Life in Liverpool

I was a few years too young to experience Beatlemania first hand. I’ve always enjoyed the Beatles' music, but was never one to get obsessed. I’ve rarely taken the time to look into the meaning of lyrics (except my recent research of “men chunder”) or the personal lives of stars. Yet, I enjoyed the songs, and music is an integral part of my life, as it is for most people. Music binds people together. Music has meaning. Music is emotional. Music is moving. To hear a song can take me back in time to remember certain occasions in my life. When I hear “How Great Thou Art,” I think of my grandma, because it was her favourite song. Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” reminds me of my mom teaching me to do the twist when I was probably 10-years-old. My cousin Todd and I became rebellious with “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” belting out that obscenity in song that we were forbidden to normally say.  The Beatles’ song “Yellow Submarine” brings back memories of exhausting  hiking in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in junior high with 40 pound backpacks made easier with its cadence sung by David Gourdine (Whatever happened to that crazy David Gourdine?)

I’ve found it interesting that many of the students in this group, although younger than I am, know more about the Beatles than I do. I’ve also found it interesting to learn that it wasn’t just screaming female fans that enjoyed the Beatles, but guys, too, found them cool and therefore followed and imitated them. The days in Liverpool were fun for me to immerse myself in the Beatles and become a knowledgeable fan.

Our Beatles Liverpool experience started with a tour of The Beatles Story museum. This was a great introduction to the Beatles. Through pictures, written stories and captions, audio commentary, and displays (including some original instruments played by the Beatles) their story was presented. We’ve read about the Beatles (606 pages worth!), we’ve talked about the Beatles in class (and at the pub!), but actually seeing Beatles’ belongings made a big impression on me. Their early guitars looked like kid’s toys, which made sense, because they were kids ranging from age 14 to 16! Those first instruments, frowned on by John's aunt Mimi, but encouraged by his mother and by Paul's father, gave them a positive pursuit that united the diverse boys.

After The Beatles Story and a lunch break, we hopped on a bus for our Magical Mystery Tour. The tour itself got its name from the album and movie the Beatles produced after the death of their manager Brian Epstein. The tour took us to each of the Beatle’s childhood homes, their schools, and some of the locations mentioned in their songs, like Penny Lane and Strawberry Field. What struck me most about these locations was how normal they were. I think it’s easy to idolize stars and forget that they are just regular people like you and me. My dad always said about famous people, “They put their pants on every morning just like we do, one leg at a time.” Seeing these locations and the roads they traveled, just as we were, really brought that home. We saw that John lived in the most well to do environment, which was still only middle class. Paul, George and Ringo’s houses were very modest and would be considered working class. They lived fairly close to each other making it easy to meet up, compose and practice together.

After our entertaining tour led by a personal friend of Paul McCartney (he made sure to show us the picture of Paul and him together on his phone), we walked over to the Cavern Club on Mathew Street. We had learned about The Cavern in our reading, class, and at The Beatles Story, but actually being there was something else entirely. It was like stepping back in time descending the stairs into The Cavern. When we got down there, there was a performer playing guitar, singing Beatles’ songs, and encouraging the audience to sing along. It didn’t take much encouragement. Next, a John Lennon Tribute Band of two brothers who resembled John and Paul, both in looks and sound, played and sang. Although it’s been over 50 years since the Beatles started playing in The Cavern, it wasn’t difficult to imagine the atmosphere-crowded, loud, hot, sweaty, smelly, and filled with great music and fun- the hip place to be in Liverpool. This familiar, local stage had to improve their performance, feed their ego, and give them a taste of stardom.

Our hostel was just a few doors down from the register office where John’s parents, Julia and Alfred, and John and Cynthia were married. We saw the church where Paul was denied acceptance as a choir boy and another where Paul’s brother was married. These everyday places and events are actual pieces of their early childhood environment. Liverpool was a rough place to grow up after being hard hit by World War II. Times were tough, and these boys felt it. Not only did they have to deal with life in post war, bombed Liverpool (St. Lukes still stands unrepaired in the city centre as a war memorial), John and Paul also had the added burden of dealing with the early death of their mothers. I believe these factors played heavily into how important the band was to the Beatles. The band gave the young boys an income, it gave them a purpose, it allowed them expression, and it gave them close friends to navigate through their difficult teenage years to develop into the Beatles that we know and love.