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
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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' "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" is a psychedelic song that describes an imaginary circus poster that John Lennon had acquired at an antiques shop. The poster refers to a circus show that was planned for the same night in question. The song describes the circus show that combines a trampoline act, equestrians, acrobats, fire breathers, and Mr. Kite's astounding leaps through a hoop of fire. The Hendersons, who were renowned circus performers, are announced to be taking part in the show, with Henry The Horse performing a waltz. The lyrics depict the effort and preparations that went into organizing the event, including Mr. Kite's training and Mr. Henderson’s assurance that their production would be second to none.
Apart from the mysterious and intriguing lyrics, the song is notable for its instrumentation, which includes an unusual combination of sounds such as a harmonica, Hammond organ, and tape loops with various circus sound effects. The song's chaotic arrangement reflects the carnival atmosphere of the imaginary circus show, while the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the performers and the audience.
Line by Line Meaning
For the benefit of Mr. Kite
This show is specifically planned to make Mr. Kite happy
There will be a show tonight on trampoline
A show will happen tonight where the performers will use trampolines in their acts
The Hendersons will all be there
The Henderson family will attend the show
Late of Pablo Fanques Fair, what a scene
The Hendersons are known for their performances in Pablo Fanques fair, which were quite popular
Over men and horses, hoops and garters
The show will have performances with men, horses, hoops, and garters
Lastly through a hogshead of real fire
The last part of the act will involve a hogshead (barrel) of actual fire
In this way Mr. K. will challenge the world
Through this performance, Mr. Kite is trying to outdo everyone else in the world
The celebrated Mr. K.
Mr. Kite is quite famous
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishops Gate
Mr. Kite will perform his show on a Saturday at Bishops Gate location
The Hendersons will dance and sing
The Hendersons will perform dance and vocal acts
As Mr. Kite flies through the ring, don't be late
Make sure to not be late to the show, as Mr. Kite will be flying through the ring at this time
Messrs. K and H. assure the public
Mr. Kite and Mr. Henderson promise the public a great show
Their production will be second to none
Their show will be unparalleled
And of course Henry The Horse dances the waltz
A horse named Henry will perform a waltz dance, as part of the act
The band begins at ten to six
The band will start playing 10 minutes before 6 PM
When Mr. K. performs his tricks without a sound
Mr. Kite will perform his tricks silently
And Mr. H. will demonstrate
Mr. Henderson will also perform
Ten summer sets he'll undertake on solid ground
Mr. Henderson will perform ten different acts on solid ground
Having been some days in preparation
The preparation for this show has been going on for a few days
A splendid time is guaranteed for all
Everyone attending the show will have a great time
And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill
Mr. Kite is the main attraction of the show tonight
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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