Taxman

Throughout the Beatles’ seven-year recording career, most of the songs were written by either John Lennon and/or Paul McCartney. George Harrison was allowed two songs per album. Neither Lennon nor McCartney wanted to spend too much time on George’s stuff. Neither did producer George Martin. They just didn’t think George’s material was “up to scratch.” That changed with Revolver. For this album, George got three songs, including this ode to Britain’s Inland Revenue [our version of the IRS], Taxman. Not only were George’s songs on par with those of Lennon and McCartney, Taxman was the first song on Revolver. This was the first great [not merely good] song to come from George Harrison. In the Anthology series, George explained his motivation for writing Taxman:

It was in April 1966 that we started recording Revolver. Taxman was on Revolver. I had discovered I was paying a huge amount of money to the taxman. You are so happy that you’ve finally started earning money – and then you find out about tax. In those days we paid nineteen shillings and sixpence out of every pound (there were twenty shillings in the pound), and with the supertax and surtax and tax-tax it was ridiculous – a heavy penalty for making money. That was the big turn-off for Britain. Anybody who ever made any money moved to America or somewhere else.

George was none too thrilled about confiscatory taxation.

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

(If you drive a car, car) - I’ll tax the street
(If you try to sit, sit)- I’ll tax your seat
(If you get too cold, cold) – I’ll tax the heat
(If you take a walk, walk) - I'll tax your feet.

Taxman!

'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman

Don't ask me what I want it for (ah-ah, Mister Wilson)
If’you don't want to pay some more (ah-ah, Mister Heath)
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Now my advice for those who die (Taxman)
Declare the pennies on your eyes (Taxman)
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

And’you're working for no one but me.

Taxman!

So for those of you who haven’t filed your tax returns yet, this one’s for you. Enjoy!


From the Beatles cartoon series...