Rovers - wrong! It's the other way around. The fanzine adopted its name some 15+ years later from the lyric.
Submitted by: Alan
The Beatles', "Back In The U.S.S.R."
The Lyrics:
Oh the Ukraine girls really knock me out.
They leave the West behind.
And Moscow girls really sing and shout.
And Georgia's, Georgia's always, always on my mi-mi-mi-mi-mind.
Why:
Since the song's release, the U.S.S.R. no longer exists, the Ukraine and the formerly Soviet Georgia are now countries, and Moscow is now the capital of Russia.
Submitted by: Beegles
The Beatles', "Bluejay Way"
The Lyrics:
"There's a fog upon L.A." Is the first line of the song.
Why:
L.A. Is a place name (i.e. Los,Angeles)
Submitted by: Wayne
The Beatles', "Get Back"
The Lyrics:
Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona for some California grass.
Why:
The U.S. city of Tucson, Arizona and the state of California
Submitted by: Rock Maninoff
The Beatles', "Get Back"
The Lyrics:
Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it wouldn't last.
Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
For some California grass.
Why:
So, goes the opening verse of the Beatles' 1969 smash hit #1 song, "Get Back". "Get Back" was from the "Abbey Road" album. The opening verse mentions both the city of Tucson, Arizona and the state California. And for the record Paul McCartney swears the "California grass" Jojo left his home in Tucson for wasn't marijuana (yeah, right Sir Paul? -:))
Submitted by: Peter
The Beatles', "I Am The Walrus"
The Lyrics:
Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun If the sun don't shine you get you're tan from standing in the English rain
Semolina Pilchard climbing up the Eiffel tower
Why:
"I Am The Walrus" was a top ten worldwide hit from the Fab Four from the "Magical Mystery Tour" lp that was released in December 1967. The song was featured in the movie of the same name and it added to some fan more fodder to the "Is Paul dead?" mystery. But the writer and main performer of the tune, John Lennon was just making social commentary in the tune. In the fourth verse is a commentary about England (via English) gardens and the pollution in the country, and even a mention about the Sun and what you can expect about waiting to get the dirty tan from the English rain. The sixth verse opens with a line about someone named Semolina Pilchard climbing the Eiffel tower which is a real landmark in Paris, France.
Submitted by: Peter
The Beatles', "Penny Lane"
The Lyrics:
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes,
there beneath the blue suburban skies I sit and meanwhile back
Why:
Penny Lane is an actual street name in Liverpool, England, the hometown of the Fab Four.
Submitted by: Peter
The Beatles', "Strawberry Fields Forever"
The Lyrics:
Strawberry Fields Forever
Why:
Strawberry Field was a Salvation Army children's home in Woolton, a suburb of Liverpool, England. Lennon grew up near the home and used to play in the wooded area behind the building with his childhood friends.
Submitted by: Joe Bloggs
The Beatles', "The Ballad of John and Yoko"
The Lyrics:
Standing in the dock of Southampton, trying to get to Holland or France... Finally made the plane into Paris, honeymooning down by the Seine...you can get married in Gibraltar near Spain...Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton...Made a lightning trip to Vienna...Caught the early plane back to London...
Why:
The Ballad of John and Yoko has the most references to places of any Beatle tune, explicitly mentioning 5 citys, 3 countries and Gibraltar, plus the river Seine. Paul is doing well with Back in the USSR and Get Back, but John picks the longer straw with this one.
Submitted by: Olav Gunnar Ballo
The Beatles', "When I'm Sixty Four"
The Lyrics:
Every summer we can rent a cottage, In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear We shall scrimp and save Grandchildren on your knee Vera, Chuck and Dave
Why:
"When I'm Sixty Four" is another track from the hugely successful and historical lp, by the Fab Four, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". "When I'm Sixty Four" was written when the life expectancy, for humans, was not yet as high as it has become today. The age of 64, back in the late 1960's (this song was written and released on the lp in 1967) would be a reasonable and was expected, and indeed law in many places around the world for people to retire. In the fifth verse of "When I'm Sixty Four", Paul McCartney (the writer and lead singer of the song; although the song was printed as written by Lennon-McCartney like most Beatles tunes) gives a shoutout to the real place of the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight is a popular holiday and tourist resort island and county off the southern coast of England.
Submitted by: Peter

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