The Word

Another from Rubber Soul today-- I must be feeling a little rubberish lately or something. Let's do "The Word," the song that I think is the first song that broke away from the boy-meets-girl formula that had built previous Beatles songs. It's also surely the first song on which the Beatles got countercultural. I've read that Paul and John actually smoked first and then wrote down this song with multicolored pens, which apparently seemed like a great idea at the time. It's noteworthy because they tended NOT to write while high (which I feel to be a good policy), so this was kind of a first. And the song it produced? Well, I mean, it sounds a little like something that geniuses would write while high, in my opinion.

I don't mean to diminish it, though. While it's not the most sophisticated song the Beatles ever wrote, it's still got some killer playing-- I've actually come to appreciate this one more over the years. On a seemingly simple frame, the Beatles hung a lot of cool stuff, is what I'm saying. For one thing, it's a really excellent bass part for Paul, isn't it? That bass rocks, and it's backed up with some excellent harmonium playing courtesy of George Martin. To my ear, the drums actually sound de-emphasized in the production, which makes the bass that much more critical to the texture. Then the guitars work that really simple two-note motif with just the right syncopated edge. In the verses, the guitar gets this really full, Rubber Soulish sort of ring to it as it works another totally simple four-note figure, which totally works, driving up some good tension before falling back into the relaxed groove of the chorus. I don't know-- the whole thing somehow equals more than the sum of its parts for me. Like a lot of songs from this period, it sounds like musical sunshine to me.

And it works as a happy "yay for love!" kind of song for me today. I am still on vacay and super-excited to watch my friend from back in college skate for the Cherry Blossom Bombshells in the DC Rollergirls Championship bout today HELL YEAH. Which I guess is not a very lovey-dovey sport, as they go, but what the hell. The sun is out, and the word is love, and this day is going to rock. Hope your Saturday does too!

"The Word," released in the U.K. side A track 6 of Rubber Soul, December 3, 1965; in the U.S. side A track 5 of Capitol's sucky Rubber Soul, December 6, 1965.