I have always been a bigger fan of the politics The Beatles advocated than of the songs they sang. I especially admired their anti-war views which, to their credit, they actually sang about in songs like Revolution and Give Peace a Chance.
But it seems I may have just cause to become an even bigger fan of their politics. Because reports are that at a time when major American entertainers like Elvis Presley were blithely playing to segregated audiences across the country, The Beatles refused to do so.
According to the BBC, they not only insisted that their contract specify that they would “not be required to perform in front of a segregated audience“, but John Lennon is quoted saying with righteous indignation that:
We never play to segregated audiences and we aren’t going to start now. I’d sooner lose our appearance money.
(BBC, September 18, 2011)
Clearly John was prepared to stand up for racial equality Here, There and Everywhere? But lest you think he was imposing his progressive views on the band, here are a few lyrics Paul McCartney wrote in 1968 in a symbolic song called Blackbird, which, ironically, was featured on The White Album:
Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to ariseBlackbird singing in the dead of night, take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be freeBlack-bird fly
Black-bird fly, into the light of a dark black night…
Who knew…?