5 Beatles Songs That Name-Drop Famous Folks

The Beatles achieved a level of fame that few artists or bands can even imagine, let alone approach. Occasionally, their songs mentioned other folks who had earned a bit of renown, some as contemporaries of the group, others from the past.

Most of these name-drops are mere throwaway mentions that aren’t all that crucial to the understanding of the songs that include them. And John Lennon, a writer who had few filters, was responsible for all of them. Here are five songs where The Fab Four referenced famous folks.

Edgar Allan Poe in “I Am the Walrus” from Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

At some point, John Lennon realized people were inspecting his lyrics to a degree that bordered on the unhealthy. Ever the instigator, Lennon decided to have a little bit of fun at their expense. “I Am the Walrus” stands out as one of the most thrilling pieces of music the band ever created, all unresolved crescendos and weird noises and bravura flourishes. Lyrically, it means little to nothing at all, which is why you shouldn’t get too worried about the people kicking Edgar Allan Poe. Nor should you linger too long on the import of the inclusion of the doomed master of macabre, twisty poems, and short stories.

Bob Dylan in “Yer Blues” from The White Album (1968)

Two LPs worth of material meant The Beatles could try out just about every imaginable genre on The White Album. Electric blues was not something the band usually tackled, and, based on the evidence presented on “Yer Blues,” we don’t think we’re going too far out on a limb to say it wasn’t their strong suit (although the instrumental breakdown in between the main sections of the song is pretty great). Lyrically, it’s mostly John Lennon venting about his demons, and he at one point mentions Dylan’s Mr. Jones and his suicidal tendencies. It’s a reference to the subject of Bob’s wilting character sketch “Ballad of a Thin Man.”

Mao Zedong in “Revolution 1” from The White Album (1968)

It’s interesting to think the other three Beatles originally balked when John Lennon came in with this song. While they were worried about the controversy it might court, a close listen actually reveals a very level-headed approach to the tumult in the world at the time. Lennon was sending a message to those who wanted him to jump aboard their causes, telling them he would only do so if they could prove their plans were worthwhile and wouldn’t add to the problems in the world. He also practically advised them that aligning themselves with the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong wouldn’t help: You ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow.

Sir Walter Raleigh in “I’m So Tired” from The White Album (1968)

John Lennon liked to sleep. Perhaps it was his way of de-stressing from the pressures of being in the biggest rock band in the world. Or maybe he was just prone to laziness. When he was deprived of his slumber, as he was while he was in India during The Beatles’ retreat with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968, it was cause for panic. Lennon found the meditating he did during the day didn’t help him relax at night, and he was also anxious about being separated from Yoko Ono. His insomnia manifested itself in “I’m So Tired,” where he lashes out at Elizabethan statesman Sir Walter Raleigh (He was such a stupid git) for popularizing tobacco use in England.

B.B. King and Doris Day in “Dig It” from Let It Be (1970)

When considering the songs that ended up on Let It Be and the way in which they were presented, you have to remember The Beatles had pretty much checked out on the project. They recorded most of it in January 1969, put it aside to make Abbey Road instead of following it through, and then left it largely on the back burner when John Lennon decided to walk away from the group in September ’69. Who knows who ultimately made the decision to include “Dig It,” a snippet of an improvised jam, right down to John Lennon’s stream-of-consciousness lyrics that included a shout-out to the blues legend B.B. King and Hollywood sweetheart Doris Day.

Photo by Central Press/Getty Images