Flytotheway - All Those Years Ago

I really loved you and was glad you came along.

Lyric: Paul McCartney Art: by Me 

January 13th, 1969 (Twickenham Film Studios, London): During a discussion on how the rest of the group should move forward after George’s departure on the 10th, John wonders if they should get George back at all, suggesting his role as a Beatle is replaceable (unlike his own or Paul’s), and likens this unkindly to how Ringo first replaced Pete Best. Paul notes that John has been the top buck in getting himself heard (and getting his way) since the inception of the group (which John protests) and quickly reassures Ringo when he wryly declares himself to be little more than rabbit food for the group.

Paul admits that both he and John have done one over on George, albeit unconsciously as an effect of the competition and unaware of how it may have hurt George in the process, but John argues that he’s known since early childhood how manipulative he himself can be, and has tried to curb it to little avail.

PAUL: See, I’m just assuming he’s coming back, you know. I tell you, I’m just assuming he’s coming back. RINGO: If he wants— JOHN: What if he isn’t? PAUL: If he isn’t, then… if he isn’t, then it’s a new problem. RINGO: He would like the four of us to sit down. JOHN: It’s like we’ve said— PAUL: Yeah. RINGO: He wants the four of us to actually— JOHN: See, if we want it – if we do want it, I still won’t tour, man, but I do want to— PAUL: But you seem to – you seem to think— JOHN: But if we do end up deciding we want it, as a policy, I can go along with that. Because the policy has kept us together. RINGO: But the thing is that if we want him— JOHN: If we want him, because we want him – but the thing is, like George said, it’s that The Beatles, to me, isn’t just limited to the four of us. I think that I, alone, could be a Beatle. [to Paul] I think you could. [to Ringo] I’m not sure whether you could, because you’re doing… Well, like, but I’m just telling you what I think! I don’t think The Beatles revolve around the four people! It might be like a job— PAUL: But you know what, John, I’ll tell you one thing— JOHN: [to Ringo] It’s like you joining the band instead of Pete. It’s like – to me, it is like that.

PAUL: Tell you what— [inaudible] Let me tell you what I think. [pause; inaudible] —thing is this. [to John] You have always been at the front of the chute. Now, there have been some secondary rungs, but George has been third rung— RINGO: And I’ve been the cabbage. PAUL: [immediately] Never. JOHN: [dismissive] No, we haven’t— PAUL: No, just, no – listen here. You’re the rabbit, he’s right. JOHN: But not always, though— PAUL: [anxious] No, listen here – listen – always! But! But! [pause] I do think – no, I do think that as grim as it all is, that [George]’s right. And I do think that like our sole approach is exactly what he’s been saying. And that our brains sort of… con him. It’s all nothing. I do think that is a – I mean— [stumbling] As a first way out, I can’t really even say that, but I do think, you know, that when you get right down to it— JOHN: Yes. PAUL: ’Cause the moments of clarity, that I’ve just been – are just so innocent, and so simple, that all my connive, and all my – urge, or— [inaudible] JOHN: But don’t give me like – ’cause I’ve at least been aware of my conniving since fourteen. Real aware of it. PAUL: Sure. JOHN: And before that. You realize that I’ve known I’ve been conniving from – from Dovedale, you know that. I’ve been aware of that. Just because – I don’t know whether it’s him. It’s not him. It’s just me. That I’ve realized where it’s nowhere – but the thing is, I only know where it is when I’m in the middle of all of it— PAUL: Yeah. JOHN: —that I am sort of at it again. And that’s why I’ve had to fight for the last three years. And I’ve done it – the other way. Just – rather than allow myself to connive, I thought, “Stop it now. Stop it.”

Upon finding out that all four Beatles had naturally curly hair. here is my favorite naturally curly hair photo of each boy. Feel free to reblog with your favorite

George Harrison

I believe this is the only photo of George with his naturally curly hair.

Ringo

Paul

And of course, John is

None of them had super tight curls, but all the boys had natural curls, and I love that for them

I love how much Paul is horrofied and John amused

Old Fred is just chilling what a champ Ringo is a victim

John Lennon and Paul McCartney interviewed in Plymouth (1964)

John and Paul moments in Midas Man part 1

Paul McCartney and John Lennon having little concept of personal space on The Music of Lennon & McCartney (1965)

Paul McCartney and George Harrison photographs by Bob Bonis

Magical Mystery Tour (1967) dir. The Beatles