Text · Lyrical device
Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or comic effect.
10
songs
It is in the words of ten songs, from 1964 to 1969. 'Eight Days a Week' is the earliest, from 1964, and 'Oh! Darling' the last, from 1969. 'Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby' and 'Run for Your Life' (death threat as proof of devotion) use it too. John sings lead on six of the ten, against three for George, with Paul on one. On 'Taxman': taxing seats, streets, and pennies on a corpse's eyes. On 'Yer Blues', the eagle picks eye, worm licks bones. Of the ten, 'Taxman' went through feedback, which only three of their recordings did.
See alsoLyrical device:AnaphoraLyrical device:WordplayLyrical device:Double meaningMotif:HardnessRecurring words:just likeRecurring words:tryingMelody:Blue noteVocabulary:Limited vocabulary
Analysis
By Year
Song count per year
By Songwriter
% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)
By Era
Early1 · 11%
Mid-period3 · 33%
Late5 · 56%
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Songs(9 of 10)
Year
Album
Writer
Lead vocal(s)
| # | Title | Year | Album | Lead Vocal(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eight Days a Week | 1964 | Beatles For Sale | John | Impossible time-span 'eight days a week' as device |
| 2 | Run for Your Life | 1965 | Rubber Soul | John | Death threat as proof of devotion |
| 3 | Taxman | 1966 | Revolver | George | Taxing seats, streets, and pennies on a corpse's eyes |
| 4 | And Your Bird Can Sing | 1966 | Revolver | John | 'Seven wonders'; 'heard every sound there is' |
| 5 | Yer Blues | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | Eagle picks eye, worm licks bones |
| 6 | It's All Too Much | 1969 | Yellow Submarine | George | 'All the world is birthday cake' |
| 7 | The Ballad of John and Yoko | 1969 | Past Masters | John | 'They're gonna crucify me' |
| 8 | Oh! Darling | 1969 | Abbey Road | Paul | 'Nearly fell down and died' |
| 9 | I Want You (She's So Heavy) | 1969 | Abbey Road | John | 'Driving me mad' |
Eight Days a Week
1964·Beatles For Sale·John
Impossible time-span 'eight days a week' as device
Run for Your Life
1965·Rubber Soul·John
Death threat as proof of devotion
Taxman
1966·Revolver·George
Taxing seats, streets, and pennies on a corpse's eyes
And Your Bird Can Sing
1966·Revolver·John
'Seven wonders'; 'heard every sound there is'
Yer Blues
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John
Eagle picks eye, worm licks bones
It's All Too Much
1969·Yellow Submarine·George
'All the world is birthday cake'
The Ballad of John and Yoko
1969·Past Masters·John
'They're gonna crucify me'
Oh! Darling
1969·Abbey Road·Paul
'Nearly fell down and died'
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
1969·Abbey Road·John
'Driving me mad'
Updated