When it comes to British culture, the Beatles and Royal Albert Hall are two of its most prominent figures. And in 2015, an “unearthed” letter revealed that the two pop culture behemoths went head to head over the closing track off the Fab Four’s psychedelic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band from 1967, “A Day in the Life.”
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Okay, okay, okay…so they posted it on April Fools’ Day. Still, a good joke is a good joke. (And in true internet fashion, not everyone online caught on to the fact that the letter was a farce).
Royal Albert Hall Discovers Scathing Letter Sent To The Beatles
John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s sprawling composition “A Day in the Life” features several distinct parts. There are Lennon’s morose verses about reading the news today, oh boy. Then, there’s McCartney’s buoyant woke up, fell outta bed. Finally, there’s the song’s infamous cacophony of orchestral noise held together by Ringo Starr’s ever-constant tapping in the background. Indeed, the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band closer is a wealth of musical experimentation and name-dropping classic U.K. locations.
One example of the latter comes in the final verse. I read the news today, oh boy, four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire. And though the hotels were rather small, they had to count them all. Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.
In 2015, the aforementioned Royal Albert Hall in London posted a letter dated May 29, 1967. The letter was signed by Ernest O’Follipar, Chief Executive. “You were indeed correct that one line in particular towards the end of Side B would pique our interest,” the letter read. “However, not for the reasons you have initially assumed. In the lyric which mentions the Albert Hall, the singer (thought to be John Lennon) heavily implies several gross inaccuracies which we consider to be misleading to the general public who may hear the song and potentially catastrophic to our reputation—one which has taken almost a century to achieve.”
“The wrong-headed assumption that there are four thousand holes in our auditorium is particularly damaging, as it is likely to deter concertgoers who do not want to fall in a hole. I am also baffled as to where this figure has come from. Even if you count the doorways as holes, that would still only make thirty-two,” the “Executive Director” wrote.
Don’t Worry, The Music Hall Had Suggestions For Alternate Lyrics
The Royal Albert Hall’s April Fools’ Day farce continued with a list of alternate lyrics the Beatles could incorporate into “A Day in the Life” so as to not “damage” the venue’s reputation. The letter read:
“1. That the lyrics are amended in a way that keeps the spirit of the song intact whilst preserving the reputation of the Hall. After lengthy discussion, our council suggests:
I read the news today, oh boy. Another fine Proms season just announced. And though the concerts can get full, you must attend them all ‘ just to go to a concert at the truly magic Albert Hall.
2. That another band member (possibly the drummer, Ringo Starr) adds backing vocals which contradict John Lennon’s lines:
John: Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall
Ringo: (Not that there are any holes in the auditorium, John!)”
The online community gave mixed responses to Royal Albert Hall’s prank. Some eagle-eyed readers were quick to spot that the Executive Director’s last name, O’Follipar, is an anagram of April Fool. Others weren’t so quick to catch on. One wrote, “Not only furious but making suggestions for amending lyrics, seriously?!!” The Hall replied, “We urge caution with any feature that we post on 1 April!” One user added, “Monty Python’s script writers could not have done a better job.”
Photo by John Downing/Getty Images
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