IT'S "TAXMAN" TIME

Tax season is almost over and newscasts are sure to dredge out the one hit song about taxes during their coverage at the local post office. I'm talking about The Beatles song "Taxman". It's not easy to make a hit song about taxes. But somehow The Beatles managed to do it. The Beatles thought the song was so good that they put it as the first song on side one of the "Revolver" album. The album itself is considered one of the best albums ever. Most lists rank it in their top five. It's also one of my favorites. Along with "Rubber Soul" and "Meet The Beatles" and "The White Album" and, I can keep going.

George Harrison was actually the one who wrote it. He asked for and got help from John Lennon. John supposedly helped George, but very reluctantly. Apparently, he didn't want to piss off his writing partner Paul McCartney. George didn't ask help from Paul because he knew he wouldn't get it. Paul did, however, play lead guitar on the actual recording and this includes him playing that terrific guitar solo.

One of the lyrics to the song is, and this is the taxman talking, "Here's one for you, nineteen for me." The thing about that lyric, which is pretty incredible, is that George wasn't that far off. Taxes for the upper tax brackets in England back then were incredibly high. In fact, most of their money did go to pay taxes. I guess George found out the hard way and decided to write a song about it. Must be nice to be like that. Something bugs you, bam, you write a hit song about it. It must be nice.