Presents

A Fine Natural Imbalance:

An Exploration of the "Paul is Dead" Mystery via the Audio Clues

Or being mindful of the possibility of misheard lyrics, was that financial imbalance?

One of the most enduring legends of rock and roll is the old rumor that Paul McCartney of the Beatles was decapitated in a car crash at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 9, 1966.  

Beginning around September or October of 1969 and lasting for a period of almost six weeks, fans of Beatle music were fully convinced that Paul was actually dead and had been secretly replaced by a mysterious double.  (Indeed, to some extent, that belief still exists to this day in certain quarters).  Fans looking for clues to Paul's death found them in surplus on the group's album covers, in the fan booklets that came with albums, and even embedded in the band's music.

While it is true that some of the "Paul is Dead" clues are simply too preposterous to accept, a few actually remain unexplained, both as genuine mysteries and as examples of unusually strong coincidences and synchronicity that cannot be quite so easily dismissed.  (For a full discussion of this story and a full recounting of all of the known clues, Labyrinth13 recommends reading any of the books and magazines pictured above - click on the images for details - or by visiting the website Turn Me On, Dead Man, easily the most thorough and exact of all the "Paul is Dead" websites available).

Many of the clues to Paul's death were said to have been recorded directly into the Beatles own songs.  On this page, I have assembled a list of some of the more interesting ones.  Enjoy.

(Clicking on the links below will open your system's default mp3 player)

In the song She's Leaving Home on the Sgt. Pepper album, it has been suggested that the actual time of Paul's death is noted in the very first line.

On the run-out groove of the Sgt. Pepper record, some gibberish is heard

When that Sgt. Pepper run-out groove gibberish is reversed, a voice sings Will Paul be back as Superman?

On the song A Day in the Life, John seems to be acknowledging Paul's death in a car crash when he sings the line "He blew his mind out in a car"

When the end of I'm So Tired is played in reverse, John is heard to say: There's that noise again, are you listening?

The above phrase is immediately followed by some mumbled words or gibberish

And when that gibberish is played in reverse, it seems to be saying: Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him, miss him, ahhh!

In the opening lines of Good Morning, Good Morning, John sings the line: Nothing to do to save his life

On the song Revolution 9, a voice is heard saying: Paul hit a light pole, so we better go and see a surgeon

When the repeated phrase "Number Nine" on the song Revolution 9 is played in reverse, you hear the words "Turn me on, dead man"

At the end of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, George Harrison seems to be moaning Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul

On the song Come Together John seems to be implying that only three Beatles remain alive when he sings one and one and one is three

At the beginning of Blue Jay Way, a voice can be heard in the background after each line of the lyrics are sung, saying (in succession): "Paul" " Died" " Paul is buried" "Ahhh, grieve!"

When the chorus of Blue Jay Way is played in reverse, you hear the words Paul is bloody

Near the end of I am the Walrus, voices are heard saying the following: Bury me!, Bury my body, Oh, untimely death!

Also near the end of I am the Walrus, a faint voice is heard saying Is he dead?

When the last quarter section of I am the Walrus is played in reverse, you hear the words Ha ha, Paul is dead!

On the song Don't Pass Me By, Ringo sings: You were in a car crash and you lost your head

At the end of Strawberry Fields, it sounds like John is saying I buried Paul

When the chorus of Getting Better is reversed, you hear: After all, Paul is dead and has lost his head

On the John Lennon solo song How Do You Sleep?, John refers directly to Paul's death by saying: Those freaks was right when they said you was dead

On the song Glass Onion, John refers directly to the "Paul is Dead" mystery when he sings: Here's another clue for you all, the walrus was Paul 

And on what may (or may not) be a totally unrelated, final note, let me point out that in 1968, the Canadian rock band The Guess Who sang the song Friends of Mine in which it is stated that Curt is the Walrus.  Now while considering that bit of information, keep in mind that the webmaster who brings you this "Paul is Dead" presentation is also named Curt.  Coincidence?  Maybe, maybe not.  Perhaps turning on and tuning in with yet another dead man may solve the issue!

Send e-mail to: Curt Rowlett

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