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The Beatles — A Day In The Life
Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Avg rating:
9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 5323









Released: 1967
Length: 4:46
Plays (last 30 days): 1
I read the news today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well, I just had to laugh

I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn't notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They'd seen his face before
Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords

I saw a film today, oh boy
The English army had just won the war
A crowd of people turned away
But I just had to look
Having read the book
I'd love to turn you on

Woke up, fell out of bed
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup
And looking up, I noticed I was late

Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in seconds flat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke
And somebody spoke and I went into a dream

I read the news today, oh boy
Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall

I'd love to turn you on
Comments (923)add comment
This is the definition of 10. It is unique, quirky, perfectly executed, and sounds fantastic. I don't know any other song that sounds like this. It shows how deviating from the norms can lead to something awesome. Makes it all the more puzzling why so many contemporary “artists” keep on churning out minor variations on the same recipe over and over again. One never gets past ‘OK’ level by doing that.
Bought this album the day it came out at age 14. It blew my mind out for sure. Still the best LP ever, IMHO.
 cambuddyf wrote:

Just think about when this was recorded. Absolutely brilliant.



Stunning to think these guys were singing I want to hold your hand just four years before. I can't think of any group that grew so much in so little time.
is it possible

could it be

notwithstanding...

the greatest song ever?
 cambuddyf wrote:

Just think about when this was recorded. Absolutely brilliant.



agreed. i love the drums at the beginning. i often forget to notice the drums in beatles songs.
Just think about when this was recorded. Absolutely brilliant.
I was thirteen when this came out I knew all the words I had recorded it on a small reel to reel pretty sure this would be too sophisticated for the today's generation
Nice segue from So Long Marianne.
 fredriley wrote:

Because, when I was a kid, my pseudy Dad played this album incessantly to his mates, and they all joined in with singing along to the lyrics from the sleeve cover, with harmonies no less. Cringingly excruciating to this pubescent boy. I know every feckin' track on that album by heart, including the sodding lyrics, and that's why it's a 1 in my book - embarrassing memories. Nowt to do with any intrinsic quality of the track or the album, just my emotional memory. If there were such a programme as Anti-Desert Island Discs, where you choose your most hated songs, songs that you'd have to be strapped into a chair to be forced to listen to, this whole album would be in my top five all-time hates.

I hope that's explained my 1 rating. Thanks for listening :)


So, you are rating your father and his friends, rather than the song?  Not sure that is the point, but to each their own..
It might amuse listeners to know that Blackburn Rovers FC have a fanzine called '4000 holes' :o)
If this isn't "godlike," I don't know what is. 
An absolute 10,simply brilliant in every respect 😊
I had figured out how to play LPs on my on my parents' radiogram (anyone remember those?)  when I was about  4 or 5. I was fascinated and appalled in equal measure by the imagery on this track ("he blew his mind out in a car" ) but what really got me was the orchestral buildup. It was too intense for my little heart and it  took me many years before I could bear to hear it through to the final bass note fading into oblivion.  Utter genius.
My favorite song from a very young age.
1990, I was 14 and listened to this vinyl record of my parents on lunch breaks, when every kid my age listened to New Kids on the Block on cd's. I just did not understand , how they did not prefer the Beatles over that other boy band. This song just blew my mind and it still does. 
 changodelaplaya wrote:

Best Song.
Best Band.
Best Producer.
Ever.


Don't forget Best Sound Engineer, so much is so far above the production techniques of the day. Yes 10. 

Need to find a mono copy of this disc.
definitely a 12 on a 10 point scale...... maybe higher....
 idiot_wind wrote:

so...is this their best song from this album?

their best ever?


That's subjective of course, but why even ask the question? Clearly you need to buy all of their albums to effectively formulate an opinion.
 joko63808 wrote:

Not a Beatlemaniac but this song brings it to the point. Bass line, drums, orchestration all being simply perfect. Wow!



You forgot the lyrics.
Not a Beatlemaniac but this song brings it to the point. Bass line, drums, orchestration all being simply perfect. Wow!
 idiot_wind wrote:

so...is this their best song from this album?

their best ever?



