I’ll admit, I used to hate the Beatles. This was because I’d only heard their early works. Their early songs are pretty bad, by my standards. I don’t care for them. But, I finally realized their redeeming qualities. You see, I heard Abbey Road on my Dad’s iPod, and I realized that this was quite good. In fact, it was very good. This was how I got back into the Beatles.
Come Together: When I first heard this song, I’ll admit I wasn’t particularly impressed. Still, I was glad that it was better than most Beatles songs I’d heard up until then. As far as I can tell, it’s about hippies…or something…
Something: Something is better than nothing. I agree. It’s not the best song on the album, and it’s one of the few that I skip while listening.
Maxwell’s Silver Hammer: This one’s my favorite song on the album. I mean, as long as you can bring yourself to find a guy smashing people with a silver hammer funny, it’s hilarious! It’s remarkably straight-forward for a song I like (I often like songs where the meaning is not easily seen), but that just adds to the comedy of it.
Oh! Darling: I don’t care much for the ballads on this album, so I usually just skip this.
Octopus’s Garden: My second-favorite song on the album. Contrary to popular belief, it is not about drugs or anything. It’s really about how octopi collect stuff underwater and make little “gardens” of them (This is true. You can probably find it in a book on octopi.) It’s so whimsical it makes me smile.
I Want You (She’s So Heavy): Seriously! The boring songs end after this one! This is a rather boring song, with, like, only two different phrases in the whole thing. And it’s long, too. Well, for a Beatles song it is. I’ll bet it’s the longest Beatles song with lyrics.
Here Comes the Sun: Yes! Here comes the sun! And it’s alright…Really. All the songs after this one are all pretty good, and I never feel like skipping them. This song has the remarkable ability to make me happy whenever I listen to it. Maybe I should listen to more Beatles…
Because: Ah! I’m having a hard time figuring out if Maxwell’s Silver Hammer or this is my favorite song from Abbey Road. Weird lyrics that don’t seem to mean anything are terrific, though a bit unexpected when done by the Beatles. (Gosh, I usually expect them to talk about stuff I can understand…abstract thinkers they were in the latter days.) I’ve heard that the chords are actually Moonlight Sonata reversed. Maybe that’s why I like it so.
You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles were certainly doing something unusual with this one. It’s a small bit like Happiness is a Warm Gun, because it’s got parts of songs that didn’t seem to be from the same song or anything. I kinda like it.
Sun King: Here comes the sun king, like it or not! This is a little boring, and a little pointless, but I usually don’t feel compelled to skip it every time it comes on. The part at the end, with the foreign language, is interesting.
Mean Mr. Mustard: I don’t know why but this song is funny. All the exaggerations about Mr. Mustard’s life add to the humor.
Polythene Pam: This song has a good beat and rhythm to it. Too bad it doesn’t last very long.
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window: The lyrics of this song always confuse me. I have the hardest time trying to figure out what it’s about. But I guess it’s alright.
Golden Slumbers: The story behind this song is that Paul McCartney found some sheet music for a traditional song or something, except he couldn’t read music, so he made up his own tune to it, except he forgot the original words, so he made up this to the same tune. It’s a nice little song.
Carry That Weight: Nothing special in my book. Although it’s interesting to hear Ringo singing on this one.
The End: Yes! This is an awesome song! Plus it has the Beatles’ only official drum solo (I dunno, there’s something on “Birthday” that sounds like a drum solo to me). Wow, it’s got only three different lines in it, and yet it’s so cool. Only someone as cool as the Beatles coulda pulled that off.
Her Majesty: Maybe it’s just me, but I find this a tad anti-climatic. It’s short though, and admittedly I’m not totally sure exactly what it is. It’s okay, though.
Best Tracks: Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Octopus Garden, Because and The End.
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