A day in my life

Drove to Iowa City this morning thinking about "A Day in the Life" by The Beatles.  Not really sure what prompted this, but it really is an amazing song.

I've actually thought about this song a lot before now.  It's one of a few songs that gets me a bit emotional just thinking about it.  If you're not sure which song I'm referring to, it's the last track on the "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967) album, and the song is still given plenty of radio play on classic rock stations.

The song is actually a smash up of two songs written independantly by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.  The beginning of the song, "I heard the news today, oh boy", is from Lennon's reference to a news story about the death of a close friend of his.  The second, faster section comes from McCartney's memories of his youth.  There are some speculation of drug references with the line "I'd love to turn you on", and this line actually resulted in the song being banned by the BBC. 

The parts that really get me, though, are the orchestral additions.  These parts were added after the two parts were written and they form a perfect bridge between them.  The massive crescendo happens twice, first as a bridge between Lennon's and McCartney's contributions.  I've listened to this first crescendo carefully, trying to figure out how it happens.  Yes, it is a real crescendo, where it starts softly and gets louder and louder, but there is a rhythmic element too.  Part of the strings are playing slow rhythm patterns, while the upper voices add to it, playing patterns that are twice as fast.  While all of this is happening the music ascends chromatically (by half steps), stair-stepping its way up until...Paul's part jumps in with an alarm clock.  "Woke up, fell out of bed."

Paul's part is more narrative, describing his morning routine (it is a bit disjointed though).  After he "went into a dream" there is a reference again to the opening section's vocalisation.  The crescendo returns....

Originally envisioning a 90-piece orchestra (this is massive), The Beatles finally settled on extensive overdubbing with the musicians they had to work with.  The crescendo comes back to finish the song, and ends with one of the most amazing final chords in pop music history (in my humble opinion).  It's like the world explodes into (to borrow a line from Carlos Castaneda) "a thousand views of the world." 

This chord is produced by five players pounding E major chords simultaneously on pianos.  The effect is most impressive after the beat of silence given after the final crescendo from the strings.  This moment, where you think the piece is over, provides a brilliant contrast to the piano chord that crashes everything back down to earth, while, at the same time, exploding the universe open into a glittering fireworks display. 

Well, this is what happens in my mind's eye.  And, to me, it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.