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Example research essay topic: Lonely Hearts Upper Lip - 4,301 words

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PAUL McCARTNEY, SIX FEET UNDER? I read the news today, oh boy, about a lucky man who made the grade blew his mind out in a car. He didnt notice that the lights had changed. (the Beatles, 1967) These lyrics proved to fans that Paul McCartney had indeed died in a tragic auto accident in late 1966. Some people were skeptical about the explanation, but upon investigating the album covers and the lyrics of the Beatles songs, the story seems to make sense. Some of the lyrics have to be a twisted in order to make sense in the prank, but after an explanation, the clues are perfectly coherent.

For thirty-one years, the Paul Death Hoax has intrigued a horde of Beatles fans and fanatics alike. While its difficult to point to an absolute point of origination, there is no evidence whatsoever that the Beatles themselves had anything to do with the story, although many claim that the Beatles intended it to be a joke the their fans. However, clues, which seem so cleverly arranged, are random coincidences or inaccurate interpretations of existing facts, and all Beatles have denied that they were in any way involved with the deceit. This leads people to believe that maybe Paul did die in that alleged accident. In the late summer 1969, the Northern Illinois University campus newspaper, Northern Star, obtained a list of clues from a student who wrote a research paper on the hoax. (Saki) Russell Gibb, a disc jockey for the Detroit radio station, WNKR, then got a copy of it from a friend of his, and on his radio show, proceeded to read them and even make up his own on the spot. Within a few days, Gibb and his coworkers were astonished to see that newspapers and reporters took his on-air joke too seriously and spread the story more widely. (Saki) More clues came about when Fred Labour, arts reviewer of the University of Michigan's student newspaper, The Michigan Daily, was asked to review Abbey Road.

He had listened to Gibbs radio show a few days before this, and was inspired to write his own article, based on clues from Gibb and making up his own. The newspaper published the article under the title, McCartney Dead; New Evidence Brought to Light. (Saki) Labour and the editor, J. Gray, assumed that everyone knew it was a joke. The rest of the world took it seriously, and soon Labour was swamped with phone calls from media who wanted more information about his findings. However, these two men are not responsible for the hoax, they were the ones who figured it out from the clues.

James Paul McCartney was born in Liverpool, England, on June 18, 1942, in Ward Hospital. His mother, Mary Patricia, had given up hospital work just over a year previously and became a health visitor. Jim McCartney, his father, worked for Napier's, the engineering works in Liverpool, at the time of Pauls birth. Paul started primary school at Stockton Wood Road Primary when the family moved to See, near Liverpool.

He then went to the Liverpool Institute, the best-known of Liverpool's grammar schools. (Davies, 24) At age thirteen, the Mccartney's moved to a little house in Ardwick, also near Liverpool. A year later, Mary died of breast cancer, a tragedy that was extremely painful to the family, especially Pauls little brother, Michael. The boys were then moved to stay with one of Jims sisters, Aunt Jinny, so Jim could start over with the household work. The boys eventually moved back home, but not without help from Jinny and Aunt Milly, another one of Jims sisters. It was most likely because of his mothers death that Paul decided to start playing guitar. (Davies, 26) He was influenced by the skiffle phase and Bill Haley's early rock numbers, but like his fellow Beatles, he was impressed by Elvis Presley.

It wasnt until the summer of 1956 that Paul finally saw the first performance of his future co-lyricist, John Lennon. Paul was the one who showed them the chords and words to the popular tune, Twenty Flight Rock. (Davies, 33) His first real performance with the Quarrymen was at a dance at the Conservative Club in Broadway. A few years later, with the addition of another guitarist named George Harrison, the group changed their name to Johnny and the Moondogs, a name thought of at the spur of the moment by the host of a television show at an audition. (Davies, 58) In 1959, they changed their name to the Silver Beatles for an audition for the king of British rock and roll, Larry Pages. Through a gig in Hamburg, Germany, they met their permanent drummer, Ringo Starr, who was then in the group Rory Store and the Hurricanes. Finally in 1960 they shortened their name to the Beatles, the name that stuck. (Davies, 92) On Wednesday, November 11, 1966, Paul was driving through town at five oclock in the morning. He was staring at a meter maid named Rita, and didnt realize that he was coming up to a red light.

