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Rubber Soul, Part II

© Robert Whillans

We continue with our look at Rubber Soul, its songs and its importance. Basically, we're looking at each song and how they come together to create the inspiration for Brian Wilson's masterpiece, Pet Sounds.

Norwegian Wood. This song is a good example of the Beatles' development. More than just new ways to say "I love you", it was drug-enhanced, featured a new instrument, and lyrics that could have been written by no one but Lennon. Verses like: I once had a girl/or should I say/she once had me; and: she told me to sit anywhere/so I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair show that Lennon was becoming nearly as intricate with his words as Dylan. The song is one of the first to tell a story, and it's a pretty messed up story. I'm sorry, but to be perfectly honest, I can't figure out if he burns down her house or what (she showed me her room/isn't it good/norwegian wood; and later: so I lit a fire/isn't it good/norwegian wood). The whole song is ridden with nifty twists and tricks that make the lyrics some of the best in a pop song of that era. I said pop song. George Harrison itroduced his sitar skills in this song, which he would later hone under sitar master Ravi Shankar. The whole song seems to be drenched in acid and little social commentaries (you have to really listen for these things).

You Won't See Me. This is actually pretty disappointing for a McCartney song. Generally, he isn't held in the same regard as Lennon for lyrics, but after "Yesterday", more complex things were certainly expected. Years later, Anne Murray covered this song, which is good because it's exactly the kind of no-meaning, someone-else-wrote-it stuff she does. I won't waste too much time on this song, except to say that it was certainly below par in terms of creativity. But it is still a catchy tune, and certainly better or equal too earlier Beatles songs. It works because it was good enough to fit the whole "collection of good songs" idea.

Nowhere Man. Ah, a refreshing break of Lennon. I can't tell you what he was thinking when he wrote this, but I can tell you what some people have seen in it. Basically, its an all-purpose social comment song, the Nowhere Man, hearing and seeing nothing but he wants to see, can be anyone you wish. Perhaps it was intended to be this, or maybe it refers to a group of people or the Beatles' fans themselves. I can't tell, but the whole idea of writing a song that isn't about love, cars, or any material or emotional object was pretty new at the time, and serves its purpose. Although it wasn't released in single form, it did fairly well in EP form with other Soul songs, but peaked at 3 in US charts. The US market was tough on new, experimental songs, as both the Beatles and the Beach Boys learned.

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