It was composed primarily by John Lennon with input from Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon/McCartney.
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
The Beatles Lyrics
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There will be a show tonight on trampoline
The Hendersons will all be there
Late of Pablo Fanques Fair, what a scene
Over men and horses, hoops and garters
Lastly through a hogshead of real fire
In this way Mr. K. will challenge the world
The celebrated Mr. K.
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishops Gate
The Hendersons will dance and sing
As Mr. Kite flies through the ring, don't be late
Messrs. K and H. assure the public
Their production will be second to none
And of course Henry The Horse dances the waltz
The band begins at ten to six
When Mr. K. performs his tricks without a sound
And Mr. H. will demonstrate
Ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground
Having been some days in preparation
A splendid time is guaranteed for all
And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill
The Beatles’ song Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! is a circus-themed song that pays homage to a Victorian circus act that John Lennon discovered when he bought an antique poster. The song is a recreation of the poster’s content and advertises a show by Mr. Kite, who performs on a trampoline. The song describes the event’s thrilling nature with a wide range of circus acts, including men and horses, hoops and garters, and real fire breathing through a hogshead. Mr. Kite is praised as a celebrated performer who will demonstrate his talents on Saturday at Bishops Gate, where the Hendersons will sing and dance during his performance. Mr. Kite’s production is guaranteed to be second to none, and the song promises a splendid time for all attendees.
The song’s unique structure is achieved through the use of tape loops, where Lennon cut the original tape into small pieces, threw them in the air, and reassembled them in random order, creating a chaotic sound effect that fit with the song’s circus theme. The song was produced by George Martin and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in February 1967. Notably, The Beatles performed the song live only once, during a rehearsal for their 1967 BBC TV program "Our World."
Line by Line Meaning
For the benefit of Mr. Kite
This performance is for Mr. Kite's enjoyment
There will be a show tonight on trampoline
Tonight's entertainment will involve a trampoline
The Hendersons will all be there
The Henderson family will attend the show
Late of Pablo Fanques Fair, what a scene
The Hendersons used to work for Pablo Fanque and were quite impressive
Over men and horses, hoops and garters
There will be a variety of performers including acrobats, animals, and tightrope walkers
Lastly through a hogshead of real fire
The finale will involve someone going through a flaming barrel
In this way Mr. K. will challenge the world
This performance will set a new standard for all other shows to match
The celebrated Mr. K.
Mr. K is well-known and respected for his performances
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishops Gate
Mr. K's performance will take place on Saturday at Bishops Gate
The Hendersons will dance and sing
The Hendersons will provide musical entertainment as well as perform
As Mr. Kite flies through the ring, don't be late
Don't miss Mr. Kite's impressive ring act
Messrs. K and H. assure the public
Mr. K and Mr. H promise the public a top-notch performance
Their production will be second to none
Their show will be the best of its kind
And of course Henry The Horse dances the waltz
Henry The Horse will dance the waltz as part of the entertainment
The band begins at ten to six
The music will start at 5:50pm
When Mr. K. performs his tricks without a sound
Mr. K will execute his stunts quietly
And Mr. H. will demonstrate
Mr. H will perform a demonstration
Ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground
Mr. H will perform ten somersaults while staying on the ground
Having been some days in preparation
This show has been carefully planned and rehearsed for several days
A splendid time is guaranteed for all
Everyone is sure to have a wonderful time at the show
And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill
Mr. Kite is the main attraction of tonight's show
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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