What really is the message of this Beatles song?
Let it Be
When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.
Let it be, let it be, .....
And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, .....
Let it Be - The Beatles.
Discussion in 'Music Ministry' started by Ben W, May 1, 2005.
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Expression of an idea based on the commonality of mankind. This sentiment is a common them in the likes of Martin Luther King jr, Gandhi and many Christians will say Jesus.
Hopeful, transcendental, melodic, but not of much substance or profit lyrically. -
Now Playing:Anne McCue – “Roll” -
I tend to separate the author from the art Mike. I can only judge the music and words on their own merits. When I hear that song, I picture mother Mary as a Catholic image and a depiction of motherly wisdom and comfort. I may be incorrect about who Mary represents specifically, but I am still on the mark in terms of the role she plays in the song.
Of course it's obvious by the phrasing "Mother Mary comes to me" that Mary the mother of Jesus was intended to also be depicted. -
If you choose to believe that the "Mary" here is the Virgin Mary then that's up to you, but it wasn't the intention of the composer.
Now Playing:KD Lang – “Shadowland” -
Thanks Mike for your input. For years I thought it was Catholic but some years ago I read about his mother.
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If you choose to believe that the "Mary" here is the Virgin Mary then that's up to you, but it wasn't the intention of the composer.
Now Playing:KD Lang – “Shadowland” </font>[/QUOTE]mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom...
He must have known it would be taken that way simply by the phrasing Mike. No one speaks like that about their mother. -
Now Playing: Boone Creek – “One Way Track” -
Now Playing: Boone Creek – “One Way Track” </font>[/QUOTE]Well, you don't typically name your mother. "Mother Birtha came to me".
So we have a mother figure specifically named as Mary and not explicitly designated as the singer's mother.
Add to that Billy Preston's organ which sounds very traditional and Catholic, and it's hard to believe that They didn't intentionally put that imagery in the song. -
This is not an Oscar Wilde play with stilted dialogue.
I often do name my mother to people who may not be familiar with my family structure.
If I were setting up a premise, telling about an event that happened with my mother, then, of course I would explain to my audience that she is my mother.
There is no reason to assume that he is talking about anyone but his mother and, in interviews, he does explain that the song is, in fact, an homage to his mother, Mary, who died when he was very young.
I'm starting to think that you're just having a little sport with us.
Now Playing: Omar and the Howlers – “Big Delta” -
No, I'm not at all. There's a reason so many people find the song to be Catholic, and it isn't the human mind creating oder where there is none. The name Mary, the concept of wisdom and comfort which are attatched to it without the personal possessive of my mother, coupled with the solo organ interjections all portray a Catholic imagery. It's not such a wild tangent.
Now the song may in actuality only be about his mother from his perspective, but I don't see how you can make the argument that he didn't know how the song would be perceived. -
Obviously you're going to see Catholicism where McCartney didn't intend, so I'll leave that to you.
I and the rest of the world will continue to enjoy a pleasant song about a man remembering his mother's wise words.
Now, what I'm curious to know is if you believe "Hey, Jude" is about St. Jude or whether or not "Martha, My Dear", is about Martha of Mary and Martha fame. If not, why not?
I'm also curious as to why you're convinced that a man who has never made any overtures to Catholicism in public statements or in his music all of a sudden, feels compelled to write such an intimate song about the Virgin Mary. Why does he identify her as his mother and not as the Virgin Mary?
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Lady Madonna
(Lennon/McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
~~~
Lady Madonna, children at your feet.
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet.
Who finds the money? When you pay the rent?
Did you think that money was heaven sent?
Friday night arrives without a suitcase.
Sunday morning creep in like a nun.
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace.
See how they run.
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast.
Wonder how you manage to feed the rest.
See how they run.
Lady Madonna, lying on the bed,
Listen to the music playing in your head.
Tuesday afternoon is never ending.
Wednesday morning papers didn't come.
Thursday night your stockings needed mending.
See how they run.
Lady Madonna, children at your feet.
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet. -
Goofy as a goon and silly as a loon
Some call it pretty,
others call it crazy
But they all sing this tune:
Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
Yes! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
If the words sound queer
And funny to your ear,
A little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing "Mares eat oats
And does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy"
Oh! Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
Now Playing: Etta James – “Her Best” -
Oh come on now. I'm just making the point that Catholic imagery is there in the song. I'll grant the possibility that it's entirely coincidental and not intended by the artist in any way, but it is still there.
Now the only reason I posted the lyrics to Lady Madonna is because you said:
Like I said, it's no great leap of the imagination to perceive a mother figure named Mary who comforts, render's wisdom and advice, and helps you come to terms with the world as a Catholic image.
...and ok, the organ bits could be any denomination, but the point is they are solo chords which give the song a sense of reverence and contemplative pause in a very traditional, religious sounding way. -
There are dozens of songs about women named Mary.
IIIrd Tyme Out does "John and Mary".
The Country Gentlemen had a hit with the traditional song, "Bringing Mary Home".
The Monkees sang "Mary, Mary".
An then, of course, there's the traditional "Mary of the Wild Moor".
Do these songs also contain Catholic imagery?
Now Playing: V/A – Big Mon: Songs of Bill Monroe -
Mike, if it can be mistaken by so many people for exactly the reasons I gave, how can you say it isn't really there?
You and I both know that you are able to see the obvious Mary mother figure in the song. The traditional Catholic notion of Mary being the super benevolent, wise matriach of the church is consistent with the Mary of Let It Be. The connection is intuitive, and quite honestly jumping up and down waving it's hands. -
I'm not going to blame Paul McCartney for someone else's mistaken assumption.
If you want to believe that it's about the Virgin Mary, even after the composer has said that it's not and even though it's a well established fact that he is singing about his mother that's up to you.
Like I said, if you want to see Catholic boogeymen behind every tree, then that's completely up to you.
Now Playing: BR5-49 – ”Tangled in the Pines” -
In interview in which Macca explains the origins of "Let it Be" can be heard here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/indepth/letitbe.shtml
From AllMusicGuide.com:
Paul McCartney wrote ["Let it Be"]. It was inspired by his mother, Mary, who died when he was 14. Many people thought "Mother Mary" was a biblical reference when they heard it.
Since this was The Beatles last album, it made an appropriate statement about leaving problems behind and moving on in life.
Now Playing: Gillian Welch – “Time (The Revelator)” -
You're missing or ignoring the point Mike. How much evidence for the connection needs to be presented for it to be legitmately perceived on it's own?
You're really fighting a strawman because you come from the assumption that seeing an obvious Mother Mary connection forces one to accept or identify with the song that way.
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