I'd vote for the latter.
 bruceandjenna wrote:

10.  No less.  No negotiation.



*ahem* By most accounts sir, the general assembly has decided they have indeed passed the audition and are never less than a 12.
Not their best album.
(on it a couple of their best songs ever, though..)
Too bad there isn't a special "Beatles" rating from RP.  This deserves a 10000!  This is nearly 55 yrs old.  Could have been written yesterday
Simply Mindboggling!! 10 from the UK judge!!
so...is this their best song from this album?

their best ever?
My love for the Beatles has grown so much my entire life... After seeing the latest documentary - I literally sobbed after it and was moved beyond.   They all have had a beautiful impact on the world - through music and through the lives they touch.
Wish they had filmed how this one came together.
Arguably their greatest song. Sure, they had better melodies (“Yesterday”, “In My Life”, “Something” for starters) but the combination of melody, lyrics, unexpected production, orchestration is unmatched, though “Tomorrow Never Knows” comes very close.
That bass line! Wow.
 fredriley wrote:

Because, when I was a kid, my pseudy Dad played this album incessantly to his mates, and they all joined in with singing along to the lyrics from the sleeve cover, with harmonies no less. Cringingly excruciating to this pubescent boy. I know every feckin' track on that album by heart, including the sodding lyrics, and that's why it's a 1 in my book - embarrassing memories. Nowt to do with any intrinsic quality of the track or the album, just my emotional memory. If there were such a programme as Anti-Desert Island Discs, where you choose your most hated songs, songs that you'd have to be strapped into a chair to be forced to listen to, this whole album would be in my top five all-time hates.

I hope that's explained my 1 rating. Thanks for listening :)


Have you tried therapy?
This ends side one of the record and, if you listen close as the piano fades to silence, you can hear someone shift on the bench. 
Best Song.
Best Band.
Best Producer.
Ever.


One of the few Beatles' songs where I pay attention to the drums.
Good Lord! Was this a remix?
This podcast does a great breakdown of this song. 

Strong Songs - Day in the Life
(fixed bad link)
 mathieu.robert2990 wrote:
The greatest song of the greatest album of the greatest band of all times 
 
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps," The White Album, and The Rolling Stones/Hendrix beg to disagree, but hey, music is subjective!
 bruceandjenna wrote:


At 9.2, very few listeners consider this less than a 9.  Most say 10.  That translates to consensus on brilliance rather than polarization.
 

Sure, a consensus among those who choose to listen to RP and then choose to rate this track - not exactly a meaningful poll of general opinion.  

I don't listen to radio stations that often play music I dislike and then downvote that music. I doubt that many others do.
Miss you John
What could you have given us in the last 40 years, John?

The four of you would likely have mended feelings and written more gold together. We miss you, John. We miss you & Paul together. We miss George & Ringo with you. We miss George Martin tying your ideas together. 

A rare synergy of incredible talents. Thanks for what we got fellas.
53 years old and the song still sounds like it was made tomorrow. 
The greatest song of the greatest album of the greatest band of all times 
This was done in 67' Hard Days Night was in 64'. Think about that for a musical evolution. The thing that always blows my mind about the Beatles is how much they made in a short time and how much their music evolved in that short time. 
 fredriley wrote:

Because, when I was a kid, my pseudy Dad played this album incessantly to his mates, and they all joined in with singing along to the lyrics from the sleeve cover, with harmonies no less. Cringingly excruciating to this pubescent boy. I know every feckin' track on that album by heart, including the sodding lyrics, and that's why it's a 1 in my book - embarrassing memories. Nowt to do with any intrinsic quality of the track or the album, just my emotional memory. If there were such a programme as Anti-Desert Island Discs, where you choose your most hated songs, songs that you'd have to be strapped into a chair to be forced to listen to, this whole album would be in my top five all-time hates.

I hope that's explained my 1 rating. Thanks for listening :)
 

Thank you for "pseudy" a word from my youth that is due for revival!
Used to scare my pre-school daughter with the “woke up. fell out of bed” interlude. Think it was the aaahhh at the end...
 Proclivities wrote:

It's unlikely very many 'millennials' listen here.
 

Here's one honey 
With very few exceptions, no song that's already been played to death for years on AOR FM radio gets a 10 from me.

Hence, a 9.
 haresfur wrote:
As near as I can tell, the world changed forever at the precise moment my older brother brought Sargent Pepper's home and put it on the crappy mono turntable.
 