A gathering of people stared at the end result. Paul died of massive head trauma suffered in the crash. The Beatles later held a Paul look-alike contest to replace him. The winner was named William Campbell, a dead ringer for Paul, except for a scar on his upper lip. The title on the cover of the album Rubber Soul, released in 1965, is in the shape of a heart, indicating a lost soul among the four Beatles. (Saki) The group (including Paul) is looking down, possibly peering into a grave. The picture is somewhat distorted so no one can tell there is an imposter Paul and not the real one.

Even though this album came out before Pauls death, it is still referred to for clues. In the song Ive Just Seen a Face, the words indicate what might have been going through Pauls mind at the time of the crash: -had it been another day, I mightve looked the other way and never been aware. In the song, Girl, the lyrics refer to the highly publicized relationship between Paul and Jane Asher. that a man must break his back to earn his day of leisure will she still believe it when hes dead shows that their relationship wasnt a very good one.

Most of the lyrics of Im Looking Through You tell that Paul is in his grave: Im looking through you, where did you go? I thought I knew you, what did I know? You dont look different but you have changed, Im looking through you, youre not the same your lips are moving I cannot hear, you dont sound different Ive learned the game you were above me but not today, the only difference is youre down there youve changed, youve changed, youve changed. The words in In My Life describe how being alive is better than being dead all these places have their moments. some are dead and some are living, in my life I love you more The song Nowhere Man describes Paul in his present state, dead. Hes a real nowhere man doesnt have a point of view, knows not where hes going too dont know what youre missing, nowhere man can you see me at all?

The next album that contains any clues is The Beatles Yesterday and Today, released in 1966. This album had two covers, the first being the infamous butcher cover. In it, the group has lab coats on, and they are holding dismembered dolls. There is a set of teeth on Pauls right arm, signifying his teeth were knocked out in the car crash, rendering dental records useless for identifying the body. (Gabriel) George is holding a dolls head next to Pauls head. This is supposed to show that Paul was decapitated in the accident. (Gabriel) The alternate cover had Paul in a box with the other three surrounding it.

When the album was turned on its side, the box looked like a coffin. As a sick joke, George called Capitol Records and just had the alternate covers on top of the original covers, instead of reprinting them. (Saki) This is the first time Paul is seen with a scar on his upper lip, so it has to be the imposter, William Campbell. The album had a couple of songs with lyrics that pointed to the death. I believe in yesterday suddenly, Im not half the man I used to be, theres a shadow hanging over me.

Yesterday came suddenly are to signify that either Paul is no longer himself or he is not who he thinks he is. (Gabriel) He does everything he can, Dr. Robert from the song Dr. Robert means that the doctor did everything he could to save Pauls life after the accident. A reference to Paul being buried is in the song And Your Bird Can Sing: you cant see menu cant hear me. Revolver was released in August, 1966. This is the first cover picturing an open hand above Pauls head, signifying that the person below was departed from this world. (Gabriel) Pauls name is sideways, as if it didnt fit with the rest of the names, indicating he doesnt fit in with the rest of the band.

