Lay for the Day 12th August

1966: the Beatles begin their third and final tour of the United States. The week before (5th August in Britain, 8th in America) they had released the LP usually cited as their masterpiece, Revolver. Four weeks later, the US tour would end with their last ever concert, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, on 29th August.

Alphabeatles – part 1 [continued 17th August]

A is for the Amps
that couldn’t compete
with the shrieking hordes
that drowned out the beat.

B’s for the Beauty
that no-one foresaw
could come from four scruffs
from a northern shore.

C’s for the Cavern
where Brian Epstein
found the local stars
were starting to shine.

D is for the Drum-
kit that Ringo hit
like your funny-bone
with his dry Scouse wit.

E is for Ears that
were covered in hair
yet of great music
wrote more than their share.

by John Gibbens,
from The Improvised Version, Volume 1

The Lay Reader: an archive of the poetic calendar