Revolution 9
by The Beatles

Album: The White Album (1968)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • John Lennon wrote this with contributions from Yoko Ono. It's a highly experimental piece, which Lennon once called "The music of the future." It is the most controversial and bizarre track on the album - you have to have a very open mind to appreciate it.
  • This was made by layering tape loops over the basic rhythm of "Revolution." Lennon was trying to create an atmosphere of a revolution in progress. The tape loops came from EMI archives, and the "Number 9" voice heard over and over is an engineer testing equipment.
  • Lennon told Rolling Stone that this was, "an unconscious picture of what I actually think will happen when it happens; that was just like a drawing of revolution." He added: "All the thing was made with loops, I had about thirty loops going, fed them onto one basic track. I was getting classical tapes, going upstairs and chopping them up, making it backwards and things like that, to get the sound effects. One thing was an engineer's testing tape and it would come on with a voice saying 'This is EMI Test Series #9.' I just cut up whatever he said and I'd number nine it. Nine turned out to be my birthday and my lucky number and everything. I didn't realize it; it was just so funny the voice saying 'Number nine'; it was like a joke, bringing number nine into it all the time, that's all it was."
  • Paul McCartney and Beatles producer George Martin hated this and tried to keep it off the album.
  • This is the longest Beatles song - it runs 8:15. It also took longer to complete than any other track on album.
  • This helped fuel the "Paul is dead" rumors. If played backwards, you were supposed to hear the car crash where Paul died, and a voice saying "Turn me on, dead man." Also, playing the line, "I'm not in the mood for wearing clothing" in reverse eventually becomes a rather odd but clear reversal, "There were two, there are none now."

    This is referencing the rumor that Paul McCartney died in a car with "Lovely Rita" and that the two were burned away after the wreck.

    The rumor took off in October 1969 when a listener called the radio station WKNR in Detroit and told the DJ Russ Gibb about the backward message. When Gibb played it backwards on his show, listeners went wild and spent the next week calling in and offering their own rumors. The story quickly spread, and McCartney helped it along by laying low and letting it play out.
  • Lennon felt the number 9 was quite significant. He was happy that, after he changed his name to John Ono Lennon, his and Yoko's names collectively contained 9 O's. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Nicole - Lake Forest, CA
  • According to the book The Beatles, Lennon And Me, by John Lennon's childhood friend Pete Shotton, One evening, Lennon was with Shotton in the attic of his Kenwood home, tripping on LSD and smoking a few joints. They messed about with John's Brunnel recorders, fiddling with feedback, running recordings backwards and creating tape loops. Opening the windows for some fresh air, John and Pete began to shout whatever was on their minds at the trees outside, the recorder running. This night's lark was to later captured on "Revolution 9." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Margaret - Cullman, AL
  • Marilyn Manson released their own version of this on the B-side of the single for "Get Your Gunn." It was called "Revelation 9" and ran 12:57. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brett - Edmonton, Canada
  • This was parodied on an episode of The Simpsons. When the guys for a group called The B-Sharps, Barney meets a girl during recording. He exclaims at the studio that he's making the music of all time. The song is Barney's girl friend (with striking resemblance to Yoko Ono) saying "Number 8" and Barney burping. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    yo - sudbury, Ontario, Canada
  • Charles Manson thought that when they screamed the words "Right!" it was actually "Rise!" meaning the black community rising over the white people. Charles Manson was of course crazy, and thought The Beatles were warning about a race war. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mischa - Winnipeg, Australia

Comments: 235

  • Hifijohn from IllinoisInteresting experimental piece but it has no beginning part or middle part or ending its just one long mess of noise and sounds, it would have been fine if it was only 2 or 3minutes long but 8 minutes is ridiculous.
  • David Harvey from AustraliaI know that "Revolution 9" is so controversial, mercilessly maligned and reviled, but it's not surprising that it took a lot of time and effort to compile and put together, considering its structure, 8:15 running time and all of those tape loops that John and Yoko put together or used.

    If The Beatles had never disbanded and returned to touring in 1970, even if it meant having to add additional touring musicians, there's no way that they could've realistically reproduced "Revolution 9" live onstage.
  • Robert from Near Chicago I really despise this track! I skip every time I listen to the album. Has no place on this album.
  • Chari Rama from West CoastWhen John Lennon described Revolution 9 as "The music of the future" he was referring to the use of loops.
    As part of his statement he said that people would not even have to learn to play an instrument to record music.
  • Lucy from WalesI get very creeped out and just plain confused by the song to be quite honest.
  • Mjn SeiferI heard the "Turn me on dead man" message years ago - to me, it sounds more like "deadman" (pronounced "deadmun"), like it's somebody's surname.
  • Some Guy from UsaI listened to this backwards , I could have sworn I heard Paul screaming " Let me out! ..Let me out!" while trapped in burning flames..
  • Doc from New OrleansLol! All you people who think this "song" is great art remind me of viewers at a modern "art" exhibit examining a bucket with a mop in it. After long discussions and suppositions, a janitor walks in, picks up the bucket and ambles off to clean another area of the floor! This is garbage. My friends and I wore out the grooves on this album but there wasn't a scratch on this track. When it was released it was considered ridiculous hooey by everyone I knew and by the music business in general.
  • Shadow from WashingtonIt says ride! not Right!
  • Adam Power from Brisbane, Australia'This' (despite it's weirdness), is 'ONE' of the reasons what made The Beatles so incredible. The thing that hits me the most (and the true Beatle fans will get this) is that almost every time they changed their image....their sound and voices changed as well. I picture the young clean cut Beatles singing Please Please Me. Then I picture McCartney with a beard belting out 'Why don't we do it in the road' or 'I've got a feeling'.
    These guys covered f--king everything in the space of 8 or 9 years.
  • James from Glendale, AzDon't anyone listen to Jeffrey Boe, he's an attention seeking troll. Anyone with a good ear knows that John is screaming 'Right'. Listen to Revolution 1 Take 20 and hear for yourselves.
  • Martin from Ringmer, East Sussex, England, United KingdomThis track is incredible. It gives The Beatles (the group and the album) a dimension that they would otherwise not have had. [Thank you, Yoko.] Like most, I hated the track for many years, but now I 'get it' and I find it an interesting piece. Amazingly, "Revolution 9" has been covered by various people including Chuck U. (as "Revolution #9.5"), The Shazam, Alexei Borisov and Ian Cussick, Heiko Effertz & Max Cohen. I've got all of these versions and have made my own 15 minute 'collage' from the cover versions, with additional samples from other 'Beatle-related' material. I just can't get enough of it... AND I don't take drugs! [18.2.2013]
  • Jeffrey Boe from Campbell, CaGo to youtube, search revolution 9, go to the 'high quality' version, right now my comments are on the first page. I guess the music of the future was w/e robben & I came up with. But none of that is ever going to happen.
  • Mary from Grand Rapids, MiWell, all I can say is I am scarred for life, I listened to it at 1:15 AM and for first time. I think I may be the only one who is trying not to listen to it again. I also am probably the only one that is shaking 15 minutes later after I think I heard Paul call for help in the forwards version. And I am still shaking and whimpering, and FYI I have Paul as my fave beatle so I freaking out. WHY LENNON WHY MUST OU TWIST MY MIND YOU BRILLIANT MAN!!!
  • Jeffrey Boe from Campbell, Cathis is a tyrack designed to sublimate homosexual behavior in someone named kim
  • Jeffrey Boe from Campbell, Calisten to it again, i believe he is saying 'ride', not rise or right. you'll also here my name, jeffrey boe & kim, my fiurst name. you'll hear the football cheers. football was very big at campbell high in the 60's. just listen to rev 9 & listen for jeffrey boe
  • Hannah from A Place, MaWhen it says "right!" i always thought it was saying "riot!"
  • Adam from Silver Spring, MdI love the Beatles, but calling this a "song" is really stretching the definition. Paul McCartney didn't want it included on the White Album and I don't blame him. A waste of 8 minutes.
  • P from Lakewood, OhWhen this song is played backwards there are clues that Paul is dead.
  • Julia from Milton, PaAHHHHHHH! I just listened to this backwards. I ran screaming at the "satan look at me" part. *small whisper*I'm afraid.
  • Richard from Jacksonville, FlI think the beauty in John's writing is dynamics of varied interpretation he invokes. For me Revolution 9 represents the time they wrote the white album 1968. Vietnam war, tet offensive, Martin Luther King , Bobby Kennedy, cold war...A scary time. I was 9 years old when I first heard it and it scared me so much I through out the second disc. I feel its the center piece for the whole album that evokes a subdued creepy beauty that words will not let me describe.. I love the album....
  • Frances from Topeka, KsI dont think the shoot me part in Come Together was a clue to Paul's "Death". But This is creppy, but cool. But Paul is alive. I believe it was a publisity stunt. And All this seems like the band falling apart, confusion, and babies being born.. lol
  • Brian from Boston, MaI am a major Beatles fan and I have no problem with songs that are different or unusual but his is not a "song" it is a collection of noises
  • Ana from Sumter, ScI don't think this song is garbage or horrible at all. I mean, yeah, you can't really classify it as a real song, but it's pretty much an experimental expression of John. That's pretty much the whole idea for me, this is John, probably a look inside his head when he was tripping. I know when I got high, it was really similar to this, just rushing thought processes, and nothing made sense.
    I like the song, I like to listen everything and wonder where in the hell he got it from. I like how it creeps me out. It's like an auditory hallucination. And depending on how much of a deep thinker you are, this can be something incredibly intriguing. People who don't really make an effort to appreciate it, well, their brain just doesn't match up to this song. The way my brain works is a lot like this. It takes a special type of person to appreciate the beauty of this song.
  • Shelby from Westerly, RiRingo is the best beatle in my opinion he wrote some pretty good songs
  • Adam from Middle Of Nowhere, WaK from nowhere, ON,they're not saying "Paul's not Dead," they're saying, "Block That Kick." Still makes no sense.
  • Tim from Springfield, MaI've only been able to listen to the entire "song" twice, I find it creepy and pointless. It's almost enough to ruin the Whit Album for me.
  • Tim from Chicago, IlListen, i love the beatles, but this song is terrible. Personally i think John is overrated because he died young and that Paul and George are the best beatles.
  • Mackail from Winnipeg, MbThe paul is dead rumor is not just in this song played backwards but it's whispered in Let it Be. Also in Come Together there is a voice that sounds like it's shoot. If you listen closly it's shoot me, paul can die anytime now
  • Tyler from Greeneville, TnThat's the magic of John's style. He can put together a buch of stuff and make a song that people talk about 40 years later. That's cool.
  • Victor from Los Angeles, CaA brilliant sound montage that can be called 'musicial art' -----Thank you John Lennon
  • Maggie from Philadelphia, Paonly beatles song i find remotely cool, even though they seemed to have copied all of the other psychedelic bands of the time.
  • Chris from Beaufort, NcTo me, this sounds like what you will experience if you tune through the dial of an AM radio late at night. There are snippets of many things- and if you wear headphones when you listen to it, you may hear something new every time you play it.
    I have tried to pick out things over the years. At some point, you can hear George Harrison's voice- I think he may be discussing the first time he and John Lennon dropped acid while attending a dinner party at the home of a London dentist.
    It is not for everybody but it seems almost appropriate for the album it is on. Whether it has any meaning to it or not, I think it is facinating.
  • K from Nowhere, OnAnybody heard of Carnival of Light?
  • K from Nowhere, OnThere's one part, I think about 53 seconds through (forward) that's like the beginning of Sgt. Pepper. And at the end, it sounds like people are chanting "Paul's not dead!"
  • Akiva from Manhattan, NyI love the beatles but this song (if you can call it a song) is horrible. I think it was mostly yokos work but john had to say it was his or it never would have gotten on the album. I was freaked out when I listened to it. And if some heavy metal punk band had made this it would have had no credibility but since it was created by john lennon it got accepted. experimental music is like cloning it shoudn't be touched with a 20 foot pole
  • Brad from Lexington, KyWhen I first heard this song when I was like 10 years old, I was terrified of all the weird voices and noises. It is still the only song I've actually been frightened of in the past, but when I listen to it today I see it in a new light. It is by far the most experimental, and one of the most interesting Beatles songs, and can make for a good, interesting listen/experience if one is in the right mood.
  • Donato from Dunmore, PaIt's not a song. It's an experience.
  • Adam from Los Angeles, CaThis is just John being John-----innovative, experimental, avant garde---i think it's one of the more unique tracks on the white album that makes it so special.
  • Milton from Sao Paulo, BrazilThough I was the only one affraid of that. See I'm not alone, at all. The first time I heard that track I was only 12. To me, that repeating #9 sounded like a dead man's voice. I pissed in my pants! I just could not sleep alone for weeks! It scares me til today, just by thinking of it. John messed my head with those sounds. I have to admit: it was made by a genius. But now John's dead. Miss him, miss him...
  • Nick from Arlington Heights, Ilthis song sounds like falling asleep with the tv on
  • Marlene from Houston, Txat around 6min. of listening to Revolution 9 (backward)...it almost sounds like the beginning of Paul McCartney's song "You Tell Me" from Memory Almost Full...
  • Marlene from Houston, Txis it me or can you hear John say in the beginning of the backwards version, he says 'Grow up'...
  • Powerpopfan from Bronx, Ny This is the first of it's kind by a pop act or rock act. Some people have said Frank Zappa "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" is like "Revolution #9. It has really nothing in common with "Revolution #9. There is no rhythm, melody, sampling, reverse tape effects, and tape loops on "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" has a melody and rhythm. The music here is more fragmented, abstract and serious on "Revolution "9. The Beatles "Revolution #9 is a track that has reverse tape effects, sampling, and other looped effects. The track is based on samples and taped looped effects.