There are three lines of Taxman that have clues: if you drive a car Paul , reinforcing the fact that he died in a car accident, if you get too cold, Paul , saying that bodies become cold after they die, and my advice to those who die, taxman, could be a shortened form of taxidermist, who preserves the remains of dead animals. The word Paul is in asterisks because they really say ohhh, but it could be interchanged with Paul. Instead of using Father McKenzie in Eleanor Rigby, the lyrics were going to be Father McCartney, but the group figured that Pauls father wouldnt be too happy with his surname being used. Father McKenzie, writing the words of a sermon that no one will hearts buried Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave, no one was saved For No One tells of a love of Pauls (possibly Jane Asher) who is no more: she says her love is dead she says that long ago she knew someone but now hes gone. The song Got to Get You Into My Life tells what happened that tragic day, in nutshell: I was alone I took a ride I didnt know what I would find thread then suddenly I see you (the meter maid). (Saki) Even though the lyrics of Tomorrow Never Knows dont have Pauls name in them, it could be substituted for the word all in this line: Paul played the game existence to the end. The front and back covers and inside gatefold of Sgt.

Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, released in 1967, depict the most clues of any other album. Each of the wax figures on the front cover is of a deceased celebrity or someone who was outdated by then. There appears to be a freshly dug grave in front of all the people. The wax figures of the early Beatles show them facing Paul, who is facing forward into a grave. (Saki) Each Beatle is holding an instrument, John, a brass french horn, George, a brass flute, Ringo, a brass trumpet, and Paul, a black Cor Angelis clarinet.

The flowers spell out Beatles, and there is a left-handed bass guitar with three sticks upon it, indicating the three remaining Beatles. Some even believe that the guitar appears to spell PAUL? (OBrien). On the right side of the cover, there is a doll with red lines (blood) running down her dress (Jane Asher or the meter maid), and there is a small car on her lap, the model of the one Paul was driving. Below the T in the word Beatles, there is a statue of the Hindu god Shiva, The Destroyer, whose hand points directly at Paul. (OBrien). If a mirror is held up perpendicular to the drum on the front, so the words LONELY HEARTS are split in half, the combined writing of the drum and the mirror says, 1 ONE 1 X HE DIE.

It says that there are three original Beatles left, the X crosses out the deceased Paul, and the arrow between HE and DIE points directly to Paul. There is another open palm above Pauls head. On the inside gatefold, the Fab Four are seen facing the camera. On Pauls left shoulder, there is a patch whose identification is wrong at first glance. Some say it says O.

P. D. which means officially pronounced dead in Canada, but it really says O. P. P. which stands for Ontario Provincial Police.

This could also be interpreted in the song She Came in Through the Bathroom Window that William Campbell was once a police officer. The vinyl copy of Sgt. Peppers has lyrics printed on the back cover, layered over a picture of the Beatles. Paul is facing backwards, to signify he is an imposter, and he appears to be taller than everyone else, even though he, John, and George are the same height. The lyrics Within You Without You from the song of the same title are coming out of Pauls head.

Georges thumb is pointing to the line, Wednesday morning at five oclock, the time of Pauls death. The word LOVE is spelled out by the Beatles, Pauls O being left out. (OBrien) George is pointing a sixth finger at Paul, indicating an ill-omen. (Saki) Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band is an actual idea taken from history where a man can replace another man without anyone catching on. (Saki) so let me introduce to you, the one and only Billy Shears and Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band introduces William Campbell to the world as Pauls replacement. The lyrics to Fixing a Hole show how William is adjusting to his new position: and it really doesnt matter if Im wrong Im right, where I belong Im right where I belong. See the Beatles standing there, they disagree silly Beatle run round, they worry me Shes Leaving Home tells the day of the week and time of day Paul died: Wednesday morning at five oclock as the day begins The meter maid he was looking at when he died is found to be named Rita, as in Lovely Rita: ...

standing by a parking meter when I caught a glimpse of Rita Good Morning tells of the chaos that followed the accident. nothing to do to save his life youre on your own youre in the street. people running around its five oclock watching the skirts you start to flirt now youre in gear The tragedy is finally told in the song, A Day in the Life: he blew his mind out in a car, he didnt notice that the lights had changed. A crowd of people stood and stared, theyd seen his face before. Nobody was really sure if he was from the house of Paul However, the lyrics on the album cover say house of Lords. On side B of the British release, there is a statement called The Inner Groove that says, Will Paul come back as Superman? (Saki) On the cover of Magical Mystery Tour, also released in 1967, the walrus is Paul, something not discovered until The White Album.

Paul is also the only one in black, and is in front of the other three Beatles. According to the Lewis Carroll story, the walrus ate oysters and died, and the walrus is a sign of death in certain cultures. (OBrien) When a mirror is held up to the word Beatles, it reveals a phone number (2317438). When called, the caller gets this cryptic message: Youre getting closer and the call would abruptly end. (OBrien) Throughout the booklet issued with the vinyl album, Paul is shown without shoes on. Generally people are buried without their shoes on.

On the first page, Pauls magician hat is pulled down over his face, hiding it because it is not really him. Page three finds Paul sitting under crossed flags; crossed flags are placed over caskets at British military funerals. (OBrien) On the same page, a sign sits in front of him at the desk, reading I WAS YOU. It is this picture that the scar on his upper lip is noticed, indicating that William has successfully replaced Paul in the band. Pauls hat is crushed on page four, indicating he suffered head injuries in the crash. The reference to head injuries comes up again on page nine, when the drawing of Paul shows a crack in his head.

Page thirteen shows Ringo's drum reading, LOVE THE 3 BEATLES, and a pair of bloody shoes right next to it. On page 23, the three remaining Beatles have red carnations, while Paul has a black carnation. Page 24 shows yet another open palm over Pauls head. (Gabriel) Day after day, alone on a hill, the man with a foolish grin is keeping perfectly still but nobody ever hears him and the sound he appears to make are the lyrics of Fool on the Hill. On page nine in the booklet, there is a cartoon of Paul labeled fool on the hill, with the word hill running down Pauls head. Nobody ever hears him because he is gone. In I am the Walrus, the eman equals life, while the walrus equals death: I am the eman they are the eman I am the walrus (no youre not, said little Nicola).

Hello Goodbye tells how William had to adjust: you say goodbye and I say hello. There is some conflict about the line I buried Paul, signifying that he was there with Father McKenzie (Eleanor Rigby), at the end of Strawberry Fields Forever. Some say John says that, others say John says cranberry sauce, but why would there be a pause between the syllables? No one you can save that cant be saved nothing you can see that isnt shown yes, hes dead loved you yeah, yeah, yeah from All You Need is Love confirms to listeners that Paul is indeed dead, and will be sorely missed. (Gabriel) The album cover for Hey Jude shows the four Beatles standing in a doorway. On top of the doorway is a picture of where Paul is supposed to be buried. In the song, Lady Madonna, the lyrics say the newspapers that day of the accident were recalled: Wednesday papers didnt come At the end of Revolution, some of the all rights sound just like Paul died, and occasionally a background vocal dubs in that phrase.

The song You Know My Name, Look Up the Number, cites the phone number found on the Sgt. Peppers album cover. There is a cuckoo clock that rings five times (possibly for the four Beatles and William) when the phone number is called and a gruff voice saying, BEWARE OF ABBEY ROAD. (OBrien) White Album, the mysterious double album, was released in 1968. On page seven of the CD booklet, there is a picture of Paul dancing in the bottom right corner. Looking closely, there appears to be two skeletal hands reaching for him. There is a large picture of Paul that clearly shows the scar on his upper lip, on page fourteen.

William Campbells face is finally shown, before plastic surgery to look more like Paul, on page eighteen. As mentioned before, in the song Glass Onion, the lyrics figure out very important evidence about Paul: I told you about Strawberry Fields well hers another place you can goto see how the other half live looking through a glass onion tells of looking at the coffin; glass onion is a term used for a coffin that has a glass panel over the top so people can see in. I told you about the walrus and me man, you know that were as close as can be man, well heres another clue for you all, the walrus was Paul confirms the walrus identity, as well as John and Pauls friendship. I told you about the fool on the hill listen to me fixing a hole in the ocean tells about Pauls passing.

