Welcome to our new section "Song Facts!" Each month, H.notes News Editor, Rena75 will share meanings behind songs as described by artists. Selections will include both Hanson songs and other musical acts! Enjoy our new section!

Song Facts
by H.notes News Editor - Rena75@hanson.net

Broken Angel by Hanson
Album: Underneath
Date: 2004
Zac Hanson: "It's a song about the fact that fairy tales aren't necessarily true, that people's dreams don't always flourish. Loved ones die, people who deserve so much don't get what they should, and you should still believe in fairy tales because of the beauty of it, and you should still get up and strive to be a better person, live a better life and do these things; not to fall into the norm, but strive to do something great with your life. It's kind of cheesy, but I think it's a story that everyone should put to their life and go for a little more."

A Day In The Life by The Beatles
Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Date: 1967

A 41 piece orchestra played on this. The musicians were told to attend the session dressed formally. When they got there, they were presented with party novelties (false noses, party hats, gorilla-paw glove) to wear, which made it clear this was not going to be a typical session. The orchestra was conducted by Paul McCartney, who told them to start with the lowest note of their instruments and gradually play to the highest.

This was recorded in 3 sessions: First the basic track, then the orchestra, then the last note was dubbed in.

The beginning was based on 2 stories John Lennon read in the Daily Mail newspaper: Guinness heir Tara Browne dying when he smashed his lotus into a parked van, and an article in the UK Daily Express in early 1967 which told of how the Blackburn Roads Surveyor had counted 4000 holes in the roads of Blackburn and commented that the volume of material needed to fill them in was enough to fill the Albert Hall. Lennon took some liberties with the Tara Browne story - he changed it so he "Blew his mind out in the car."

McCartney's middle section (Woke up, got out of bed...) was intended for another song.

The final chord was produced by all 4 Beatles and George Martin banging on 3 pianos simultaneously. As the sound diminished, the engineer boosted to faders.

The final note lasts 42 seconds. The studio air conditioners can be heard toward the end as the faders were pushed to the limit to record it.

After the final note, Lennon had producer George Martin dub in a high pitched tone, which most humans can't hear, but drives dogs crazy.

The movie reference is to a film Lennon acted in called How I Won The War.

The Beatles started this with the working title "In The Life of..."

A few seconds after this ends, at the end of the album, there is a loop of incomprehensible Beatles studio chatter that was spliced together. This was put there so vinyl copies would play this continuously in the run-out groove, sounding like something went horribly wrong with the record. Kids, ask your parents about vinyl.

David Crosby was at Abbey Road studios when The Beatles were recording this. In an interview with Filter magazine, he said: "I was, as near as I know, the first human being besides them and George Martin and the engineers to hear A Day In The Life. They sat me down; they had huge speakers like coffins with wheels on that they rolled up on either side of the stool. By the time it got the end of that piano chord, man, my brains were on the floor."

The orchestral bit was used in the Yellow Submarine movie. Photos of different geographical areas were shown as The Beatles were apparently traveling in the submarine to try and find Pepperland.

When asked by Rolling Stone magazine what songs of his dad's constantly surprise him, Sean Lennon said: "I've listened so much to that stuff that there are very few surprises. But I do think 'A Day In The Life' is always inspiring."