"Because" - The Beatles

“Because” by The Beatles

Because the world is round,
it turns me on
Because the world is round
Ah … Because the wind is high,
it blows my mind
Because the wind is high.

Ah ….Love is old, love is new
Love is all, love is you
Because the sky is blue,
it makes me cry
Because the sky is blue.
Ah …

Not the most popular Beatles song, but one of the most intriguing, in my opinion. The song was released on the Abbey Road album in 1969 for both the UK and US versions. On the Beatles Discography website (an awesome resource for any Beatles fan) it reads that John’s inspiration for the song came when Yoko played Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# minor (the Moonlight Sonata) on the piano for him. He playfully asked if she could play it backwards, and being the pianist that she was, she did. John later claimed that the melody from “Because” is actually Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 backwards.

I don’t have the sheet music for both pieces with me, but supposedly the harpsichord arpeggiation for “Because” is a direct lift from the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata. Listening to both, it really does sound like John stole the left hand arpeggiation from Beethoven, although the chord progression isn’t necessarily the same. In fact, I grabbed a piano and found that “Because” is even written in the same key, C# minor. I had never thought about this before, but it really does make “Because” much more humorous, in that goofy, Beatles-ish sort of way.

The song uses John, Paul and George on joint lead vocals, harmonizing on three parts throughout the song. John also plays lead guitar, while Paul plays bass (as usual) and George plays a moog synthesizer (?). George Martin plays an electric harpsichord on the track, which adds a classical music element. Electric harpsichords were also “hip” at the time. It was the ‘60s, man, and Baroque was IN.

I love how the lyrics are straight from an acid trip: The cyclic feeling of the harpsichord arpeggiations could make a drugged up person really dizzy. The lyrics are reminiscent of the times when you’re stoned and you start discussing really deep things like the meaning of life, and are we alone? and what is love? and why is the sky blue? Also the phrases, “It turns me on” and “it makes me high.” Very psychedelic. It makes perfect sense.

Tidbit: There’s a great cover of this song done for George Martin’s farewell album (the Beatles’ famed producer) performed by Vanessa Mae and a large chorus.

Another interesting tidbit: The band had a running joke about Beethoven references. Whenever a reporter asked them, “What do you think of Beethoven?”, Ringo would answer, “I love him … especially his poems.”

:) Groovy, baby.