He is referred to in the album Magical Mystery Tour as the fool on the hill. The ocean reference comes from the album Yellow Submarine when the lyrics tell of Paul buried under the grass. The hole is his grave. George sings While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and at the fade-out, he can be heard singing Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul The end of the song Im So Tired and the beginning of the song Blackbird, played backwards, says Paul is dead man, miss him, miss him.

Mother Natures Song is sung by Paul, and he says find me in a field of grass, Mother Natures Son, referring to he being buried. Ringo laments Pauls accident in the song Dont Pass Me By: you were in a car crash and you lost your head (the lyrics say hair) Revolution # 9 is the spookiest of any of the songs mentioned... his voice was low and his eye was high and his eyes were closed Paul died fingers are broken and so is my hair, Im not in the mood for wearing clothing maybe even dead you become naked are heard playing the song forward, among other things, and the droning number 9 refers to Pauls last name, which has nine letters in it. Played backwards, there is a nasty car crash heard, the car catches fire, and Paul is heard screaming get me out!

get me out! The words number nine played backwards really are turn me on, dead man. (OBrien) Yellow Submarines album cover shows another open palm above Pauls head, and the yellow submarine is stationery under the land. In the song Yellow Submarine, John shouts various naval orders, which include Paul is queer, an attempt to divert Pauls fans attentions from Pauls eternal absence so it wouldnt be so traumatic. sky of blue, sea of green, in our yellow submarine the land of submarines tell that Paul was buried in a yellow coffin, under the green grass in the land of coffins, a cemetery. (Saki) The name of the publishing company for the Beatles is called Northern, the song Only a Northern Song was written because of that.

When youre listening late at night you may think the band is not quite righteous may think the bands a little dark and out of key, youre correct, theres nobody there shows that the group really missed Paul because he played bass, and in a band the lower-pitched instruments keep rhythm, as well as percussion. Obviously since Pauls bass-playing abilities were absent, the group suffered musically. People oblivious to Pauls untimely death were made aware of it in Hey Bulldog: you think you know me but you havent got a clue (OBrien, Gabriel) The album cover for Abbey Road, released in 1969, was the clincher. The front shows a funeral procession with each of the Beatles taking a role: John, the preacher in white, Ringo, the mourner in black, and George, the gravedigger in work clothes. Paul is out of step with the rest and in bare feet. In his right hand he holds a cigarette, even though he is left-handed, and he is the only one smoking.

The Volkswagen in the background on the left has a license plate that reads 28 IF, meaning that would be Pauls age at the albums release, if he lived. Because he would actually only be 27, it is pointed out that in many Indian religions, a person is one year older than he or she really is. On the back cover, a crack runs through the word BEATLES signifying a split in the group, and a glimpse of a woman (possibly Rita) can be seen walking by. To the left of the womans arm, a shadow of a skull is present. There are three holes of very similar shape beneath the word BEATLES, representing the three remaining Beatles. To the left of the word, there is a curious pattern of circles cut in the stone four are grouped together, but one is a different color (William), and one is the same color as three of the four (Paul). (OBrien) Come Together describes Paul: he got early warning meaning he died early in his life.

one and one and one is three mentions the three remaining original Beatles. The fact that he lost his hair in the crash is implied in this line: here come ol flattop Pauls eyeballs were replaced by the undertaker as portrayed by this: he got Joo Joo eyeballs He is known to be in heaven because the song calls him holy roller. The song You Never Give Me Your Money has this at the end: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to heaven. Apparently Paul was good enough in his life to get to heaven. (Saki) So, did James Paul McCartney really die on November 9, 1966? Are the clues just coincidental? The much better question is who really was behind the story.

Its a big puzzle, and the Beatles relied on their true fans to cling to the clues until the story was revealed. So, it has to be true, or everyone else has wasted a huge amount of energy finding the clues. This is not an attempt to gather all available clues, new ones being invented by well-meaning fans who think theyve found something new. For the time being, Paul is dead, and that is that.

Case closed.


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