Artist: The Beatles Album: ---Released as a single--- Song: Paperback Writer Year: 1966 Top Chart Position: #1

Paperback writer, paperback writer. Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look? It's based on a novel by a man named Lear, And I need a job, So I want to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer. It's a dirty story of a dirty man, And his clinging wife doesn't understand. His son is working for the Daily Mail. It's a steady job, But he wants to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer. Paperback writer, paperback writer. It's a thousand pages, give or take a few. I'll be writing more in a week or two. I could make it longer if you like the style. I can change it 'round, And I want to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer. If you really like it you can have the rights. It could make a million for you overnight. If you must return it you can send it here, But I need a break, And I want to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer. Paperback writer, paperback writer. Paperback writer, paperback writer. Paperback writer, paperback writer. Paperback writer, paperback writer. Paperback writer...

In Paperback Writer, The Beatles attacked the manufactured music and literature industry, as well as the manufactured lives of the people involved with those industries. They paint a picture of the paperback author, who is trying to get his work published. We find this isn’t really his own creativity, but that of the author Lear. Incidentally Edward Lear wrote books based on children’s’ non-sense rhymes. John thought he was interesting. And to top it off, like the world of manufactured "fakeness," he can change it around any way the publisher would like. He can add to it and subtract from as the publisher deems necessary. "No problem", as A.L.F. would say.