Lennon wrote the song taking inspiration from a nineteenth century circus poster for Pablo Fanque's circus which he purchased in an antique shop on 31 January 1967 while filming the promotional video for the song Strawberry Fields Forever in Kent. Mr. Kite is believed to be William Kite, who worked for Pablo Fanque from 1843 to 1845.
It was composed primarily by John Lennon with input from Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon/McCartney.
It was composed primarily by John Lennon with input from Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon/McCartney.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
The Beatles Lyrics
For the benefit of Mr. Kite
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 summer sets 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
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
timfortune9
John called this his worst song because he just lazily copied an actual circus poster.
But as Beethoven once said "What I shit is better than anything you can create."
alan kofman
@steve donahue Quite a few people would disagree with that.
Ben G
@steve donahue lovely rita is great, this isn't my favourite but don't be a dickhead to people for enjoying a song
Ben G
@Wyatt Collins laughs in I am the walrus
LongToast
PassCookie you have a point but I feel like listening to a song is like reading a book. If you read the book just for the pictures it’s probably alright, but when you read the words to go with them it gets wonderful. And don’t get me wrong there are good books with bad pictures and bad books with good pictures.
123Agidee _
Even though there are quite a few composers better than Beethoven
64studios101
This song is so atmospheric. I was able to tell that it's about a circus when I was too young to even understand or pay attention to the lyrics.
Richycito
What a wonderful and accurate reply! I can almost see the candystripe suits and ticket takers!
Laura Marzz
@Ben G DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO THE CELEBRATED MR 'K' = MURRAY THE ' K ' WAS ? JOHN LENNON MUST HAVE HAD A FALLING OUT WITH MURRAY WHEN HE WROTE THESE LYRICS . AS THEY WERE FRIENDS IN THE BEGINNING . MURRAY WAS JEWISH AND THE TITLE REFERENCE TO 'MR. KITE' COULD HAVE BEEN JOHN LENNON'S INGENIOUS WAY OF USING A POSSIBLE 'SOUND ALIKE' ANTI-SEMITIC RACIAL SLUR ABOUT MURRAY IN ANGER ! NOW REGARDING THE LYRIC 'THE CELEBRATED MR. 'K' WILL PERFORM HIS FEAT ON SATURDAY AT BISHOP'S DATE' ; MURRAY THE 'K' WAS A SHOWMAN AND A HUSTLER AS WELL AS A CARNIVAL OR A CIRCUS TYPE BARKER ESPECIALLY AS HE ADVERTISED HIS HOLIDAY R&R SHOWS AT 'THE BROOKLYN. FOX' AND 'N.Y. PARAMOUNT' THEATERS ON BOTH RADIO AND TV . THIS DESCRIBES JOHN LENNON'S CREATIVE GENIUS IN NOT USING A DIRECT (one letter transposition away) RACIAL SLUR WHILE CREATING CIRCUS MOOD AGAINST A SHOW BUSINESS MAN AND PERSONALITY HE INTENSELY DISLIKED ! THIS WAS AND STILL IS MY OPINION ! I THINK THE SONG IS ONE OF HIS BEST !
Ben G
@Laura Marzz back to your original comment, this songs lyrics are taken right from a poster lennon saw, it isn't about anyone else