The Beatles (Let it be)

Artist: The Beatles
Album: The Beatles
Released: 1968
Genres: Pop music, Country music, Rock, Pop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDYfEBY9NM4

What does the song "Let it be about"?
-Beatlemania-

It begins with Paul saying how when he finds himself in times of trouble, "Mother Mary" comes to him.  I had always thought that Mary means the virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. But Paul's mother was also named Mary, and she died when he was a young boy. Paul has said in interviews that when he wrote the song he was thinking about his mother.

In the song Mary comes like an angel whispering to him these wise words-- let it be. "Let it be" means let go, relax, don't worry about your troubles.  These are words of comfort, reminding us not to think about sad things too much, to accept the bad things that have happened that we cannot change.

But this is not the only message in Paul's song. Next, he lifts the listener up and out of his own life, soon he is singing about all the broken-hearted people in the world, people who hate each other or are at war. "Although they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see. There will be an answer-- Let it be."

This time the words "Let it be" have a different meaning.  "Let it be" here does not mean to just relax about our problems and accept bad things.  It means "let it happen"-- let some new world, a happier and more peaceful world, become a reality.

When Paul wrote this song in 1969 there was violence in Ireland, wars happening in Vietnam and around the world.  So he was speaking about sad and angry people who are fighting one another all over the world. We still have situations like this today, with broken-hearted people fighting each other in Pakistan and India, or Palestine and Israel.

I think this song is Paul McCartney's greatest work. It gives us his vision for peace. It is similar in some ways to the song "Imagine," which John Lennon wrote several years later. Both songs give us hope of a happier and more peaceful world.

The Lyrics-

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness, she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the broken-hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be, be

And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shinin' until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

And let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be