"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
For the benefit of Mr. Kite
There will be a show tonight on trampoline
The Hendersons will all be there
Late of Pablo Fanques Fair, what a scene
Over men and horses, hoops and garters
Lastly through a hogshead of real fire
In this way Mr. K. will challenge the world
The celebrated Mr. K.
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishops Gate
The Hendersons will dance and sing
As Mr. Kite flies through the ring, don't be late
Messrs. K and H. assure the public
Their production will be second to none
And of course Henry The Horse dances the waltz
The band begins at ten to six
When Mr. K. performs his tricks without a sound
And Mr. H. will demonstrate
Ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground
Having been some days in preparation
A splendid time is guaranteed for all
And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill
There will be a show tonight on trampoline
The Hendersons will all be there
Late of Pablo Fanques Fair, what a scene
Over men and horses, hoops and garters
Lastly through a hogshead of real fire
In this way Mr. K. will challenge the world
The celebrated Mr. K.
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishops Gate
The Hendersons will dance and sing
As Mr. Kite flies through the ring, don't be late
Messrs. K and H. assure the public
Their production will be second to none
And of course Henry The Horse dances the waltz
The band begins at ten to six
When Mr. K. performs his tricks without a sound
And Mr. H. will demonstrate
Ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground
Having been some days in preparation
A splendid time is guaranteed for all
And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill
Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by tim_hutton
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! [Album Version] Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney John Lennon
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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An awesome song. The events in this song were taken word for word from an antique poster John came across. I love this song.
This song was written by John after he bought a victorian circus poster while recording Strawberry Fields. Inspired by the victorian wording and the was the names were posted i.e Messrs Kite and henderson, he decided to write the song. Almost all of the details on the poster are included in the song at some point.Some of the billed events have been changed for the song, e.g the horse was not named Henry and Mr. H actually was supposed to do 21 somersaults on solid ground! Gr8 song!
@Romeo_Scotland <br /> Great Backstory to John's inspiration and lyrics content of Mr Kite .<br /> Readers should be aware the full version including details of the poster are only on the extended version on the Love album. The Sgt Pepper's version is followed by a digression into She's So Heavy (Abbey Road) with garbled references to the poster by all the Beatles, but you'll need the poster in front of you to identify them. The trivia is covered by a good link with the poster. Pablo Fanque was a unique Frenchman of color; the only black circus owner in Europe; and the song was banned in England for references to Horse they thought was to Heroin. Maybe the richest song in detail since Revolution #9
This song always seems to put me in a good mood.
Found the poster...'tis at beatlesagain.com/bkite.html
It's mocking the elite class who try to out do each other in splendour - 'keeping up with the Jones''.
great song one of my favorites
The poster was a victorian circus poster
Iano:
Care to explain?
This one of the greatest beatles song myt first time hearing it i tripped out an dthought i was mr. kite it was the greatest feeling ever
This is the only Beatles song in which I have the lyrics memorized