I was in 6th grade and I listened to it on my parents' victrola in utter disbelief.  
Brilliant song plus George Martin = a perfect song 
We need more beatles on rp
As a Beatlemaniac and as with Abbey Road side two medley, it is sacrilege to play just part of it. And with this, one MUST play Sgt Pepper's Reprise. They just go together. End of. But Beatles default to 10 regardless.
The counting is done by Mal Evans a long time Beatles roadie and employee.
If you don't give this a "10" what will do it? One of several 10s for the Fab Four....
There should be a special Beatles 100 rating!! This would be one of them
 xray38 wrote:

Might as well say less music please.
 What I meant to say was I wish bill would do deeper cuts of Beatles 

 fxrsrider wrote:
I use to play this song for a girl, once upon a time. Me and my guitar. Every time I'd sing the lyric, "I'd love to turn you on," she'd melt.  Notwithstanding, every time I sing that lyric I get goosebumps.
 

Aaaw, so sweet... !! I miss moments like those. Too bad judging by your writing you separated ways.
 jp33442 wrote:
Less Beatles please
 
Might as well say less music please.
Less Beatles please
I’ve heard this song many times and only just noticed someone counting off measures in the right channel in the final crescendo. Starting at “I’d like to turn you oooooon...” you can hear 1...2...3...4... I think it’s Paul McCartney.
An amazing piece of music Appreciate it all the time Timeless
Thanks for keeping the sustain at the end!

An interesting article on the recording challenges of this piece.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinmurnane/2017/06/03/the-beatles-a-day-in-the-life-is-a-landmark-in-sound-engineering-50-years-after-it-was-recorded/#72d2e9732b51
 Ming_En_Duo wrote:
I don't check the numbers of rating very often, but in more cases there is a peak around the average number and then a drop in the 10 direction. This is probably the only one I have seen where the peak is really at 10.
 

No kidding, this had me intrigued as well. Found out if one hovers the mousepointer over the individual rating bars, it displays the vote numbers: 2400+ voted Godlike-10 vs. the 52 Sucko Barfo's. Just out of human curiosity I can't help but wonder what the latter groups playlists look like. Any suggestions? :-)
 VH1 wrote:
Wow when I read the posts here -

after 51 years The Beatles still polarise
 

At 9.2, very few listeners consider this less than a 9.  Most say 10.  That translates to consensus on brilliance rather than polarization.
Ground breaking, definitive. What else can you say? 10!
As near as I can tell, the world changed forever at the precise moment my older brother brought Sargent Pepper's home and put it on the crappy mono turntable.
I use to play this song for a girl, once upon a time. Me and my guitar. Every time I'd sing the lyric, "I'd love to turn you on," she'd melt.  Notwithstanding, every time I sing that lyric I get goosebumps.
 jnesser wrote:
Doesn't get any better than this. Pure songwriting geniuses.
 
In my High School they taught an English class using this album as the foundation for the quarter's syllabus. Had NO IDEA at the time how lucky we were. 
 buddy wrote:

Millennials & Contrarians.  And maybe a few Stones fans. 
 
It's unlikely very many 'millennials' listen here.
Long Live                                                                                      Radio Paradise
I rarely use 9 and 10  BUT this is to me a                                                   TEN
Anyone having rated A Day In The Life less than a 10, please use this time to come to the front to change your rating. You will not be judged. 
10.  No less.  No negotiation.
Top on my list of banned songs.
(BBC for the phrase >Had a smoke and I went into a dream)
I increase my rating from 9 to 10 - G O D L I K E
I don't check the numbers of rating very often, but in more cases there is a peak around the average number and then a drop in the 10 direction. This is probably the only one I have seen where the peak is really at 10.
 Kilroy wrote:
50 RP listeners rated this song a 1.
I am completely dismayed. How in the hell is this song a 1 in anyone's book?? 
 
Perhaps a more pertinent question would be: Why would that cause you dismay? 

Doesn't get any better than this. Pure songwriting geniuses.
Mine goes to 11.
Wow when I read the posts here -

after 51 years The Beatles still polarise
 Kilroy wrote:
50 RP listeners rated this song a 1.
I am completely dismayed. How in the hell is this song a 1 in anyone's book?? 

 
Millennials & Contrarians.  And maybe a few Stones fans. 
 fredriley wrote:

Because, when I was a kid, my pseudy Dad played this album incessantly to his mates, and they all joined in with singing along to the lyrics from the sleeve cover, with harmonies no less. Cringingly excruciating to this pubescent boy. I know every feckin' track on that album by heart, including the sodding lyrics, and that's why it's a 1 in my book - embarrassing memories. Nowt to do with any intrinsic quality of the track or the album, just my emotional memory. If there were such a programme as Anti-Desert Island Discs, where you choose your most hated songs, songs that you'd have to be strapped into a chair to be forced to listen to, this whole album would be in my top five all-time hates.