    "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" is more related to the 1968 Beatles track "What's the New Mary Jane". The Beatles "Tomorrow Never Knows" is really the Beatles track that everyone was blown away with its multilayered looped effects, one note bass figure, and drum pattern
  • Ryan from Portage, InJohn claimed this was his interpretation of an actual revolution "how it may and will happen".

    I've got to admit, I've explored into this 'song' just to get a sense of what it means. In my opinion, I think this song talks of overpopulation due to sexual corruption (the mother laughing and baby crying segment), the calmness inbetween swells of violence, a futuristic war between every nation, and finally a simple and sudden downfall, reflecting on past memories of once was our way of living.
    Just me opinionating.
  • Chloe from St. Louis, Mowow, i thought id heard the wierdest stuff out there, being an avid pink floyd fan. even the floyd never did anything this wierd, and thats saying something....john, you're a lunatic! but thats what made him good, i guess- name one completely normal person who ever made anything worth listening to.
  • Chloe from St. Louis, Moreading the lyrics, there is only one thing to say....what the frick, john?
  • Len from Liverpool,The Beatles recorded in Abbey Road, studio 1. Pink Floyd recorded in Studio 2. Hmmmmmm. Revolution 9, maybe has some Syd influence in there. At least maybe John got the green light from realising it was possible and sellable. Day in the Life had the famous 16 bars left blank for quite a while, until they came up with the ascending orchestra. Listen to Saucerful of Secrets, then tell me where George Martin got the idea?
    Then there's "Smile"! Tell me that Paul didn't hear this before recording. We could go on and on and on and on, number 9, number 9
  • Zep from Cape May, NjUGGG! I hate it when people say paul is dead! Either they where messing with your head for the joke or maybe Paul felt dead inside! What about Paul McCartney and Wing? Or all the songs he had written after is "death?" Why did his voice sound they same? Why did he look the same? Why is there no Grave Marker? Why was there no funeral? After all these years dont ya think some one might have slipped by now? No one copy the great mind of Paul McCartney! NO ONE!
    Oh and this song is very imaginative! But it scares the hell out of me!
  • Emily from Newcastle, Australialennon was born on the 9th, his son was born on the 9th, his mother lived in newcastle(9letters), liverpool(9 letters)
  • Emily from Newcastle, Australiai'm not sure about this but i think john lennon's parent died when he was 9. I think i heard it on "i am sam" the movie. i'm not sure so don't quote me. and dave from england you are so right!


    BEATLES RULE!

  • Kevin from Norfolk, VaI have not counted them all, but there has been at least 9 revolutions in the world history, maybe this is what the 9th one sounded like in John's imagination, no pun intended. kevin Dillwyn Va.
  • Olivia from Chicago, Ilim pretty sure shamamo is thinking of revolution
    when i first listened to the white album i listened to it all the way through when i got to this song i knew it was gonna be wierd but i just knuckled down and muscled through it. I'm not saying im a better person for it but im proud i did it
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiShamomo, what the hell? Your mother SANG this song? She sang gibberish? What?! Are you SURE this is the song you meant to post for?
  • Roy from Granbania, MaI think that the number 9 having any "significance" is simply coincidental. If you pick any random number you can probably draw several parallels in life relating to that number, just like in that weird movie "The Number 23". I suggest that you simply don't let these coincidences get to you. Although John did encounter this number a lot in his life...
  • Brooke from Rockingham, AustraliaI noticed missing information) Also, the photograph titled Abbey Road holds secrets related to the conspiracy of Pauls death and revolution number 9. The cars number plate in the background of the picture reads "25 IF", which tells us Paul would have been 25 if he had not been thought dead. And, the four men in the picture act as the characters needed to host the typical funeral: John Lennon, dressed in a white suit acts as the priest. Ringo Starr, dressed in the black suit, acts as the mourner. Paul Mcartney, who is bare footed, ofcourse is the deceased. And George Harrison, dressed in dennim and sneakers, is seen as the grave digger. Ooohh! Creepy! Brooke
  • Dakota from Mansfield, OhIt's creepy that McCartney has nine letter's in it...
  • Dave from London, United KingdomMost of the comments on this website are utter nonsense, and I wonder if allot of you have even heard this track. Several people talk about liking the rhythm and the tune, some say it helps them to sleep. Have you heard it? There is no rhythm or tune. One person says they like the lyrics?!?! Someone says their mom sang it as a lullaby! How the hell do you sing random noise? Someone says they hear "Paul is dead", but they think it's actually "cranberry sauce". This is a double miss quote, so I guess they have never listened to any of the songs. That is actually from the end of Strawberry Fields where John says "I buried Paul", but in an interview said it was actually "Cranbury Sauce", it's a bit hard to tell either way, but on my record it's "I buried Paul". Some people on here say the Paul is dead rumours were started in American Colleges or by American DJ's, well I know you guys like to take credit for the whole world, but here's a newsflash for you. People were talking about these rumours in England 1967 two years before any Americans had heard it. The truth about this track is more likely this, depending on whether Paul did die in 1966 or not. John either left this as the biggest clue, or that he played up to the rumours (in a similar way to I Am the Walrus, "Let the f***ers work that one out.") While listening to EMI sound tapes he noticed that "Number nine" was "Turn me on, dead man" when played backwards. This reminded him of people's comments on the 1st verse of A Day in the Life ("I'd love to turn you on") when people said it was about Paul dying (it was actually about their friend Tara Browne). He made a sound collage that was ostensibly the sounds of revolution, but when played backwards had the sounds and quotes that tied into the rumours. I think the satan stuff can be ignored, because so many words sound like satan backwards (see any website about reverse speech). He knew people would play it backwards, because they'd been doing that since the rumours started. I guess we'll never know if the rumours were true or not, because most of the people who know the truth are dead themselves (including Paul ;)) Even Todd Loren was murdered after publishing the story as a fictional comic, the murder was never solved. Did he get too close to the truth? I guess unless Jane Asher, Ringo or the new Paul ever admit it's true people will be talking about it for ever.
  • Matthew from Melbourne, AustraliaI love The Beatles. I hate this song!
  • Shamomo Apaulo Onono from Liverpool, OhWhen I was litlle my mom used to sing this as a lullaby to make me fall asleep. To this day, I still find myself humming the distinct tune, and singing the gorgeous vocals all the live long day. Over all, this song is fantabulistic!
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiThat Paul "song" you were talking about was called Carnival of Light. It was a 14-minute long avant-garde piece rather similar to this one. It has never been released, and likely never will. In fact, there are only a few people who have actually heard the song.
  • Catherine from Essex, United Kingdomapparantly paul did one before, without the it being tainted by yoko, therefore probably being more of a beatle song. i dont think this is musical genius, to call it that is an nsult to the real music they did. its not music, its a collection of sounds with some gibberish, it ok but kinda pointless. beatles r the best and live forever all equal
  • Eric from , NjLook at the song comments on the song "A Day in the Life" and you can see alot about the "Paul is Dead" Theory!
  • AnonymousThis "song" has inspired(sp) me to record a song of my own like this. I am in the middle of recoreding it now and so far its pretty cool.
  • Jim from Brunswick, MeNo other group but the Beatles could have gotten away with releasing such a track. Yes, it's weird to the nth degree. Some say it should have been left off the White Album. I disagree. It wouldn't be the White Album without it; it has its place. Avante garde music has never before (or since) had such wide exposure. Yoko Ono's name is all over this (the musical equivalent of her art & strange performances). The most creepy part for me is when you here some moaning & it then gets echoed slightly (it sounds like the person is going down a well or mine). Not my favorite Beatles track by any means, but when I'm in the mood, I'll give it a spin.
  • Steve from Fenton, MoMatt, if you were on acid, you would probably think the Butthole Surfers were as good as the Beatles, but that doesn't make it so.
  • Steve from Fenton, MoI just wanted to add a few more ramblings about Revolution #9. I think Revolution #9 is the recording equivalent to a Jackson Pollock painting. The wonder is not in the work itself. The wonder is in why people give it serious consideration and try mightily to convince each other what a great piece of art it is. Also, if Satan is busy hiding nefarious messages in this recording, we can all take comfort in the fact that the recording is seldom listened to forwards, and even less listened to backwards. Satan might have been better advised to hide his messages in a recording with a good melody.
  • Ben from Chicago, United StatesThis song had to do with the "Paul is Dead" Myth. I read about it, played this song backwards, it kinda creaped me out, cause
    ~When u play the song backwards, u head "turn me on dead man" the dead man is Paul
    ~"get me out" is when paul died in the car crash
    ~"paul is dead" is also what u think u hear, but if u listen closely u hear "cranberry sauce"

