BEATLES HAD ORWELL'S TAXMEN
To Orwell Today,
re: TAXMEN ROBBED ORWELL
Hi Jackie,
Your articles about Orwell and the taxman recalls to mind the Beatles song The Taxman. Do you remember it and Paperback Writer?
Regards,
Raymond Wills
Hi Raymond,
Yes, I know the song The Taxman. George Harrison wrote it based on the horrific tax problems the Beatles were experiencing. It's very apt for Orwell.
But Orwell is not what one would describe as a Paperback Writer, which has intimations of "low brow" and Orwell wrote "high brow", although he definitely wrote for the masses.
All the best,
Jackie Jura
PS - When Orwell's father died in 1939, Orwell took the pennies that had been placed on his eyes and threw them into the ocean, unlike the taxman who would have pocketed them.
TAXMAN
sung by George Harrison
from 1966 BEATLES album REVOLVER
(this one’s called: taxman)
(one, two, three, four, one two)
Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
’cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman
Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
’cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman
(if you drive a car car) I’ll tax the street
(if you try to sit sit) I’ll tax your seat
(if you get too cold cold) I’ll tax the heat
(if you take a walk walk) I’ll tax your feet
Taxman!
’cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman
Don’t ask me what I want it for
(ah, ah, mr. major)
If you don’t want to pay some more
(ah, ah, mr. [..])
’cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman
If I reduce it, can you sleep
(ah, ah, boris yeltzin)
Get back [..] v.a.t.
(ah, ah, mr. bush)
’cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman
If you get a hat hat, I’ll tax your hat
If you get a cat cat, I’ll tax your cat
If you wipe your feet feet, I’ll tax your mat
If you walk away away, I’ll tax your [..]
Now my advise to those who die
(taxman!)
Declare the pennies on your eyes
(taxman!)
’cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman.
And you’re working for no one, but me
(taxman!)
Yes, I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman
~ watch/listen THE TAXMAN, The Beatles ~
Jackie Jura
~ an independent researcher monitoring local, national and international events ~
email: orwelltoday@gmail.com
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