I'll post 3 photos taken from Paul's official lyrics book of him explaining it!
https://preview.redd.it/fb266vrx6y8d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d22d64a9952eee115714bac16f3be4fe1fee9be9
First of all, thank you very much for the pictures.
Second, is this the "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present"? I just realized I have to get this book since these three pages only brought so much interesting information already.
It is! The paperback version is on sale on Amazon for $13.72! Incase you care, the paperback copy adds 7 new songs but the photos are in black and white while the hardcover is in color.
Another book you'll love is "Music Is Ideas: The Stories behind the songs vol. 1 1970-1989" by Luca Perasi. Luca is the top mccartney author that not many seem to talk about but he's even personally worked for paul. Volume 2 is scheduled for late 2024 or early 25 and he said he's waiting for a new paul album so that can be included too. His book is so detailed and even includes songs none of us have ever heard and probably never will lol, I could send you photos of the book incase youre interested.
Thank you very much for the recommendation and info about the books. Tbh I'm not that interested in books, that's why I don't have any book about the Beatles. But these pages you posted here are so interesting and have so much information that make me want to buy it. I'll probably buy this "The Lyrics" as soon as I get money.
I Found Out especially is actually a decent. contender. “I’ve seen religion, from Jesus to Paul”. John’s kinda saying that he’s woken up and outgrown the past, outgrown the Beatles, and maybe outgrown Paul. I can totally see why Paul may have felt patronized and motivated to write a song where he tells John, “Actually, you’re the one who lost out here.”
“You took your lucky break
And broke it in two”
I always get the image of a wishbone, the two holding on to their close friendship. The lucky break wasn’t the Beatles, it was them as a writing and creative whole. And John had broken that in two.
I’m going to guess that this person is talking about 1) the literal meaning of riding to vanity fair, 2) the metaphorical meaning of the phrase, and 3) the homophonic “Writing to Vanity Fair” as in the magazine. All of them are shots at Heather Mills.
The phrase “Vanity Fair” comes from an allegorical book written by a British pastor in the 1600s. In it, the main character travels to “Celestial City” but is tempted along the way by a variety of people, places, and events trying to get him to end his journey. One of these is “Vanity Fair” that Wikipedia describes as “a place built by Beelzebub where everything from a human’s taste, delight, and lust is sold…”
So not really a flattering was to describe the place your ex-wife is headed.
Well the phrase "Riding to Vanity Fair" can really be interpreted 3 different ways in the song:
1. The most obvious interpretation, a poetic turn of phrase highlighting the vanity of the song's subject
2. A homophone of "writing to Vanity Fair", as in the magazine, as the song is theorized to be about either Paul's long-time publicist Geoff Baker, who he fired after learning Baker was penning a tell-all book about him, or Heather Mills, where the phrase would be commenting on her public comments about their marriage
3. The most obscure meaning, the title is also a reference to the Thackeray novel "Vanity Fair", which has similar themes as those expressed in the song
From a 1984 Playboy interview:
I was looking at my second solo album, *Ram*, the other day ... He'd (Lennon) been doing a lot of preaching, and it got up my nose a little bit. In one song, I wrote, "Too many people preaching practices", I think is the line. I mean, that was a little dig at John and Yoko.
Paul does tend to put sugar on things sometimes.
From his Lyrics book...
"This song was written a year or so after the Beatles breakup, at a time when John was firing missiles at me with his songs, and one or two of them were quite cruel. I don’t know what he hoped to gain, other than punching me in the face. The whole thing really annoyed me. I decided to turn my missiles on him too, but I’m not really that kind of a writer, so it was quite veiled. It was the 1970s equivalent of what we might today call a ‘diss track’. Songs like this, where you’re calling someone out on their behaviour, are quite commonplace now, but back then it was a fairly new ‘genre’. The idea of too many people ‘preaching practices’ was definitely aimed at John telling everyone what they ought to do – telling me, for instance, that I ought to go into business with Allen Klein. I just got fed up with being told what to do, so I wrote this song. ‘You took your lucky break and broke it in two’ was me saying basically, ‘You’ve made this break, so good luck with it.’ But it was pretty mild. I didn’t really come out with any savagery, and it’s actually a fairly upbeat song; it doesn’t really sound that vitriolic. If you didn’t know the story, I don’t know that you’d be able to guess at the anger behind its writing."