    Theres more about playing beatles songs backwards and hearing it, but id rather have u guys look it up, there just too much info about it!
  • Matt from Lexington, KyIf you want proof that John Lennon was a genius, take some acid and listen to this song, or any of their songs. You'll know exactly what I'm talking about; it will shake you to your core.
  • Daniel from Stuttgart, GermanyAngie, well frankly said, I think your comment is just stupid, because you obviously have no idea about the Beatles. For one, the time the song appeared, the Beatles were as famous as one can be, so why should they come up with a song, to make the people talk about them. Secondly, they have also more or less withdrawn from music as a business, so I don't think the song was made to make more profit, which they hardly needed either, I believe. Besides, what about all the other pieces of music that were composed in a similar way? Do you think, they only exist, because of financial reasons? There are still a thousand reasons, why I think your comment is total non-sense. But probably it would be best if you start thinking, before you start writing something.
  • Angie from Elkton, MdThis song is by far the best of all Beatles and possibly the best ever. Not because the song itself is great, (personally, I think it sucks) but because of the markerting ploy for it. For years Lennon knew people were trying to figure out what his songs were about...wouldn't be long until it was figured out that played backwards was so weird. It's possibly the best for the reasons that we are all here. To see what other people had to say, to agree, to debate...doesn't matter, it will never go away. In 30 years, Bill Gates may be a person of the past, in 30 more years my granchildren will be logging onto websites talking about this song. Like the song or not, it's a staple, weird yes...do I like it...no....great marketing ploy...the best I've ever encountered.
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiI think this song really sucks, but there's another Beatles "song" that is unreleased. It was called Carnival of Light and was 14 minutes long. It was not released, and never will be, I think.
  • Sheeberson from Wrightsville Beach, Ncits not even really a song, just random muttering... and yet i still like it.
  • Daniel from Stuttgart, GermanyI really like this song, although this is a kind of a song you would not refer to as being beautiful or nice. It's just the opposite of it. It reminds me of a nightmare, it evokes fear, one seems to get lost in the song. There is nothing to hold on to. In a way depressing. This is probably in a way, what it meant to express, and I hardly know any other songs that also create such a horror. Which makes it at least in my opinion a fine piece of art.
  • Robin from Calgary, CanadaThis song is the future of music not simply because of its concepts of looping music ECT?Simply the fact that we still talk about it today it has the standing power of this song is incredible. It?s just what Perhaps it?s not one of those things to be analyzed and thought about. Perhaps it is for what it is? I think perhaps this is what they wanted in this song, to do something that we can just talk about put our own thoughts in to what the song is. This song is what we make it to be?we all have different ideas of what it is but I think is what it is, all different for each person. If you look to deep you might loose sight of what it is.
  • Lucas from Campbell, CaLennon most likely knew the significance of the number 9. Check out the mathematical works of Marko Rodin.
  • Greg from Alva, Scotlandthe reason john made this song was because he hated the paul mcartney song "obla di obla da" but paul insisted it was going on the record so john went and made this and told paul "if thats going on the record then so is this"
    just in case you didnt know
  • Domenico from Wenham, MaIf anyone was to ever to do something like this, who else could it be but John Lennon.

    Can't say I like to listen to it, but the backwards stuff is weird. Everything the Beatles did was experimental. This one just didn't do as well...
  • Marcus from Columbus, OhI've heard The Revoltion #9; and it reminds me a a local party held at a local swim club in a hot summer of 1959 & out of nowhere comes The Duke Of New York & his group ready to take the place. In the track you can hear hissing brakes and hear a voice talking and you hear an audio sound of a missile coming thru & when all the sound tracks are mixed together that's where The Duke of New York trashes the local swim club. There is a part where a car crash & that's supposed to be a 1953 Ford Ranch Wagon crashing & rolling over and exploding all over the place. Then there is a part where it reminds me of a child in the emergency room and you hear Yoko talking about getting naked. Then in the end you hear a football chant, Hold That Line, Block That Kick! That's where in the end of the story people are towing wrecked cars away from the local swim club. In a MTV type video it would be good to see how someone who show his view what Revoltion, #9 was to me either it was The Chilton Beach Rumble of 1959 or A Demolition Derby in progress. That's my view of the classic tune of Revoltion #9.
    Marcus Brainard, Columbus, Ohio
  • Tnknows from York, EnglandThe Beatles were definitely at the forefront of this type of music in rock. The Beatles were using tape loops in 1966 and made musical sense of it. Zappa stuff on Freak Out is random nonsense.
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmThe scary part is when u hear baby sounds. My fave part is when Ringo says "Take this brother, may itserve you well"
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmBob, I listened to it backwards, it dosn't say paul is dead it says Turn me on dead man, It creeps me out. Im scared now.
  • Joe from Hackensack, NjFred again you are wrong The Beatles used tape loops on Tomorrow Never Knows and Rain in 1966 and Revolution # 9 uses all tape loops Zappa Freak out used a band with tape loops.
  • José from Piedras Negras, MexicoFirst of all I would argue its not a song, though a dam GOOD ONE, I would call it a COMPOSITION. A song entails rythm, beat, order, et cetera. To me this composition seems to be a culmination of the sixties, the "song" was composed in 68' or 69' and it was a way of snapping an image of the climatic end to the sixties and representing it in this piece. The sixties were an era of cultural revolution and a break down of societies rules over the young generations. Revolutions entail chaos until a new order is installed and so I find that the piece personifies the era in so many ways: literal, metaphorical, compositional order, titulary, and so much more. Even the "songs" inclusion is part of it. And if nothing else it is truly a piece of art, because any art that can cause this much discussion and debate whether positive or negative is the sign of a masterpiece.
  • Juan Pablo from Buenos Aires, ArgentinaAs John Lennon said "This is the music of the future". 100% AGREE with him. Why?...Simply: What is he doing with this track? MIXING LOOPS. What are the DJ´s doing when they do their mixing? MIXING LOOPS! ...I know that he was mixing SOUNDS but that sounds comes from an infinity tape...but an infinity tape, it´s not a loop?
    I think we could call him an "early DJ". Perhaps for too many people it´s the worst track for the album, but you have to know first how it was made i think... ;)
  • Fred from Laurel, MdTo Walter, Trenton, NJ -- yes, what you have discovered goes by the name, "digital roots," and works merely because 9 = 10 - 1. In any number base, b, this repeated summing of digits will always result in the residue mod (b-1) [i.e., the remainder, when dividing by (b-1)], taken from 1 to b-1 rather than 0 to b-2. If you start with any multiple of (b-1) [except 0, of course], you will always end up with b-1. When b = 10 (the familiar decimal system), it works for multiples of 9. If you represent numbers in hexadecimal (b = 16), it will work for multiples of 15; if you use octal (b = 8), it will work for multiples of 7, etc.
  • Fred from Laurel, MdTo all those who think this is the freakiest thing on record in the realm of pop/rock music (or even that it was in 1968), I recommend you listen to the entire side 2 of the Zappa/Mothers of Invention 1st album, "Freak Out." The whole album side is 2 long tracks, titled, "Help I'm a Rock" and "Return of the Son of Monster Magnet." And bear in mind that this was recorded a couple years before the White Album, when the Beatles were doing songs like Michelle and Norwegian Wood. Zappa (and his his school buddy, Captain Beefheart, for that matter) was freaky before the Beatles made it cool. And he was influenced by even earlier experimental jazz and modern classical artists (John Cage, Eric Dolphy, et al). Don't get me wrong--I absolutely love and admire the Beatles for their creations/creativity/innovations in rock/pop music, everything from "And I Love Her" to "Revolution 9". They just weren't on the forefront of this type of sound.
  • Chris from Spokane, WaWell I think that this song is a great peice of work that alot dont get or understand. And as far as it being "scary" I find that to be BS in fact I sometimes listen to it at night and it helps me fall asleep.
  • Krissy from Boston, MaThis is a very intesting song. It was a lot different than others but still good. We should award John for doing something different and no afarid to take a chance. We shouldn't put him down he got enough that from the others when trying to reocrd it. No Paul is not dead and all The Beatles denied it many many times.
  • Sean from Plymouth, MiThe fact that you have this many comments about it confirms that John Lennon is the greatest marketer the world has ever seen.

    It was a signifigant piece of noise, but that is why it was great.
  • Michael from Oxford, EnglandI can't now remember what rating I gave this piece, but I think I would now give it a 2. It's really quite an interesting track but it really doesn't belong in the Beatles catalogue, and it does scare me somewhat.
  • Nathan from BrugesAnd strange how Lennon was stuck all his life to the number nine! He was born on the ninth of october! And indeed, his name and Yoko's name contain 9 O's.
  • Nathan from BrugesOh, Walter from Trenton, your theory is pure mathematics. It has nothing evil to it...
    Though good interpretation by the way.
    Strange how we always look for more clues!
  • Bryan from Super Zero, ScOh God no, it's Revolution 9! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!
    Seriously... this sound sucks. (I say "sound" because it is NOT a song by any stretch of the imagination) I can't believe I listened to it. This is not music- it's 8 minutes of pure garbage!
    I hate to be mean but this 'sound' deserves every bit of the hateful comments it has gotten. Why did I download this? Because of this song, I had FIVE nightmares that night. I'm smarter for that...I will NEVER listen to this again. Once was more than enough! Geez, this sound is that scary! If this is what a revolution is, I don't like them. I actually shouted "SHUT UP!!" when I heard Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9 over and over again. And I thought john Lennon was a good guy too...until I heard this. Should have never been released and I wish that George Martin had succeeded in keeping this song off The White Album. I can't believe Lennon thought this would be good. How could the Beatles let this happen? My life is ruined thanks to this.
    Oh, and by the way, the words Number 9 do become
    "Turn me on, dead man!" when played backwards.
  • Jorge from Manchester, EnglandI love this SONG, but there is something frigged up with it. Whenever I put it on my mp3 player it always is track 9?!? I even deletd all the other songs on my mp3 player and it was still track 9. Weird
  • Mac from Atlanta, GaSome guy said this would have never happened if Yoko wasn't around. I would just like to say Yoko Ono should not be recognized as anything except the final breaking point of the group.
  • Walter from Trenton, NjAdd the numbers of the product of the multiplication of 9 and you get 9. This goes on for infinity. I thought of this on my own. I am not sure if John thought of this.

    9+9+=18 1+8=9
    9+9+9=27 2+7=9
    9+9+9+9=36 3+6=9
    9+9+9+9+9=45 4+5=9
    9+9+9+9+9+9=54 5+4=9
    9+9+9+9+9+9+9=63 6+3=9
    9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9=72 7+2=9
    9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9=81 8+1=9
    10 is a product of 1

    54321
    x 9
    -----
    488889
    4+8+8+8+8+9=45 4+5=9
  • Trevor from Omaha, Nei completely agree with u. My friends and i were a little messed up when we listened to it, so maybe taht added to the effect.
  • Mb from Newburgh, NyThe first time I heard this, it scared the hell out of me, still does.
  • George from Yonkers, NyA great experimental song I don't think the The Rolling Stones would have dared to release somthing like this. The collage is maybe the first of it's kind by a rock group even Zappa sound collages some of it was done in real time.
  • Litwin from Walnut Creek, CaP.S. Writer of English paper, your paper may be full of insight and truth, but it's too long for a blog. No one's going to read it, or read it all. You need to distill... in more ways than one.
  • Litwin from Walnut Creek, CaJohn was a genius on many levels, and Paul still is, and together they opened a divine channel of lucidity to the universe, to to God for those of you who say God. On the other hand, they were human with human frailty, such as spite, anger, biterness, and remorse.
  • Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandI have reversed the song and I have heard the "Turn me on dead man" but it sounds more like the last 2 words are one word to me ("Deadman" - as if it was a surname of someone) and why would anyone be turned on by a dead Paul McCartney anyway? (Or live one for that matter!)
  • Nathan from Bruges, BelgiumYou must have a clear mind to accept this song, and to realise how inspired and creative John (and the other Beatles?)were.But this song would never be made without Yoko Ono.
  • Joey from Nowhere Land, CaI agree with George Martin and Paul, I'd try and prevent this from being on the album as well.
    The 'song' is ok, but not meant to be on an album, I think, anyway
  • Ellis from Somewhere, GaIf I can make anything of this song, I'd say it would be a revolution in progress. Throughout the track, you can hear snippets of ordinary life going on, but they are interrupted by parts with chaos and disorder and sometimes violence. This is very similar to a revolution: there is a feeling of unease, but ordinary life goes on throughout it. Panic and confusion and chaos interrupt it, like when you hear gunshots or someone yelling.

    I think this is the effect that Lennon was going for, because the time period of this album was full of confusion and disorder, and the U.S. was on the verge of falling into anarchy and rebellion.
  • Jennifer from Los Angeles, CaI usually don't like far-out "art" or "expiriment" works, but I kinda like Revolution 9. I'm not saying it's brilliant (for all I know it could have been thrown together as a goof).
    I've heard parts of it backwards. Some of the *MUSIC* seems to be reversed but I'm not sure about the speech. The number nine/turn me on dead man (more like KNEE-ni-uh-dead-mun, to me) is probably a coincidence. Somewhere along the may someone shouts something like "oogdaaht" which, when reversed, sounds something like "lemmie out!" but that, too, may be my imagination.
  • Alan from Grande Prairie, Alberta, CanadaIts amazing to me what people will buy into because an "artist" of note had a hand in it. There's some good postings on this song?? but regardless, and I know its subjective, this song is a piece of drivel. I can see Lennon sitting back thinking just a bad a song he can put together that people will actually buy into. George Martin was right this song belongs in a Zoo. I guess as an artist your allowed a certain amount of leaway when composing and experiment here and there but many an experiment been a failure and this piece of artistic styling is "junk". Period.
  • Billy from Chicago, IlThis is like the comments in stairway to heaven...You people all rant about one song made by a band/artist and theres always the comments about playing it backwrds first of all why play it backwards its ment to be played normal but u people say this song isnt good but does it stop you from listening to it? NO it probably doesnt. You people are conspiracy theorists like for ex. Ken,Hartland,MI says [John was obsessed with the number 9, and many things in his life seem to revole around it (the date he met Paul, etc.) The tragedy of John's death occured in the evening of Dec. 8th in the U.S. which was of course already Dec. 9th in England.
    - Ken, Hartland, MI] now to me this really sounds its from someone who doesnt know anything about john lennon and this comment [Only Beatles song to drop an f-bomb???
    - Marvin, East Brady, PA] ok wow the f bomb...tons of songs to day say it constantly but the reason its so important to make a comment is that it wasnt natural in the beatles o drop the f bomb now look at this [People that listen to Beatles songs backwards are Sick and/or mentally Deranged. Dont you know what that lead to?
    - Peter, Berlin, Germany] now i agree with this guy i dont listen to songs backwards but i hear annoying rants about them all the time like if someone says this song is so creepy i got an answer dont listen to it...and for one if its so creepy why think about it and make a post about it!!!
  • Jacob from Waterford, Cti just wrote this for English class:

    The Revolution of Revolution 9

    On May 30th, 1968, the English pop act, The Beatles, began recording their 10th effort which would eventually become 19 times platinum (sold 19 million copies), a double album, eponymously known as "The Beatles." Due to its minimalist cover, simply white, it would casually be known by fans as "The White Album." The second to last song on the final disc of this album was titled, "Revolution 9." At eight minutes and thirteen seconds long, it's The Beatles' longest recorded song, and arguably their most experimental. Because of the precedents it set with the musical device, "sampling," its use of complex, overlapping instrumentals using instrument untraditional to popular music, and its psychedelic and surreal imagery, The Beatles' "Revolution 9" was a catalyst in the development of modern music.

    In the 1940's, a musical persuasion was born known as "Musique Concrete." In English, it meant literally, "concrete music." It was a style of electronic music that used samples of music tracks or recordings of any sound possible. It was mostly experimented with by French classical musicians, but by the late 50's its was considered an obsolete medium. But, when John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Lennon's girlfriend, composed "Revolution 9," they found tape loops at the EMI record studio and recorded lengths of fellow band mates, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, in unusual conversation The is a sample lyric from the song:
    ...Then there's this Welsh Rarebit wearing some brown underpants
    ...About the storage of grain in Hertfordshire
    Everyone of them knew that as time went by they'd
    Get a little bit older and a little bit slower but...
    It's all the same thing, in this case manufactured by
    Someone who's always umpteen (...)
    Your father's giving it diddly-i-dee district was leaving...
    The recurring cadence, "Number 9," was actually the voice of an EMI engineer testing the speed of the tapes (Lennon, 307). After "Revolution 9," sampling was used minimally, but by abstract composers such as John Cage, but it had little effect until the early 1980?s with the introduction of hip-hop music (free verse or rhyming verses recited over samples of music.) In the Beatles' song, classical music was sampled as well. This has been used in songs from all over the musical spectrum, such as "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve (an alternative rock song), and "Imaginary Places" by Busdriver (a hip-hop song) which both use classical orchestrations.

    I mentioned previously the use of classical music. "Revolution 9" includes pieces of song from compositions by both Beethoven and Sibelius (Coyle). Before this, classical music was unheard of in the vein of popular, American music. John Lennon used all types of orchestra instruments in this song as well as the Mellotron (Coyle). In the fifties and sixties, most musical groups consisted of the basic members: drum, bass, guitar, singer. But The Beatles' use of entire orchestras encouraged other bands to use chamber instruments and orchestras. For example, The Beach Boys, who were heavily influenced by The Beatles, used harpsichord, jingle bells, Hammond organ, violins, and French horn on the wildly popular song, "God Only Knows."(Panfile) A new "musique concrete" band, called Godspeed You! Black Emperor also is influenced by the vast landscape of musical possibilities set down by the Beatles. The band has employed as many as fifteen members at one time. The instruments played changes with the current member, but the music tends to be based around electric and bass guitars, strings and a percussion section. Other instruments such as the glockenspiel and the French horn are sometimes used. They are one of the most popular groups in a genre called "post-rock," which has been described as, "untraditional instruments and high musical density," (Wikipedia) as well as being influenced by Revolution 9.

    "Revolution 9" is a track that stands out from the Beatle's careers as the most experimental they became before falling apart. This was not a welcome gesture of direction towards the long-time fans of the Beatles' poppy, accessible love songs. John Lennon said, " I don't know what influence "Revolution 9" had on the teeny-bopper fans, but most of them didn't dig it. So what am I supposed to do?" (Lennon 309) This apathy towards acceptance of this song is also shown by the fact that John separated himself from his song-writing partner, Paul McCartney, to compose this opus with Yoko Ono(Irvin & McLear, 146). Paul even said that Revolution 9 was exactly the kind of music he'd been creating for fun, but he didn't feel confident enough to release it (McCartney, 307). His original intention was to create a portrait of a revolution (Lennon, 307). His tools were yards and yards of classical tapes from EMI, being played backwards and forwards at many different speeds until he and Yoko were satisfied. The final product contained 20+ overlapping tracks (Lennon, 307). Lennon commented that he spent more time on this song than any other song he'd ever written. Prior to "Revolution 9", popular music was blatant and repetitive. Lyrics of love mostly were sang over simple chords played in 4/4 (the most common meter (rhythm) in popular music.) Before this song, the only other recorded songs in a time meter other than 4/4 were in jazz and classical music. The Beatle?s took everything possible in music, and mashed it up to emulate a revolution. Lennon stated that its only flaw was that it became, "Anti-Revolution."(Lennon, 307). The aforementioned band, Godspeed You! Black emperor puts this idea of imagery to use in their album Yanqui X.0. In the CD cover instead of lyrics, they explain the story being told by the music. On this album, the song Rockets Fall On Rocket Falls is supposed to create an army marching into battle (Menuck). While other popular bands use wit and rhyme in lyrics, The Beatle's were using lyrics and vocals as an actual instrument as opposed to an accompaniment.

    Although it was criticized by many fans of The Beatle's, "Revolution 9" will influence music for all time not directly, but merely with the notion that anything is actually possible in music. John Lennon prophesized, "This is the music of the future."(Lennon, 307). He is right in the aspect that music has sprouted in hundreds of directions, and many of them owe their success to the icebreaking release of the psychedelic, untraditional, groundbreaking, atonal, experimental, metaphoric, surreal, and beautiful "Revolution 9."
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScLong Long Long doesn't freek me out? I guess I should listen to "Revolution 9" just so I remember what it sounds like but I guess I don't need I still Remember what it sounds like. I haven't listened to it at night, and I don't want to. I don't really like the song, but I respect that the fact that John was doing as a form of artistic expression.
  • James from Toronto, Canadawow, this song is not musical at all. Its just a disturbing song that says "turn me on, dead man" when played backwards
  • Ashley from Moncton, CanadaLove the sped up baby voice. This song sounds like everything in life (including the acid trips) compressed into 8 minutes.
  • Joe from Lethbridge, CanadaThanx to ThePanda for explaining that this track is actually "musique concrete". I knew it wasn't really a song. I thought it was more of a "sound collage". Whatever it is, I like it, though it's definitely NOT easy to listen to. It makes demands on the listener. It forces you to think about what you are hearing (or what you think you are hearing!) and then it challenges you to make sense of it all. Many people don't want to work that hard, and I don't blame them. It is taxing. Most Beatles tracks just want to entertain you, take your mind off your troubles, tap your toes, maybe get up and dance or just relax and chill out. Not this track. This one makes you work. So what does it mean? It means something different to everyone. To some it's an acid trip. To others it's a revolution. To some it's about Vietnam. I've always thought it was John trying to explain what it was like to be one of the Beatles. The noise of the crowd that reappears throughout the track seems to go from adulation to anger by the end of it. Bits of the track are rather calm, some are funny, but on the whole it is quite chilling if not downright terrifying. I think that's actually how John felt about the Beatles by that point. It was incredibly stressful, and I always thought John seemed to handle that stress remarkably less well than the others did. He tried to escape it in various ways, but I think he only managed to do so in the years when he left the music business prior to double fantasy. I read an interview once where he said that Revolution 9 probably shouldn't have been on a Beatles album at all, but should've been on a solo album instead. I think many would agree with that. Personally I think it belongs on the White Album, since that's the album that, more than any other, presents the Beatles as four individuals, a band that is coming unstuck, a myth unraveling. And, to me at least, Revolution 9 explains why.
  • Jt from Tullahoma, TnI love all the versions. Revolution 1 is my least favorite. Revolution 9 is the Best, son't care what they say.
  • Jt from Tullahoma, TnThis song had many satanic and Paul is Dead clues along with hints of John Lennon's death...

    At the end of the song when the fire begins to burn, we know after it you hear that voice yell, "You die" you can hear a subliminal message.
    The voice backwards sounds like, "Paul is Doomed."
    But the creepy clue is before the fire starts. You hear a voice say, "I am not in the mood for wearing clothes." Reversing the line says, "There were two, there are none now."

    At the very end when Yoko Ono says, "If we become naked" there is a hidden message referencing to Satan. Listening to the comment reveals the phrase, "Satan Look at me. Please." Just following it in reverse, you can hear more dialogue. When John wakes up as you listen to the song in reverse, You hear the two talk: "Baby, it's not there...What? Ohhhh... Maybe, even then...etc..." All before "If we become naked." Reversing the line starts some quite scary dialogue referencing to the rumors that KISS KISS KISS says "I shot John Lennon."

    Reversing the dialogue, you will hear following, "Sleep with me (gibberish)...Wha? No, no, help...Have a good night sleep, baby?"

    Following this disturbing comment, you will hear this line. Forwards it says, "Take this brother may it serve you well." Reversing it says, "Why have we missed the emperor, satan?"

    Try these out, they are disturbing. So link them up. If anybody here wants to see some cool stuff, I wrote an essay under the account "Darket" on www.fictionpress.com. You should check out my Paul is Dead essay titled "Paul is Dead: Truth or Hoax?" It has some clues you've probably never seen, audio clues, an entire audio compilation of Revolution 9 forwards and backwards to reveal stuff you've never heard mostly, and enough baackmasking clues to shake a stick at. Just drop a review, peace!
  • John Smith from New York City, NyI have to amit that it is different, but it is very interesting to examine to hear exactly what they are saying. Though It is pretty hard to get anything other than what other websites have posted, I have gotten a few. Listen right at the beginning of when you hear a woman talking as if it was a movie. You may get what she is saying after the first 20 or so seconds, but if you listen real hard and play it over and over again, you will hear something else. I cant remember what it is, but is is very strange and random.
  • Mischa from Winnipeg, AustraliaThis song is a bit creepy but somewhat artistic. Lennon you are a madman!!
  • Ryan from Bfe, MiI personally believe if you listen to it... forwards it's a revolution from the beginning, from reverse it's a revolution from the end to the beginning. "Turn me on dead man" goes into a choir.. then gun fire, then the sounds of someone dying... etc.
  • Sara from Nashville, TnI personally like this SONG and could listen to it at night without having nightmares. Sure this SONG is DIFFERENT (I wouldn't call it weird... okay, maybe I would...), but maybe it's John expressing his individuality! I do believe one other person said this, but all I hear is "bloody" and not the "f-word." (I'm not saying that's what it says, just saying that's what I heard!;) And hey Jude, (sorry for picking you out, I've just always wanted to say that, lol) "Codswallop"... so true! A simple suggestion... everytime the SONG comes on your MP3 player, then skip over it or delete it or somethin'! =) All you other folks who think this SONG is scary because they are paranoid, then why do ya listen to it? I mean, if ya don't watch scary movies because you are paranoid then why listen to this scary SONG!? lol And that's right, I called it a SONG!
  • Dana from Edmonds, WaI fell asleep last night with my computer on shuffle. Revolution #9 came on while i was alseep. I happened to be dreaming while it was playing and became aware aware of the music in my dream. The only word I can use to describe how it sounded in the dream is EVIL. It has been twelve hours since I got out of bed and I am still emotional shaken by it's effect on my unconscious. I think there is something wrong with that song. And I have never felt that way about any song EVER. I don't think I will ever listen to it again. In a few minutes I am deleting it from my laptop and never listening to it again. I am seriously shaken by how it made me feel while hearing it while sleeping. I regret it. If there is a hell revolution #9 is the soundtrack. PEACE
  • Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaDoes anybody here like all three versions of Revolution? I do!
  • Aaron from Spokane, WaFrom 2:47-2:50 in the song when you hear John screaming somthing i wondered what it sounded like backwards and it was kinda scary what i heard it soundes like John is saying Let me out! Let me out!
    mabey its just me but just try it
  • Pat from Albuquerque, NmBelieve it or not, my wife and I (in our 50s) both really like this song, though it's more of a soundscape or performance art (maybe the best thing Yoko ever worked on). Listen to it and let the sounds wash over you (no drugs though). Ken is right--for whatever reason John Lennon was obsessed with the number 9, hence this "song."
  • Steve from Fenton, MoThe best thing I can say about this song is that it is a "conversation piece". I heard Ringo say (I think on Anthology) that he was a voice of reason to John. Every once in awhile John would start getting a little too far out there and Ringo would just tell him "John, that's crap". Ringo must have taken the night off when John and Yoko were making this one.
  • Valisilwen from A Place, VaIf you want to hear the clip of "Number Nine/Turn me on dead man" go here... http://www.turnmeondeadman.net/IBP/Intro.html

    It's a pretty good site
  • Valisilwen from A Place, VaI like this song. And while yes, it is a tad on the weird side, it's good. And YES if you listen to the phrase "Number Nine" backwords it does sound like "turn me on dead man." It's not the only beatle's song to drop an f-bomb. In "Hey Jude" John yells out "f--king hell!" Anyway...it a wonderful song..I like it actually.
  • Zak from Superior, CoThis song is very trippy and disturbing in many ways. But according to a friend, whom was a Maharishi follower during the Beatle's dwelling with him, this song is actually supposed to be about the feeling before falling into a deep meditation. Just thought I'd toss that out.
  • Linus from Hamilton, On, CanadaSee what Yoko Ono did to the beatles?
  • Steve from Fenton, MoWhy would anyone waste their time playing The Beatles music backwards when it sounds so good forwards, except for this song of course. Yoko was no doubt humbled by all the bad reviews this recording drew.
  • Mary from Virginia Beach, VaOkay finally made it through the whole song. I was so weirded out, I could barely listen to the rest of the White Album. I listened to it again in daylight. Not as bad but still creepy.
  • Michelle from Antigonish, CanadaYES!!!Mary, Virginia Beach, VA, Long, Long, Long freaks me out to. My music player never had good volume and even if I turn the song up to 100% I still can't clearly make out exaclty what he's saying so It's like creepy whispers..and Revolution 9 is just annoying, though I guess John was brilliant and you they're right, you have to have a VERY open mind to really understand this song, and I guess I don't lol, It's still creepy!!! I also haven't actually gotten all the way through this song!!!
  • Mary from Virginia Beach, VaI have yet to make it entirely through revolution9. It is so creepy. Even the ending on Long Long Long freaks me out. maybe i should try revolution 9 during daytime. Does Long Long Long freak anyone else out?
  • Yo from Sudbury,ontario, Canadai dont really mind this song.Icould listen to it during the day but NEVER at night that just creeps me out
  • Brittany from Vancouver, CanadaI agree with mr ond, this is a great headset song. It is rather creepy, but that's what makes it so intriguing. I love it.
  • Evan from Birmingham, Althis song is simply disturbing
  • Kartik from Peace River, CanadaThis song is actually a little bit scary. It creeps me out and i really wonder who was smoking what when this was made. Scary stuff lol
  • Mr Ond from East Sussex - Almost Brighton, Englandi like listening to this song in good headfones. when the bit comes where the sound bounces from left earfone to right, i love it, and an involuntrary smile come to my lips
  • Lee from Clearwater, FlI absolutely love to dance to this one. What a beat, what a message, what rythmn, what genious, what a piece of cow-pie.
  • Vinny from Revere, MaI actually find it somewhat calming. I like to listen to it while walking at night.
  • Nick from Solvang, Caso, Nick, your afraid of people and random sounds? interesting... actually this song is pretty scary and Im listening to it right now. very very creepy.
  • Nick from Richmond Hill, CanadaThis song represents to me EVERYTHING I am afraid of. To prove that to myself one time, I wrote down THE longest list of things that would freak me out, and I played the song, checking off each one as I identified a fear based on it. ALL OF THEM were checked off. I cannot listen to this alone, with friends, or on the happiest day of my life. Its like an instant bad trip.

    I'm sure Lennon is laughing his head off in heaven right now, but I am scared.
  • Vinny from Revere, MaAbout "Can you take me back", here is what I posted on the Cry Baby Cry thread:
    "If you pay attention to the timing of the track partitions, you'll find that the entire CD version of the album is screwed up in this way. Bits at the beginnings or ends of many of the songs are cut from where they should be and grafted onto adjacent tracks. This is most noticeable between Rocky Raccoon-Don't Pass Me By, Wild Honey Pie-The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill, and Cry Baby Cry-Revolution 9, but it happens throughout almost the entire album."
    Other examples: Listen carefully to the split second at the beginning of Piggies, and you will hear birds chirping. Listen to the beginning of Rocky Raccoon, and you will hear pig sounds.

    Anyway, I enjoy Revolution 9. It was part of my inspiration for making some of my own audial art, in fact. Most people who've heard my creation "Life In A Fish Tank" seem to enjoy it, and it was partly inspired by R9. Then again, it's nowhere near as chaotic as R9.
  • Luna from London, EnglandI don't think this can even qualify as music. I love the Beatles like NO other band in the history of the world!!! But this .... this is just plain garbage.
  • Victroia from Paris, FranceI remember that as a kid I used to hate the number 9 song. It was the only song I would systimaticly skip on any of my beatles records. Now, on the other hand, I do hear it differently and study it ratter carfully, and now it really freaks me out, because the more I listen to it, the more I feel like it's a journey through the after life (or just hell maybe). To add to this impression I'm reading the book "Turn me on dead man" and I have heared that quote, in the recording backwards, it's undeniably there (but I can't make out the car crash backwards that's supposed to be there, but so far I've only heared it backwards 3 times). But it's very incredibly, it's the most original music track ever i'll give it that, but I still can't stand listening to it (at leased never alown), not so much because I don't like it but because it scars me out of my wits.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScRob the Paul is dead theory was completely made up by some college students in Michigan. There's an interesting article on it, but I can't remember the website. The reason the Beatles might not have dispelled it was because they probably knew it would sell records.
  • Christopher Davis from Cleveland, Tnyou people are all wrong....enought with this paul is dead, and all those rumors...you people is you never noticed. all of them were some true LSD explorers and dude. this song was basically thought of and some parts made after a trip. it's not a conspiracy song or riddle it's just a song for all the trippers to listen to and play games with them. on a 4 dose lsd trip i had i listend to the song, thats the magic about the song. get a grip on reality (ironic a tripper talking about handling reality huh?)
  • Andrea from SingaporeJust adding my thoughts on Revolution 9, here. I think that it's really hard to ever figure out what John's true feelings about a song was, because often he'd say one thing about it at one point in time, but post-Yoko he'd say something completely different. I personally think it's a little over the top, truly. I totally understand that it's probably more experimental than most anything else that The Beatles had on their albums, but that's also taking into account the feeling that John gave to many people that he often just liked to mess with the heads of Beatle-fans. Essentially, in this long rambling comment of mine, I'm trying to say that while this song may feel like garbage to someone, it could seem like something amazing and brilliantly creative to someone else. So it's not really fair that people are writing it off as crap, and it's just as unfair for people who don't think it's crap to call the people who don't like it as much idiots who are obviously not real fans of The Beatles and whatever else. Being a fan doesn't mean you have to blindly follow them and like every single song they make.
  • Jacob from Lacrosse, WiI really think this song sounds Satanic. I think it is really scary, I really do. I don't care what you all think, there is sometthing very satanic about this song.
  • Andrea Ruhlman from Charlevoix, MiI like this song, if you can call it a song. the way these random sounds and voices are spliced together creates an amazing affect, you can't help but listen to every bit of it. to me, it really sums up what the beatles were--revolutionary, experimental, fearlessly pushing the limits to songwriting. I love that they (or Lennon, at least) did not get so engrossed in their own popularity to risk some controversy by releasing a song like this.
  • Dustin from Akron, Oh"You have to have a very open mind to appreciate it."

    That's not a fact, that's just stupid.
  • Rob from Hanover, PaGod people get real. The Paul is dead rumor dates back to the butcher album and goes through Abbey Road. "You were in a car crash, and you lost your head" Don't Pass me by..Ringo Starr (White Album) There's a pic of some man on the White Album..(which isn't called the White Album, real name is..The Beatles) who was supposed to be Paul's replacement. The clues are endless. The whole thing was a hoax started by a US radio dj. It was proved a hoax 30+ years ago. He never was and isn't now dead.
  • David from Pasadena, CaI play the trumpet in marching band. Whenever we set the ninth chair trumpet player to his new position, we always say, "Number 9, Number 9, Number 9."
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScThe "Can you take me back where I came from..." part is part of "Cry Baby Cry" which comes before "Revolution 9" on the album. I think those lines are part of that song anyway.
  • Dan from Columbia, MdLove the Beatles like no other band, but this was one of the songs I never liked by them.
  • George from Itaberaba, BrazilThe whole "Paul is dead" thing was just for sale more, the fans would buy more, looking for clues, etc. Very good, Beatles were very smart.
  • George from Itaberaba, BrazilThis song shows Lennon's affraid of the death and the Devil. It's a scream for help, whe was really down. Musically, this is the only Beatles' song that's crap. I love The Beatles!
  • Ryan from Brentwood, CaIf played backwards, the very beginning (or ending) sounds like a real song saying : can you take me back where I came from brother can you take me back : Or maybe I just have some version that sombody made up, I dont know.
  • Wade from Katy, TxOne of the best songs ever... Love it.

    Every now and then, when talking to friend or something, I'll randomly start saying "Number 9. Number 9. Number 9. Number 9."

    They either get a kick out of it or freak out.

    So much fun...
  • Lynn from Honolulu, HiDid you know that number 9 represents death,endings,completion in numerology?.Ironic eh? ;).Especially since the 60's were all about the occult besides peace and love.
  • David from Wichita, KsPaul is dead man,miss him,miss him,miss him. Oh wait.. thats at the end of another Beatles song. For those wondering and commenting on another post,if you have the equipment to actually record and then run it in reverse then just slowly say Number 9,number 9.

    In reverse it is "turn me on dead man". All you young people should have been around in 1969/70 when the "Paul is dead" hysteria took hold--it was GREAT!
  • Gregor from Toronto, CanadaIf you listen to the song backwards, near 4:50 you hear somebody say "Cucumbers can't defeat him"!! No Lies!
  • Mandy from Calgary, CanadaI have to add- do you people SERIOUSLY think Paul is dead. He is ALIVE in flesh and blood- I am going to SEE him in a month at the Air Cananda center, for a concert. He LIVES people- he is alive and he still sings, and if seeing THAT is not believing there are WAY too many strange people out there. I mean... John is dead now :((Rest in peace.) But HE isnt still singing, which means, there is NO ghost of him which means there is no ghost of any of the beatles, which means- Paul cannot be a ghost. Or whatever every-one thinks happened to Paul. He is clearly alive, so why not lay this THEORY at rest in the graves. Because frankly, its just too scary for me.
  • Mandy from Calgary, CanadaThis song is so freakin scary. I listened to it at 11:00 at night and fell asleep to it. That night, I had the worst nightmare I have ever had in my life... it scared me sh**less and boy oh boy is it haunting. But- none of the less, very interesting, and a song that MAYBE one day I will respect a little more than I do now. But thats just because it gave me a bad dream, lol. And Im not a little kid! Strange.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScQuestion. Who thinks that John Lennon was the weirdest Beatle? Anyone? I do. He was also a genious though. He wrote some great songs.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, Sceven though this song is freaky. It's freakiness and weirdness is what makes it cool. That's if you like it. I personally don't, but that's cool that John Lennon was willing to experiment with things like that. Btw, the white album rocks, regardless of whether this song is on it or not. The white album is so diverse, and that's why I like it.
  • Greg from Garden City, NyI just played this song backwards. "Number 9" somehow sonds like "Turn Me On Deadman" When I did this it freaked me out. Also, although it is not totally clear, you can kind of hear the "replay" of Paul's "Death." If you Play it backwards, around 2:00-3:00 you hear a crackling fire (The Car That "Paul" Was In Supposedly Caught Fire) I'm Not Sure If THere Was Actually A Car Accident That Morning, I Have to find out.
  • Sebastian from London, EnglandActually, in Lennon's own words this was part of his comment on the left student movement, specifically the riots which occured in Paris during 1968. I am a Phd Musicology student, havig researched this song intensly, it is not about acid or dope or Paul dying.

    It is interesting to look at it in terms of the other avant garde electronic music contemporary to it, such as 'non consumiamo Marx' by Luigi Nono. Macdowell in his book, 'Revolution in the head' claims that the Lennon piece is far more astute and important than Nono's.
  • Thepanda from Adelaide, AustraliaThe truth is "Revolution Number 9" was one of the first and certainly one of the most important examples of "rock concrete", which came about in the avante garde period in the 1960s. It is purely a pop-culture translation of the technique 'musique concrete', which is in effect the begginnings of sampling. The technique is cutting and splicing together sections of tape, taking original sounds and noises to create something new. Pierre Schaeffer is the most important person in the history of Musique Concrete. Revolution Number 9 is in fact a revolution as it began the transition of these musique concrete applications into popular culture.
  • Jordan from Wimette, IlHow is 'Number Nine' a backwards 'Turn Me On, Dead Man'?
  • Barry from New York, NcBack in the Seventies, the NYC newspaper Village Voice held a poll of the fans' five least favorite Beatles songs.

    REVOLUTION 9 came in at #1. Is that a surprise??
  • Evan from Schererville, InAnd I don't want to insult John's memory with my last post. It might be disrespectful to put a giddy song like Shake Your Tailfeather next to one of the greats like Revolution 9.
  • Evan from Schererville, InIn the song "Shake Your Tailfeather" by Ray Charles, the Watusi and the Twist are mentioned. I know they are both dances, but can anyone find any correlation between Revolution 9 and Shake Your Tailfeather? (I don't think there is any correlation, but I thought I'd check.)
  • Mike from Kitchener, CanadaThis song is weird man. I am not sure where I stand on the Paul is dead rumour but this song is really cool to listen to when you are high lol
  • Laura from Santa Fe, NmBurt I think they thought it was funny to fuel all the rumors.
  • Logan from Winnipeg, CanadaWhat I make of this is all of our radeo signals being picked up from outer space. Think of how random it really is. Personal coversations, movies music. It all makes sense!!!!
  • Burt from Nonya, WaPAUL IS DEAD CONSPIRACY ALERT!!!!!! Paul McCartney contributed the line "I'd love to turn you on" to the song "A Day in the Life," then one year later, John put together this track which, when played backwards, clearly says "TURN ME ON dead man." I'm pretty sure Paul McCartney isn't dead, but you can't deny all the hints the Beatles included in their albums that say he is (most damning is "I'm so Tired" which says backwards at the end, "Paul is dead man. Miss him, miss him). So what were they trying to say? Had something happened to Paul as a result of a car crash that changed him permanently? Had drugs changed him permanently? Was is something else completly? Or was it all just a wicked joke?
  • Ilikemusic. from This Isn't A City, MdI reccommend reading Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi (spelling?), the prosecuting attorney in the Charles Manson case. Manson was a big Beatles fan, especially of this song and others from the White Album. I believe that the book changes the feel of the song.
  • Clare from Hmilton, CanadaTo Jude in Thomasville and all the others I have to say I really Hate it when people trash the white album because of this song. The beatles where revolutionists in music, and this song is a perfect representation of it. Nothing like Revolution 9 had ever been heard before, and without it, part of the beatle's legend may not have existed. The White Album is the best beatles album because of its diversity, and should not be trashed because of it. However, Wild Honey Pie on the other hand....
  • Danny from San Diego, CaHonestly, there are some songs that shouldn't be taken to mean anything other than what it is. It may be sonic junk, even to me, I still love it. Hidden messages, believe what you like, a fun tune to listen to. Ultimately, that's what it was going for anyways.
  • Mike from Chicago, IlI started listening to this song as I read this page...and maybe I should mention that it's currenly 3am and I'm in my basement...alone...where my typing and John's engineer are the only sounds... but around 1 and a half minutes I started getting paranoid and looking over my shoulder at the door. I AND HOLY CRAP SWEET MOTHER OF JESUS!! I just looked at the door again, and back at the keyboard which I've been typing at blindly, and there, less than an inch from my finger is an earwig bug! HOLY CRAP!!! I just stared at it in fear for a few seconds. Now its dead. Way dead. And oh, I just looked over my shoulder again, and again just now. Woah, I gotta get to sleep. This song is freakin me out. John would've been proud.
  • Jude from Thomasville, GaI thisk this song is mhy I haven't loaded The White Album onto my MP3 player with all my other Beatles CDs. To me, it is a sad album. It has the feel of one of those compilation albums where they just stick a bunch of unrelated songs together and toss it out there. There's no unity to it and it's more depressing than Let It Be. By the way, if Paul is dead, who's married to Heather? As Hagrid put it, "Codswallop!"
  • Bizgotti from Toronto, Canadai think this track just goes to show how ahead of his time lennon really was. he is quoted as saying "this is the music if the future" and in some ways he is so write, hip hop,trip-hop and house music try to do what he was doing in 68 with the loops and samples and backwards stuff all the time. his work is just brilliant. i think this track is perfect, certainly does get the feeling of a revolution in sounds happening does it not?
  • Andre from Tampa, FlThough ths is about a revolution (duh), this would go great with those horror movies with those sequences of random "scary" clips.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI can see why George and Paul didn't want it on the album. First time I heard the song, it absolutely freeked me out. The beatles weren't the only ones to do weird songs but this is the weirdest song yet. Pink floyd can't even hold a candle to this one. I love Pink Floyd though.
  • Nessie from Sapporo, JapanThe question is not whether it succeeds as a sound poem but whether it belongs on a Beatles album. I vote no.
  • Kenny from Baltimore, MdI read something on a religious, anti-beatles website that made me laugh. It said "When played backwords Revolution 9 says, 'Turn me on dead man' which obviously means Lennon was a homosexual necrofeliac". Just thought I'd share that bit of humor with every one.
  • Takashi from Tokyo, JapanI hear this is based on a Nightmare John Lennon had. Near the end of the song, you can hear him and Yoko waking up (after the naked Two Virgins photoshoot). and I showed this song to my two cousins and they spotted the "f" word- right at the end when the yells of "f--k that s--t" are put in. And it's actually :Join the BLOODY navy" not "Join the f***ing navy".
  • Takashi from Tokyo, JapanThis song is also like "Two Virgins". It's all feedback an noise.
  • Josh from Plainview, NyI agree the part after "Take this brother may it serve you well" does sound a little like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
  • Mampoop from Montreal, United StatesYou know the part "Take this brother, may you use it well"... maybe it's just me but the piano right after it sounds like the beginning of As my Guitar Gently Weeps. Maybe I'm crazy, or dumb
  • Jo-c from Lima, PeruActually, this song is a nightmare. It has a nightmarish mood, and everything. If you listen to it concentrated on the song, you find the terror rises up to the point in which a man says "Take this brother, may it serve you well". Then you hear a woman (Yoko Ono, I think) speaking on one side while a sound rises on the other one. After the creepiest line, said by Yoko (We became naked), the song eventually fades, and when you think it's coming back again, Good Night comes in. That happened to me anyway, I was concentrated on it and had headphones on. That, in my opinion, is the greatest moment in history of rock n' roll.
  • Robyn from Cleveland, OhPeople, come back to civilaiztion..Paul is ALIVE. ALIVE ALIVE!!!! John Lennon and Revolution 9 are scary. No, seriously, I had a dream John Lennon was a red bird with rainbow feathers (stop looking at me like that!) and he ate me...
    JOHN LENNON IS SCARY!!!!

    Turn me on, dead man. Turn me on, dead man. Turn me on, dead man. Turn me on, dead man. Turn me on, dead man...