I hope that's explained my 1 rating. Thanks for listening :)

 
Anti-Desert Island Discs...brilliant. Kenny Everett back in 1977 on his show played " The worst 20 songs ever recorded ". If I remember rightly William Shatner was there with Richard Harris but the winner's song was entitled " I'm going to dig my baby ' or something very much like it. You get the idea.
P.S. He even came out with the album but who the hell would want to buy it.
 fredriley wrote:

Because, when I was a kid, my pseudy Dad played this album incessantly to his mates, and they all joined in with singing along to the lyrics from the sleeve cover, with harmonies no less. Cringingly excruciating to this pubescent boy. I know every feckin' track on that album by heart, including the sodding lyrics, and that's why it's a 1 in my book - embarrassing memories. Nowt to do with any intrinsic quality of the track or the album, just my emotional memory. If there were such a programme as Anti-Desert Island Discs, where you choose your most hated songs, songs that you'd have to be strapped into a chair to be forced to listen to, this whole album would be in my top five all-time hates.

I hope that's explained my 1 rating. Thanks for listening :)

 

"Nowt to do with any intrinsic quality of the track or the album, just my emotional memory." 

Oh, Fred: let it go.

Maybe science can ease yer pain: 


https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-have-figured-out-how-to-to-erase-your-painful-memories

https://bigthink.com/philip-perry/wonder-drugs-could-eliminate-severe-emotional-disorders-whats-the-downside


can't believe that some people only rate this a 9! 
Watching the 2018 Winter Olympics last week, I saw a couple figure skating to this song. I though it was a very odd choice, and figured the choreographer had no idea of the lyrics. Or maybe it was  a statement on the stress of the competition!
I just had to laugh. Others turned away, but I just had to look.
 Kilroy wrote:
50 RP listeners rated this song a 1.
I am completely dismayed. How in the hell is this song a 1 in anyone's book?? 

 
Because, when I was a kid, my pseudy Dad played this album incessantly to his mates, and they all joined in with singing along to the lyrics from the sleeve cover, with harmonies no less. Cringingly excruciating to this pubescent boy. I know every feckin' track on that album by heart, including the sodding lyrics, and that's why it's a 1 in my book - embarrassing memories. Nowt to do with any intrinsic quality of the track or the album, just my emotional memory. If there were such a programme as Anti-Desert Island Discs, where you choose your most hated songs, songs that you'd have to be strapped into a chair to be forced to listen to, this whole album would be in my top five all-time hates.

I hope that's explained my 1 rating. Thanks for listening :)
 Pure genius has staying power. 

Hey_Porter wrote:

Still alive and kicking . . . 

 


 jhorton wrote:
In twelve and a half months, this song will be FIFTY years old.

Discuss.... 

 
Still alive and kicking . . . 
 mcampbellbell@gmail.com wrote:
You failed to run right to the end of the track -  the bit in the run-off grooves of the album. What was this repetitive bit at the end that we all agonised over at the time? Did we ever find out?

 
Maybe it's not on the CD? I am lucky to own an original vinyl copy {#Jump}
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:

Visceral reaction to other people - not the music.  Music is emotive but knee jerk reaction to other people's views is not subjective - it is jealousy wrapped in spitefulness. There is no right and wrong in music - but there is right and wrong in people.
 

Thank you!
{#Meditate}{#Notworthy}{#Meditate}
You failed to run right to the end of the track -  the bit in the run-off grooves of the album. What was this repetitive bit at the end that we all agonised over at the time? Did we ever find out?

Transcendent.


I always found it weird that after Paul lights up upstairs, he hears John wailing in his dream.

 A foreshadowing perhaps?
 Majestic wrote:
Give this a 10 if you like... you are still underrating it. 

 


Brilliant. Timeless. 
 DavidS_UK wrote:

It's not really a '1', it's just that the fanbois adulation and immediate '10s' for anything related to the four mop tops sometimes gets to them, and a visceral, knee jerk reaction kicks in.  But that's music, it's EMOTIVE and not rational, so let's live with everyone's views, even when we really don't see where they are coming from, after all it is totally subjective, there is no right or wrong

 
Visceral reaction to other people - not the music.  Music is emotive but knee jerk reaction to other people's views is not subjective - it is jealousy wrapped in spitefulness. There is no right and wrong in music - but there is right and wrong in people.
Give this a 10 if you like... you are still underrating it. 
 Kilroy wrote:
50 RP listeners rated this song a 1.
I am completely dismayed. How in the hell is this song a 1 in anyone's book?? 

