An unlikely setting for songwriting, a meditation retreat at an ashram in Rishikesh, India proved one of the most creative places for the Beatles.
The excerpt is from the book "Maharishi & Me: Seeking Enlightenment with The Beatles’ Guru" by Susan Shumsky is out now, priced at £19.99 and is available on Amazon.co.uk
Away from pressures of superstardom, from February to April 1968 they composed 40 songs while studying with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of transcendental meditation. While in Rishikesh, Donovan suggested, because of their immense fame, the Beatles’ next album could be plain white and nameless. Thus The Beatles (aka the White Album) was born - By Susan Shumsky - Irishtime.com
on the 50th anniversary of The White Album’s release, what are the hidden meanings behind the songs written under Maharishi’s influence?
Mia Farrow’s sister “Dear Prudence” Farrow had abused drugs and alcohol as a teenager. While in Rishikesh, she spent nearly all her time in meditation. John Lennon and George Harrison burst through her door, singing Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band and Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. But she just wanted them to disappear.George sent Prudence a note that John had written Dear Prudence for her.
I’m So Tired chronicled persistent insomnia, hallucinations, misery, and irrational suicidal thoughts. The lyrics “I’m so lonely I want to die” in Yer Blues was no exaggeration.
Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey echoed Maharishi’s favourite expressions: “Take it easy; take it as it comes,”John revealed the “monkey” was Yoko Ono. “
Richard A Cooke III and his mother Nancy Jackson took a safari hunting tigers and afterwards detailed their exploits to Maharishi.Thus originated The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill.
“Look at you!” “Look at me!” John exclaimed to Terry Gustafson, from Tucson Arizona. “One of us don’t belong ‘ere. Get back to the forest! Get back to Tucson Arizona! Get back where you belong!” After that, whenever their paths crossed, John told Terry to “Get back!” Terry claimed this was the birth of Get Back.
Paul wrote Why Don’t We Do it in the Road? after he saw monkeys copulating. He felt people’s sexuality should be natural, simple and free as animals.
One day at breakfast, Paul sang Back in the USSR with its Beach Boys’ sound to Mike Love. Mike suggested mentioning girls from Moscow, Ukraine, and Georgia, as a nod to California Girls.