Mean Mr. Mustard
The Beatles㠀 Lyrics
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Shaves in the dark trying to save paper
Sleeps in a hole in the road
Saving up to buy some clothes
Keeps a ten-bob note up his nose
Such a mean old man
Such a mean old man
His sister Pam works in a shop
She never stops, she's a go-getter
Takes him out to look at the queen
Only place that he's ever been
Always shouts out something obscene
Such a dirty old man
Dirty old man
"Mean Mr. Mustard" is a song by The Beatles, and it was written primarily by John Lennon. It's a short, lively song that tells the story of an old man who lives a miserly existence. Interestingly, the song is actually based on a real person - a man named Mustard who would approach Lennon and his friends when they were hanging out in parks and ask them for money. The lyrics describe Mustard sleeping in the park and shaving in the dark to save paper, and reveal that he keeps a ten-bob note up his nose. It's implied that he's saving up to buy clothes, but it's not clear whether he'll ever actually purchase them.
The second verse introduces Mustard's sister Pam, who works in a shop and takes her brother out to look at the queen - the only place he's ever been. Despite her efforts, Mustard remains a "dirty old man," shouting out obscene comments whenever he can. The overall tone of the song is playful and cheeky, with a jaunty rhythm and a sense of humor. However, there's also a sense of sadness in the portrayal of the impoverished Mustard and his wasted life.
Line by Line Meaning
Mean Mister Mustard sleeps in the park
A miserable person known as 'Mean Mister Mustard' sleeps outdoors in the park, suggesting a lack of resources and care for themselves.
Shaves in the dark trying to save paper
Due to their frugality, this individual shaves without light to preserve their limited supply of paper products.
Sleeps in a hole in the road
The person in question has been forced to create a makeshift living situation in a hole within the pavement.
Saving up to buy some clothes
With limited funds, this individual is working towards obtaining clothing, possibly indicating they currently have none.
Keeps a ten-bob note up his nose
This character uses their nose as a storage space to hold a ten-bob note, reflecting their unorthodox behaviors and possible need to hide their possessions.
Such a mean old man
The individual is known for being unpleasant and difficult to deal with, potentially as a result of their difficult living situation.
His sister Pam works in a shop
This character's sister is employed in a retail setting, highlighting a difference in their circumstances.
She never stops, she's a go-getter
The sister is a motivated and driven individual who is always on the move, potentially to escape their current situation.
Takes him out to look at the queen
She occasionally takes her brother to view the Queen, implying that he does not often leave his current area.
Only place that he's ever been
By noting that the only location he has seen is that of the Queen, it shows that he has limited experience of the world outside of his immediate vicinity.
Always shouts out something obscene
Despite his sister's attempts to share a new experience with him, he always responds in a vulgar manner, perhaps indicating his frustration with his poor living conditions.
Such a dirty old man
This individual has a reputation for being lewd and inappropriate, likely due to their lack of ability to conform to societal norms and lack of positive influences in their life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind