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Yellow Submarine
Song

Yellow Submarine

The Beatles
Album:
Revolver

Song meaning of Yellow Submarine by The Beatles, and what it is about


Numerous social and political interpretations of the song were made. During anti-Vietnam War protests, the counterculture seized it as a statement against authority, and it was also used in strike action and other types of protest. Some listeners perceived the song as a sign of escape or as a code for narcotics, specifically the barbiturate Nembutal, which was marketed in yellow capsules. Children's song "Yellow Submarine" is still a favourite, and Starr usually performs it when he tours with the All Starr Band.


Regarding "Yellow Submarine," Ringo Starr said to an NME reporter in May 1966 in response to a question concerning his vocal role on the Beatles' upcoming album: "John and Paul have written a song which they think is for me but if I mess it up then we might have to find another country-and-western song off somebody else's LP." The melody of the song was developed by fusing two different compositions that McCartney and Lennon had been working on independently, they said in a joint interview that was recorded for use on the evening of the Ivor Novello Awards in March 1967.


Recalling that McCartney introduced the chorus ("the submarine... the chorus bit"), Lennon proposed fusing it with a melody he had already composed for the verses.


In 1966, McCartney said, "It's a happy place, that's all." Our goal was to write a song for kids. Sky of blue and sea of green' is a line that Scottish vocalist Donovan contributed. Regarding who wrote the song, Lennon said the following in 1972: "Both of us. Paul penned the appealing chorus. I contributed to the blunderbuss section.


Song lyrics of Yellow Submarine by The Beatles


In the town where I was born

Lived a man who sailed to sea

And he told us of his life

In the land of submarines

 

So we sailed up to the sun

'Til we found the sea of green

And we lived beneath the waves

In our yellow submarine

 

We all live in a yellow submarine

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

We all live in a yellow submarine

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

 

And our friends are all aboard

Many more of them live next door

And the band begins to play

 

We all live in a yellow submarine

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

We all live in a yellow submarine

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

 

Full speed ahead, Mr. Boatswain, full speed ahead!

Full speed it is, Sergeant!

Cut the cable, drop the cable!

Aye-aye, sir, aye-aye!

Captain, Captain!

 

As we live a life of ease (a life of ease)

Everyone of us (everyone of us) has all we need (has all we need)

Sky of blue (sky of blue) and sea of green (sea of green)

In our yellow (in our yellow) submarine (submarine, ah-ha)

 

We all live in a yellow submarine

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

We all live in a yellow submarine

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

 

We all live in a yellow submarine

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

We all live in a yellow submarine

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

Release Date

1966

Songwriter/s

Lennon–McCartney

Producer/s

George Martin

Label/s

Parlophone (UK), Capitol (US)

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