Taxman

Words and music by
GOERGE HARRISON
From the 1966 Beatles album REVOLVER

With the reintroduction of high taxes for higher earners, this song has been on the minds of many

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'cause I'm the taxman,
yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'cause I'm the taxman,
yeah, I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet
Taxman

'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman

Don't ask me what I want it for (ha ha Mr. Wilson)
If you don't want to pay some more (ha ha Mr. Heath)
'cause I'm the taxman,
yeah, I'm the taxman

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'cause I'm the taxman,
yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me

Badge

Words by GEORGE HARRISON
Music by ERIC CLAPTON
From the CREAM album GOODBYE
and released as a single in 1969

I heard this song for the first time in a long time on BBC Radio 2 when they broadcast a concert by Eric Clapton, and realised I'd forgotten how wistful George Harrison's lyrics were. It was interesting to hear the roots of Harrison's middle-8 guitar break in Here Comes the Sun in the coda to the song, and I realised: great art never ages.

Im thinking about the times you drove in my car
Im thinking that I might have drove you too far
Im thinking of the love
That you laid on my table

I told you not to wander round in the dark
I told you bout the swans that they live in the park
Then I told you about our kid
Now hes married to mabel

Yes I told you that the life goes up and down
Notice how the wheel goes round?
And youd better pick yourself up from the ground
Before they bring the curtain down
Yes before they bring the curtain down

Talking about a girl that looks quite like you
She didnt have the time to wait in the queue
She cried away her life since she fell out the cradle