In 1973, the Bubs celebrated their tenth reunion at Cambridge’s Sheraton Commander Hotel. Unfortunately, the mid-‘70’s brought harder times. Larger issues such as the Vietnam War, the Watergate Scandal, and the oil crisis resulted in less enthusiasm and opportunity for extra-curricular campus activities. Fortunately, a small but dedicated group of undergraduate singers, with the help of the Beelzebubs Alumni Association, managed to keep the group alive and strong by singing, traveling, and recording. Because the group survived these times, the Bubs remain Tufts’ longest running student organization. During the ‘70’s, the Bubs also began adding popular music to their usual repertoire of barbershop, doo-wop, gospel, and jazz.
The 1980’s brought prosperous times for the Bubs. Each year, the gigging schedule grew larger while tour destinations became increasingly farther from Tufts. By the end of the ‘80’s, the group’s most distant destinations included Florida, California, Colorado, and England. Also, on-campus enthusiasm for the group increased, resulting in stronger audition pools and more complex musical arrangements.
In the early 1990’s, the Bubs made several developments that not only changed the group’s own style but also permanently affected the characteristics of collegiate and contemporary a cappella. The 1991 album Foster St. almost completely abandoned the traditional arranging styles of glee club, doo-wop, and barbershop music and introduced a new brand of arranging which aimed to capture the driving nature of contemporary popular music.
Throughout the 1990’s and into the new millennium, the Bubs have continued to develop this new style while also performing some music of the group’s past. To date, the Bubs have recorded 25 studio and 3 live albums and have won several awards for performing and recording. They also boast an active alumni association whose Bubs Foundation raises funds for music in Boston’s public schools. The Bubs have traveled to nearly every corner of the United States and have toured Europe on several occasions. They have performed at colleges, corporate gigs, public and private elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, bar mitzvahs, wedding showers, restaurants, hospitals, churches, Fenway Park, the Bank North Garden, Disneyworld, Disneyland, Eurodisney, the United States embassies in France and England, on Late Night with David Letterman and back home in Goddard Chapel at the top of the hill in Medford, MA.
Magical Mystery Tour
Tufts Beelzebubs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
roll up, roll up for the mystery tour,
roll up, roll up for the mystery tour,
roll up, (you've got an invitation) roll up for the mystery tour,
roll up, (to make a reservation) roll up for the mystery tour,
the magical mystery tour is waiting to take you away,
waiting to take you away,
roll up, roll up, roll up, roll up for the mystery tour,
roll up, roll up, roll up, roll up for the mystery tour,
roll up, (we've got everything you need) roll up for the mystery tour,
roll up, (satisfaction garanteed) roll up for the mystery tour,
the magical mystery is hoping to take you away
hoping to take you away
the magical mystery tour
roll up, roll up for the magical mystery tour
roll up, (you've got an invitation) roll up for the mystery tour,
roll up, (to make a reservation) roll up for the mystery tour,
the magical mystery is coming to take you away
coming to take you away
the magical mystery is coming to take you away
coming to take you away
take you today
The lyrics of Tufts Beelzebubs’ song “Magical Mystery Tour” invite the audience to participate in a journey that promises to be both mysterious and magical. The opening lines, “roll up, roll up for the magical mystery tour, step right this way” is reminiscent of a carnival barker inviting people to come see the spectacle of the show, adding to the sense of excitement and wonder. The repetition of the phrase “roll up” reinforces the invitation, creating an urgent and spirited tone. The promise of a “mystery tour” is alluring, as it suggests the possibility of the unexpected and the unknown.
The chorus of the song reiterates the invitation to “roll up” and join the “mystery tour,” while emphasizing that the “magical mystery tour is waiting to take you away.” The repetition of the phrase “roll up” and “magical mystery” creates a sense of anticipation and excitement, while the words “waiting to take you away” encourage the listener to suspend their disbelief and embrace the fantasy of the journey.
Overall, the lyrics to “Magical Mystery Tour” is an enigmatic journey into the realm of the mystical, enticing the listener with the offer of a magical, mysterious adventure that's waiting to take them away.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll up, roll up for the magical mystery tour, step right this way
Come join us for an adventure, follow us and let us take you on a magical journey
roll up, roll up for the mystery tour,
Come join us for a mysterious journey
the magical mystery tour is waiting to take you away,
We have a journey waiting for you that will take you away from the mundane and towards excitement
roll up, (you've got an invitation) roll up for the mystery tour,
We have an exclusive opportunity for you, don't miss your chance to be a part of it
roll up, (to make a reservation) roll up for the mystery tour,
Secure your spot on the journey, make a reservation and don't miss out
the magical mystery is hoping to take you away
We are excited to take you on this journey and hope you'll be just as excited to join us
roll up, roll up for the magical mystery tour
Come join us and be a part of the adventure
roll up, (satisfaction guaranteed) roll up for the mystery tour,
We guarantee that this journey will be everything you hope for and more
the magical mystery is coming to take you away
We are on our way to take you on this adventure
coming to take you away
We're here to take you to a new world of wonder and excitement
take you today
Join us on this adventure right now
Contributed by Samuel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.