Allan Sherman was a pioneer of the comedy-rock scene. Although not much to… Read Full Bio ↴Allan Sherman was a pioneer of the comedy-rock scene. Although not much to look at, the overweight, balding, short, Jewish man gained popularity and became quite the star because of his witty infusion of satirical comedy into very well orchestrated renditions of classic tunes and songs. A song would usually have a lyric, perhaps a name or phrase, that has very little to do with what the original song was about, but the words would sound similar. His albums had nothing to hide, either, as each one was recorded live, and all the laughter, and occasionally a lack thereof, could be heard.

Sherman was just a television producer, most famous for the quiz show "I've Got a Secret," not at all known as a comedian or performer, and it shocked everyone in the know when songs from his album My Son, The Folk Singer became popular. In fact, president John F. Kennedy was heard singing the song Sarah Jackman. Sherman's overnight popularity suddenly ended when the nation's attention focused on Kennedy's assassination, and the nation was too sad for such up-beat musical offerings.

Sherman then slipped back into his longtime depression, and died, quietly, at the young age of 48.

Pop Hates the Beatles
Allan Sherman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My daughter needs a new phonograph.
She wore out all the needles.
Besides, I broke the old one in half.
I hate the Beatles.

She says they have a Liverpool beat.
She says they used to play there.
Four nice kids from offa the street.

Why didn't they stay there?

What is all the screaming about?
Fainting and swooning.
Sounds to me like their guitars
Could use a little tuning.

The boys are from the British Empire.
The British think they're keen.
If that is what the British desire,
God Save The Queen.

No daughter of mine can push me around.
In my home I'm the master.
But when the British come to town,
Gad, what a disaster.

Little girls in sneakers and jeans.
Destroyed the territory.
'Twas like some of the gorier scenes
From The West Side Story.

Of course my daughter had to go there.
The tickets are cheap, she hollers.
I was able to pick up a pair
For forty-seven dollars.

When the Beatles come on stage,
They scream and shriek and cheer them.
Now I know why they're such a rage,
It's impossibe to hear them.

Ringo is the one with the drum,
The others all play with him.
It shows you what a boy can become
Without a sense of rhythm.

There's Beatle book and T-shirts and rings,
And one thing and another.
To buy my daughter all of those things,
I had to sell her brother.

Back in 1776
We fought the British then, folks.
Parents of America,
It's time to do it again, folks.

When they come back, here's how we'll begin,
We'll throw 'em in Boston harbor.

But please, before we toss 'em all in,
Let's take 'em to a barber.

Overall Meaning

Allan Sherman's song "Pop Hates the Beatles" is a satirical take on the mass hysteria surrounding Beatlemania in the 1960s, with the titular "Pop" referring to the father figure in the song who strongly dislikes the band but is forced to endure their popularity due to his daughter's fandom. The opening lines establish the daughter's need for a new phonograph after wearing out all of the needles, which Pop claims to have broken in half. This sets the stage for Pop's overall disdain for the band, as he sings "I hate the Beatles" repeatedly throughout the song.

Pop challenges his daughter's admiration for the band, questioning what all the screaming is about and suggesting their guitars could use a little tuning. He also takes shots at the British Empire, mocking their interest in the group and sarcastically proclaiming "God Save The Queen." He tries to assert his authority as the head of the household, saying "no daughter of mine can push me around," but ultimately he gives in to her desire to see the Beatles in concert, despite the chaos it causes.

The song ends with a call to action to "Parents of America" to "do it again" and fight the British invasion in music. Pop suggests they throw the Beatles in Boston harbor, but not before taking them to a barber.

Overall, the lyrics convey a humorous critique of the Beatles' overwhelming impact on popular culture and the generational divide they created between parents and their children.

Line by Line Meaning

My daughter needs a new phonograph.
My daughter has worn out the phonograph’s needles and I broke the old one in half. Therefore, she requires a new one.

She says they have a Liverpool beat.
My daughter claims that The Beatles have a Liverpool beat.

She says they used to play there.
My daughter asserts that The Beatles used to play in Liverpool.

Four nice kids from offa the street.
Four kind and well-mannered kids from the street form The Beatles.

Why didn't they stay there?
Why didn't The Beatles stay in Liverpool?

What is all the screaming about?
Speaking of the uncontrollable screams, what is the reason behind all the shouting?

Fainting and swooning.
People swooning and fainting.

Sounds to me like their guitars
To me, it seems those guitars of theirs...

Could use a little tuning.
...need to get tuned.

The boys are from the British Empire.
The lads are from the British Empire.

The British think they're keen.
The Brits think they're splendid.

If that is what the British desire,
If that's what our fellow countrymen wish for...

God Save The Queen.
...then so be it, God save The Queen!

No daughter of mine can push me around.
My daughter can't manipulate me.

In my home I'm the master.
I am the head of the household.

But when the British come to town,
However, when the British are in town...

Gad, what a disaster.
...that's when the real disaster happens.

Little girls in sneakers and jeans.
Young girls with jeans and sneakers.

Destroyed the territory.
They ruined our home.

'Twas like some of the gorier scenes
It felt like the bloodier scenes...

From The West Side Story.
...from West Side Story.

Of course my daughter had to go there.
Naturally, my daughter had to attend the event.

The tickets are cheap, she hollers.
She claims that tickets are affordable.

I was able to pick up a pair
I could purchase two tickets...

For forty-seven dollars.
...for 47 US dollars.

When the Beatles come on stage,
When The Beatles get on stage...

They scream and shriek and cheer them.
...people start screaming, shouting, and cheering.

Now I know why they're such a rage,
Finally, I understand why everybody adores them...

It's impossible to hear them.
...it's just a shame that it's impossible to hear them properly.

Ringo is the one with the drum,
Ringo Starr plays the drum.

The others all play with him.
The rest of the bandmates play along with him.

It shows you what a boy can become
This example demonstrates what a boy's work can result in…

Without a sense of rhythm.
...when rhythm isn't a key strength.

There's Beatle book and T-shirts and rings,
There are books about The Beatles, as well as t-shirts and rings and such...

And one thing and another.
...and more miscellaneous things other than that.

To buy my daughter all of those things,
I had to purchase all those things for my daughter...

I had to sell her brother.
...but, unfortunately, I needed to sell her brother's belongings to afford them.

Back in 1776
During the 1776 period of time...

We fought the British then, folks.
...Americans fought against the British.

Parents of America,
Fellow American parents...

It's time to do it again, folks.
...I think it's time to do it again.

When they come back, here's how we'll begin,
When they return, here's how we'll kick things off...

We'll throw 'em in Boston harbor.
...we'll toss 'em in the Boston harbor.

But please, before we toss 'em all in,
But please, before we decide to throw them all away...

Let's take 'em to a barber.
...let's take them to a barber.

Lyrics © GET SONGS DIRECT, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BUSCH LOU, ALLAN SHERMAN, LOU BUSCH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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