1. What does "jai guru deva om" mean in "Across the Universe"?

It's Sanskrit for "Glory to the spiritual master"; it was a mantra of John's that he included as part of the lyric. "Om" is a meditative syllable finishing the phrase. May also be a reference to the Maharishi's guru, Guru Dev.

2. Are "Let It Be" or "Yellow Submarine" available on video? "Yellow Submarine" has been rereleased with great fanfare on video, DVD and in a new CD "songtrack" with updated mixes; the video/DVD includes footage that was once missing ("Hey Bulldog"). "Let It Be" remains unavailable and out of print.

3. Is "A Hard Day's Night" due for theatrical rerelease soon? It's not currently scheduled, but may be out in cinemas in early 2000.

4. Who says "I've got blisters on my fingers!" at the end of "Helter Skelter"?

Ringo. See Lewisohn's "Recording Sessions" for details, and "Many Years From Now"; Paul corroborates this.

5. Does "Norwegian Wood" have a hidden meaning?

John claimed it was about an affair he was having but wanted to keep secret; Paul added the final image, which he said is a reference to burning down the woman's flat (apartment). "Norwegian wood", according to Paul, was a variety of cheap pine, popular for furnishing one's domicile at the time. There's no evidence that the song is about a marijuana cigarette or was ever titled "Knowing She Would". The working title was actually "This Bird Has Flown".

6. Is it true Ringo didn't perform the drum solo on Abbey Road/was overdubbed on Beatles records?

Ringo did perform the drum solo, at the urging of his compatriots. There's also no evidence that Ringo was regularly overdubbed by anybody, including Bernard Purdie, a session drummer who claimed he'd done session work on Beatles tracks

.7. Does "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" refer to LSD?

The song's title derives from a painting done by John's son Julian. John claimed the lyrics referred to Lewis Carroll's "Alice" books. The imagery may be drug- or surrealism-influenced but an exact reference to LSD in this song is lacking, despite the song's initial letters...which are more accurately transcribed as "LITSWD".

8. Can you hear "I buried Paul" at the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever"?

It's actually "cranberry sauce". Listen to the track on Anthology Vol. 2; John also confirmed in interviews that he said "cranberry sauce".

9. I heard that Paul was right handed except when playing bass!

Paul is left handed for everything. Ringo is also left handed. John and George are right handed.

10. What happened to Paul's tooth in the "Paperback Writer"/"Rain" promo?

In the film made to promote these two songs, Paul appears to have a chipped tooth...and it's true. He suffered the injury in December 1965, riding his motorbike near his father's house outside Liverpool. The tooth was still not capped permanently when the film promos were made; and outtakes of the "butcher cover" photograph show Paul's jagged tooth as well.

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BONUS QUESTION: - What's a good book to read about Beatles history/recordings/etc.?

Here's a short list of the most reliable, well-researched books about the Fabs.
Not all are in print; check your local library for hard-to-find references.

Mark Lewisohn (all out of print but well worth the search): The Complete Beatles Chronicle (1992), The Beatles Recording Sessions (1988), The Beatles Live! (1986)

Allan Kozinn: The Beatles (20th Century Composers) (1995)--excellent music analysis and historical review

Richard Buskin: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Beatles (1998)

Doug Sulpy, Ray Schweighardt: Get Back--The unauthorized chronicle of the Beatles' 'Let It Be' Disaster (1997)

Piet Schreuders et al: The Beatles London (1994)---travel guide, out of print but worth the search; includes research by Lewisohn

Hunter Davies: The Beatles (1967, 1997)--first substantive biography

Ray Coleman: Lennon (1992)--most balanced bio of John

Barry Miles: Many Years From Now (1997, 1998)--comprehensive bio of Paul

Thomson and Gutman: The Lennon Companion (1990)--contemporary articles from the sixties about the Fabs

Perry Cox: The Official Price Guide to the Beatles--Records and Memorabilia (1999)

Mark Hertsgaard: A Day In the Life: The Music and Artistry of the Beatles (1966)

Ian MacDonald: Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (1995)

If you have a question about a particular book, ask in rmb. Someone's bound to have an opinion. ----

Is your question not answered here? Maybe it's one of the FAQTCBA...Frequently Asked Questions That Can't Be Answered. These include: -
Who's more talented, Paul or John? -
Can George play the guitar at all or does he have to be taught? -
Are the Beatles better than (fill in 90s band of choice here)? -
Who is the fifth Beatle? -
Are bootlegs moral or immoral? -
Is mono or stereo better?

These sorts of questions tend to spark topics that have a periodic recurrence in r.m.b. If you start one up, please be aware that a) you may never get a definitive answer, and b) you may get mail from folks telling you "We just discussed this" or a rude insult---or both. Be forewarned. Netiquette needs no complete FAQ in itself. Treat others as you wish to be treated. All else is commentary. ---- [email protected]