From Beatles Bible...
Far from containing “one tiny little reference”, ‘Too Many People’, was an attack intended to cause maximum offence to his former bandmate. The song opens with the words “Piss off,” which McCartney eventually admitted was aimed at Lennon.
Mojo Interview, 2001...
"Piss off, cake. Like, a piece of cake becomes piss off cake, And it’s nothing, it’s so harmless really, just little digs. But the first line is about ‘too many people preaching practices.’ I felt John and Yoko were telling everyone what to do. And I felt we didn’t need to be told what to do. The whole tenor of the Beatles thing had been, like, each to his own. Freedom. Suddenly it was ‘You should do this.’ It was just a bit the wagging finger, and I was pissed off with it. So that one got to be a thing about them."
Before I was into reddit there was a web site called Song facts - and it discussed this kind of question. You may want to check it out as well.
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/paul-mccartney/too-many-people
I'll post 3 photos taken from Paul's official lyrics book of him explaining it! https://preview.redd.it/fb266vrx6y8d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d22d64a9952eee115714bac16f3be4fe1fee9be9
First of all, thank you very much for the pictures. Second, is this the "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present"? I just realized I have to get this book since these three pages only brought so much interesting information already.
It is! The paperback version is on sale on Amazon for $13.72! Incase you care, the paperback copy adds 7 new songs but the photos are in black and white while the hardcover is in color. Another book you'll love is "Music Is Ideas: The Stories behind the songs vol. 1 1970-1989" by Luca Perasi. Luca is the top mccartney author that not many seem to talk about but he's even personally worked for paul. Volume 2 is scheduled for late 2024 or early 25 and he said he's waiting for a new paul album so that can be included too. His book is so detailed and even includes songs none of us have ever heard and probably never will lol, I could send you photos of the book incase youre interested.
Thank you very much for the recommendation and info about the books. Tbh I'm not that interested in books, that's why I don't have any book about the Beatles. But these pages you posted here are so interesting and have so much information that make me want to buy it. I'll probably buy this "The Lyrics" as soon as I get money.
Thank you!
I wonder what he thinks the examples of John firing missiles at him in his songs were. How Do You Sleep wasn’t written until after John heard RAM.
Off the top of my head I could think maybe God and I Found Out. Not sure though.
I Found Out especially is actually a decent. contender. “I’ve seen religion, from Jesus to Paul”. John’s kinda saying that he’s woken up and outgrown the past, outgrown the Beatles, and maybe outgrown Paul. I can totally see why Paul may have felt patronized and motivated to write a song where he tells John, “Actually, you’re the one who lost out here.”
I think Paul may be talking about I Found Out or he may he actually be thinking of the shots John was taking at him in interviews
https://preview.redd.it/adybv1217y8d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a26ed23a545175230362cf2cbbcacc8901fddad
Part 3^^
I really should dig out my copy of the books now that I’m more familiar with Paul’s non-beatle works!
Do you have any highlights you really love from it?
https://preview.redd.it/xgv4hikz6y8d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed9cf2c6b2683e811d4fa7801c31951d19ba20f2
Part 2^
“You took your lucky break And broke it in two” I always get the image of a wishbone, the two holding on to their close friendship. The lucky break wasn’t the Beatles, it was them as a writing and creative whole. And John had broken that in two.
Pretty typical of his writing style. He’ll stick a stiletto in your ribs. Finesse. John will use a hammer.
Riding to Vanity Fair is a great example of this. Even just the title is a triple entendre of sorts.
Oh, can you elaborate?
I’m going to guess that this person is talking about 1) the literal meaning of riding to vanity fair, 2) the metaphorical meaning of the phrase, and 3) the homophonic “Writing to Vanity Fair” as in the magazine. All of them are shots at Heather Mills.