 
It's not really a '1', it's just that the fanbois adulation and immediate '10s' for anything related to the four mop tops sometimes gets to them, and a visceral, knee jerk reaction kicks in.  But that's music, it's EMOTIVE and not rational, so let's live with everyone's views, even when we really don't see where they are coming from, after all it is totally subjective, there is no right or wrong
 lemmoth wrote:

By a clue my friend.  Just take a listen to the acoustic demo and then the final version of Strawberry Fields for one example.

 
when Lennon (the writer and creator) told Martin how it should sound he did it like the excellent engineer that he was,
.
or as Lennon himself said,...
.

 
RIP Sir George Martin
 Skydog wrote:
i am sick about hearing how George Martin was the 5th Beatle and responsible for their sound
i am of course over generalizing here but Lennon wrote the songs, McCartney produced them and Martin was an engineer 

 
By a clue my friend.  Just take a listen to the acoustic demo and then the final version of Strawberry Fields for one example.
50 RP listeners rated this song a 1.
I am completely dismayed. How in the hell is this song a 1 in anyone's book?? 
 Stingray wrote:

Do not forget GEORGE MARTIN, folks,

he was the true mastermind behind the BEATLES!

Without him, that had "just" been a great band!

With him they were "THE BEATLES"!

In my opinion Martin was worth 51%!



 
Amen to that.   As much as I love their early work (that they actually performed live for a while), it is their studio work that made them the greatest band of all time to so many (not to mention almost acceptable to parents :)—and Martin was clearly the studio genius.  The boys were clearly brilliant songwriters and good musicians too (Paul, particularly accomplished on bass).  But none of the boys had the musical training required to create all that studio magic.  Martin was the man, indeed.    
In twelve and a half months, this song will be FIFTY years old.

Discuss.... 
 Nerubo wrote:
...Stealth update: Those tracking the decline of Western civilization will be dismayed to note that, as of this date, the number of 1 ratings has crept up to 50.
 
Those tracking the bias of RP listeners who rate songs may note that five of the top fifteen songs on that list are by Pink Floyd.  Doesn't say much about eclecticism.
As of today (October 12, 2015), 65% of listeners who rated this gave it a 10.  Makes me wonder if this is the song with the highest number of 10 ratings.

Nope, several songs beat it. Looking at the RP Classics list, some German dude named Beethoven got a 67% 10 share for Moonlight Sonata, and Pink Floyd got 70% 10s for "Echoes".

The number of ratings on "Echoes" is a little low for a fair comparison (Around 200 versus around 2000 for the others). As I recall, the RP Classics takes ratings and then factors in number of ratings to keep things from getting silly, which probably explains why "Echoes" is only number 12.

The masterful "A Day in the Life" currently ranks at #4 on the RP Classics list.

Stealth update: Those tracking the decline of Western civilization will be dismayed to note that, as of this date, the number of 1 ratings has crept up to 50.
 
one of the most amazing songs ever. lennon-mccartney-martin magic. 
 JsDad wrote:
Who are the 48 people who gave this a one, and what the hell were they doing on this site?

 
Americans most likely - country and AOR fans! 
one of the best Beatles albums to be sure! {#Hearteyes}
I just do not get it.  My head says that the Beatles are good but my ears just scream 'PSD'!
The most important song of its era, and one of the best. But that doesn't stop me from changing the station if I don't feel like listening to it.
Remember the local radio station playing this the morning after Lennon was shot. Never was more meaningful than when I heard it that time!!
Took a 300 level course in English Usage and this was an assigned paper, as in:
This is the single best English song in the last Century: Discuss. 
'nuff said. 
BTW, the fellow credited as "the counter" on this record was later shot dead by the police in LA, for holding an air rifle.
 JsDad wrote:
Who are the 48 people who gave this a one, and what the hell were they doing on this site?

 
{#Lol}
Really amazing, even after — or especially because — all these years! I recall singing it as a kid, thinking it was cool; it was in the mind-bending territory of The Moody Blues, The Who, Yes, King Crimson and the like... Some fine examples of Songwriting at its best.
Who are the 48 people who gave this a one, and what the hell were they doing on this site?
Question: what band was actually first with releasing this kind of "trippy" RnR music?

Was it this album or was it something from Buffalo Springfield when Neil Young was exploding with ideas?  
11. better than godlike (and, as the man said, more popular than jesus) {#Bananajam}
Perhaps the most bizarre performance I have ever witnessed (trust me, there have been many) was Miley Cyrus doing a cover of this during Art Basel, Miami.