{tumblr} Gladys Constanten ~ The Sin

Originally posted on Tumblr, February 11, 2014.

This isn’t really a Beatles-type image, is it? Much more, Stones, or The Doors … BUT … as I’m sure you noticed, yesterday was the fiftieth anniversary of the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show (yes, I saw it), and we are within a couple of days of the fiftieth anniversary of the day “I Want To Hold Your Hand” hit number one on the American charts.

And I still remember, clearly, the first time I heard that song on my tinny little bedside radio … the exuberant roar of young life, hope, and dreams exploding joyously across the planet. Suddenly, the enormous pain of losing our beloved president, John Kennedy, just seventy-five days earlier was swept away in the incandescent din of the Beatles music and we knew the world had changed. Instantly.

So … that said … I thought about an appropriate Beatles’ song for this image, wanting to avoid the “safe” choice of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and this Lennon classic from the White Album popped in my head. Perfect!

You Really Got A Hold On Me It looks like YouTube is cracking down on Beatles songs now. I couldn’t find ONE version of Happiness Is A Warm Gun.

She’s not a girl who
misses much
Do-do-do-do-do, oh yeah

She’s well acquainted
With the touch of a velvet hand
Like a lizard on a window pane

Man in the crowd
With the multicoloured mirrors
On his hobnail boots

Lying with his eyes
While his hands are busy
Working overtime

The soap impression of his wife
Which he ate and donated
to the National Trust

I need a fix cause I’m going down
Down to the bits that I’ve left up town
I need a fix cause I’m going down

Mother Superior jumped the gun
Mother Superior jumped the gun
Mother Superior jumped the gun
(BIS)

Happiness is a warm gun
( bang bang shoot shoot )
Happiness is a warm gun, yes it is
(bang bang shoot shoot)

When I hold you in my arms (oh yes)
When I feel my finger on your trigger (oh yes)
I know nobody can do me no harm
Because
happiness is a warm gun, momma
Happiness is a warm gun
-Yes it is.
Happiness is a warm, yes it is… Gun!
Well don’t ya know that happiness is a warm gun, momma? (yeah)