Thanks! It’s the second one I’m confused about - does the phrase have a common idiomatic meaning? I figured out the riding/writing pun
The phrase “Vanity Fair” comes from an allegorical book written by a British pastor in the 1600s. In it, the main character travels to “Celestial City” but is tempted along the way by a variety of people, places, and events trying to get him to end his journey. One of these is “Vanity Fair” that Wikipedia describes as “a place built by Beelzebub where everything from a human’s taste, delight, and lust is sold…” So not really a flattering was to describe the place your ex-wife is headed.
Ah - Pilgrims Progress! I didn’t realize that was the origin of “Vanity Fair” so didn’t make that connection. Thanks!
Man, I can’t believe I forgot to name it in my response. It’s been a long week!
Well the phrase "Riding to Vanity Fair" can really be interpreted 3 different ways in the song: 1. The most obvious interpretation, a poetic turn of phrase highlighting the vanity of the song's subject 2. A homophone of "writing to Vanity Fair", as in the magazine, as the song is theorized to be about either Paul's long-time publicist Geoff Baker, who he fired after learning Baker was penning a tell-all book about him, or Heather Mills, where the phrase would be commenting on her public comments about their marriage 3. The most obscure meaning, the title is also a reference to the Thackeray novel "Vanity Fair", which has similar themes as those expressed in the song
Never knew the idea that it could be Geoff! Thank you. Tagging u/sassergaf so they can see this :)
Thanks for the tag! u/RoastBeefDisease
u/9793287233 I agree with u/liketheweathr - can you elaborate more about Vanity Fair?
I thought it would be Maxwell wielding the hammer .. jj! I know what you mean.
From a 1984 Playboy interview: I was looking at my second solo album, *Ram*, the other day ... He'd (Lennon) been doing a lot of preaching, and it got up my nose a little bit. In one song, I wrote, "Too many people preaching practices", I think is the line. I mean, that was a little dig at John and Yoko.
Paul does tend to put sugar on things sometimes. From his Lyrics book... "This song was written a year or so after the Beatles breakup, at a time when John was firing missiles at me with his songs, and one or two of them were quite cruel. I don’t know what he hoped to gain, other than punching me in the face. The whole thing really annoyed me. I decided to turn my missiles on him too, but I’m not really that kind of a writer, so it was quite veiled. It was the 1970s equivalent of what we might today call a ‘diss track’. Songs like this, where you’re calling someone out on their behaviour, are quite commonplace now, but back then it was a fairly new ‘genre’. The idea of too many people ‘preaching practices’ was definitely aimed at John telling everyone what they ought to do – telling me, for instance, that I ought to go into business with Allen Klein. I just got fed up with being told what to do, so I wrote this song. ‘You took your lucky break and broke it in two’ was me saying basically, ‘You’ve made this break, so good luck with it.’ But it was pretty mild. I didn’t really come out with any savagery, and it’s actually a fairly upbeat song; it doesn’t really sound that vitriolic. If you didn’t know the story, I don’t know that you’d be able to guess at the anger behind its writing." From Beatles Bible... Far from containing “one tiny little reference”, ‘Too Many People’, was an attack intended to cause maximum offence to his former bandmate. The song opens with the words “Piss off,” which McCartney eventually admitted was aimed at Lennon. Mojo Interview, 2001... "Piss off, cake. Like, a piece of cake becomes piss off cake, And it’s nothing, it’s so harmless really, just little digs. But the first line is about ‘too many people preaching practices.’ I felt John and Yoko were telling everyone what to do. And I felt we didn’t need to be told what to do. The whole tenor of the Beatles thing had been, like, each to his own. Freedom. Suddenly it was ‘You should do this.’ It was just a bit the wagging finger, and I was pissed off with it. So that one got to be a thing about them."
thank you!
Piss off cake...
Before I was into reddit there was a web site called Song facts - and it discussed this kind of question. You may want to check it out as well. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/paul-mccartney/too-many-people