    Taco.
  • Michael from Atlanta, GaI will admit that these arguments are very persuasive, but paul isn't dead. I know because Chris Farley(who ironicly is dead) asked him directly on saturday night live if he died and he said that he didnt. Chris even mentioned the clues hidden in the tracks. I rest my case.
  • Elliott from Douglassville, PaA lot of people have said that the noise that arrives around 1:58 is some kind of Indian instrument. Actually, it sounds more like backward guitar - it was probably either used in or left over from "Tomorrow Never Knows," The Beatles' (and really anyone in rock) first exploitation of tape loops.
    Also I'm pretty sure that the "f--k that s--t" is a crowd chanting "block that kick" - a football (American, but maybe soccer, too?) cheer.
  • Stephen T. from Alta Loma, CaNumber 9, Number 9, Number 9, Number 9, Number 9, Number 9, Number 9. That song's creepy. if you say "turn me on dead man" backwards, it says "Number 9"! Freaky! do you also know what's creepy? if you put a small mirror under "LONELY HEARTS" on the cover of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"(you know, where the drum is on the cover), It says "IONEIX HEIDIE". On the first part (IONEIX), it's 1+1+1=3 remaining Beatles and the X is paul, who's dead and not in the beatles. On the other part (HEIDIE), it says he die and an arrow pointing up between he and die, which points directly at Paul. Paul's dead, not really. In revolution 9 backwards, you can hear a siren and flames crackling in the backround, plus there are 9 letters in "McCartney". when it says "number 9" and if you play it backwards, it says "turn me on dead man".
  • Loretta from Liverpool, Englandthis song is really cool, but the paul is dead thing is BS. one of the biggest hints was te 28IF thing, but paul would have been 27 in 1969. concerning LMW (Linda McCartney Weeps), not only at the time of the photoshoot were "Paul" and Linda not married, at the time that Paul supposedly died, he was engaged to Jane Asher and had never met Linda Eastman!!!
  • Ruby from Nyc, NyThis song is the creepiest thing ive ever heard. I couldn't sleep last night because it was on my mind. It pretty much represents what i am afraid of in my mind. I can't listen to it at all. I think its not garbage because its amazing that just sound can affect me so much. Im so paranoid now! ;D
  • Ryan from KansasYeah. The Paul is dead thing........complete bulls**t. But you have to admit....it is entertaining.
  • Martin from Sterling, VaI rather liked this song. I first heard it at age six... I found it very neat and avant-garde (although that was not in my volcabulary at the time). Even my sister, who thinks lowly of the Beatles, says this is her favorite Beatles song- possibly favorite song ever. I'm not saying it's the best song ever, but it's rather neat.

    Why do people say that the "can you take me back" thing is part of this track? It's part of Cry Baby Cry, as is the super-quiet voices (someone and George Martin).
  • Mark from Morse, Alguys think about it....if they did replace paul with "william cambell" he would have to be playing the guitar left and he must still really have an incredible voice. I do think that song has some kind of meaning but it would be pretty crazy if you could have a look-alike contest and the guy has all the same charactoristics!!!!
  • Yud from Salvador, Braziland there´s more, if listen 'A day in life' it´s like a full descripition of the day that Paul died.
    "I read the new today, oh boy..."
    "He blew his mind out in a car..."
    "They've seen his face before..."
    and the part "I'd love to turn you on"
    probably have a connection w/ the "Turn me on Dead Man" in #9
  • Yud from Salvador, BrazilTake a look at this web site, it have good evidences about "Paul is Dead". It´s very good and show some pictures trying to tell the truth. I do believe, and my thoughts belongs only to me. http://digilander.libero.it/p_truth/
  • Joel Riley from Berkley, MiAs Beatle fan knows, John Lennon was always one to try many forms of music, and at the time, this style of clip edits and madness was the extreme psychedlic music of the time, and John just wanted to give the genre a try, and the result is revolution 9. I must say, the speculation to the meaning is rather obsurd. There esentially isn't meaning, and is definentely meant for people to listen to on drugs (it really does create the scariest sense of paranoia i have ever had when I was on drugs)...but anyways for all you people that try to interpet this song, I belive I read an interview once with Yoko Ono who said it was supposed to represent someone descent into madness. Obviously one can put 2 + 2 together, and add the fact that its also spose to represent an acid trip, which of course is its own little trip into hysteria.
  • Ellen from Nashville, TnFor all you crazy people who think paul is dead, i agree there are some convincing arguments out there, such as his eyes changed color or his height changed. However, there are logical answers for all of these things. eyes can change color with time, and it not like he couldn't have grown. its obvious that paul mccartney is still alive. i mean, he is performing at the half time show for the super bowl this year.
  • Don from Philadelphia, PaWell, I guess I'm open-minded because I really enjoy listening to this once in a while.
  • John Doe from Anytown, AlI wouldn't really want to listen to this kinda thing as my only music. but this is kinda neat!! I love the: "take this brother may it serv you well" part
  • Pedantic Wit from Madison, WiThe "Paul Is Dead" comments are, indeed, completely absurd. Though the more impressionable among you may still cling to a notion posited by a less-than-credible website or word of mouth, the rumors were, are, and will remain to be completely false. For those that need a less-than-reliable source to be convinced, I will direct you to the refutations of the ridiculous rumors available at:

    http://www.turnmeondeadman.net/IBP/Intro.html
  • Nick from Arlington Heights, IlSomeone needs to write a book called "The McCartney Code" with all the Paul is Dead clues.
  • Aak from Brentwood, Caactually it is a good song in some ways... i think putting backwards vocals was ok and also adding in all of those paul is dead hints...
  • Aak from Brentwood, Cathis is the wierdest song ever! i mean i can handle a few minutes of garbage but 8!! this song is just a bunch of garbage for anyone who dosen't have a VERY open mind for what they call music (which i don't)
  • Don from Philadelphia, PaI used to think the paul is dead thing was absurd. Until I saw this: http://www.freewebs.com/breathingcadaver/60if.html Tell me what you think.
  • Don from Philadelphia, PaI just listened to it and it sounds more like "block that kick" than "f--k that s--t".
  • Jesse from Enfield, Ctbeside demilife, HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD OF ACID. Man, you guys are all a bunch of straights. loosen up and realize that this song is completely and utterly based on an acid trip. thats why it sounds so strange to all you squares man. someone should turn you on, wait no cause you obviously wouldn't appreciate the trip. stop listening to the beatles if you don't appreciate what they do. and to whoever said "wild honeypie" and "why don't we do it in the road" were bad songs, go back to oklahoma you okie. jesus start somewehre you people SMOKE GRASS.
  • Julian from Strongbadia, AustraliaIf you say "Number nine" slowly, it sounds like "turn me on dead man". That's just the way it sounds, when anyone says it.
  • Peter from Carmel, InKabrams has a good point. I don't think it was really supposed to mean anything. It was just a bunch of old loops cut up, mixed up, and put back together.
  • Kabrams from Dallas, TxI think Lennon made this just to show that The Beatles could put out anything and people would listen to it. I doubt anyone would like this song if it wasn't The Beatles.
  • Rico from Pittsburgh, PaOne more thing, the comment from Bil of Plano, Texas, whose high school paper on this hypothesized that Rev #9 described war and violence transformed into a vision of people "Coming Together"(interesting, but I still think that it's the recording of a nightmare.) But if you believe that,don't you think it's ironic that the people united in the end are chanting cheers from a football game? Is that saying that people will come together only if there is a vicarious thrill offered by some form of entertainment? Think about it.
  • Rico from Pittsburgh, PaI was nine when the White Album came out (speaking of nines!) and listening to Revolution #9 always creeped me out. I found it very disturbing on a primal level, and I always regarded it to be the rendering of the visceral and frightening random firings of a nightmare. (Even hearing it today, with its subliminal funeral parlor music, backwards tapes and shuddering and violent sound effects, gives me the willies.) I have never understood why people have such wildly negative reactions to it. Of course it's not a song in any sense of the word, and it does take up a bit of time, but I would rather listen to it than the true throwaways on the album like Wild Honey Pie, Why Don't We Do It In The Road, etc. Why not just accept it as the fascinating experimental piece that it is?

    As far as the connection to the Paul Is Dead stuff, after hearing backwards tapes of this and even moreso, I'm So Tired, you cannot tell me that the Beatles--and I think particularly Lennon--did not intentionally plant clues to the so-called "death" of McCartney. I've always thought that it was great fun--a grand practical joke that was perhaps even a little bit of a publicity stunt. While many of the "clues" that have been discussed are far-fetched, there are others that are obvious plants, like the abovementioned songs, and to me, the definitive one that tells me that the Beatles were in on it--the cover of Abbey Road. (It was all so cleverly done, I wonder why that over the years, the subject always evokes indignant denials by McCartney and others.)
  • Mike from London, EnglandIn the "Can You Take Me Back" little ditty before Revolution 9, instead of saying "brother can you take me back," Paul actually sounds like he is saying "Robert can you take me back." Dr.Robert, celebrated in Revolver, was the Beatles dealer who gave them all their first acid trip, and now Paul seems to be begging him to stop the madness that has been caused, leading to his untimely death.
    Maybe?
  • Eva from Dallas, Txas far as this being "the only song where the f word is used", let's not forget the blooper in "hey jude" where, at the beginning of the na-na-na-na's you can hear lennon yell "f***ing hell" in the background, right after he messes up his part.
  • Don from Philadelphia, Pamarvin's right at the 7:59 mark it sounds like they are yelling "f--k that s--t".
  • Kory from Pittsburgh, PaIf you listen to the gibberish in "I'm Tired" and play it backwards it seriously sounds like they say "Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him, miss him" I think they may have made more than one reference to Paul dying... Creepy...
  • Nick from San Francisco, CaThis is by far the worst thing (I refuse to call it a song) the Beatles ever made. It's got the pervasive stench of Yoko Ono busy destroying the band. It isn't a song, it isn't even a good art piece, it's just noise... over and over and over. And it's perhaps the sole reason why the White Album can't be called the greatest album ever created. It might well have been otherwise.
  • Adrian from Wilmington, DeI was once recorded myself saying, "Number 9" and then played it in reverse and it does indeed sound like, "Turn me on dead man." Obviously no backmasking there. I'm suprised George Harrison never gets any credit for this track (no way I will call it a song) because he is clearly heard talking with John throughout. Then again, I doubt George would have wanted any connection to this track and I don't blame him.
  • Scott Baddwin from Edmonton, EnglandThe beatles said the f- word in this song
  • Andrew from Springfield, MoUhhh free thought, speech, and expression is that what it leads too?
  • Peter from Berlin, GermanyPeople that listen to Beatles songs backwards are Sick and/or mentally Deranged. Dont you know what that lead to?
  • Yo from Honolulu, Hiwell i just had to hear marilyn manson's version. please... don't waste your time. 1) itz not a version at all 2) itz not that great as an original. if you are interested in compositions such as '#9' Pearl Jam has a cut on their Vitology cd worth listening to.
  • Bil from Plano, TxI wrote a papaer in High School about this song. I got a "A" I interpreted this as a single voice in the beginning then mass confusion, fighting, wars, etc. until at the end the crowds are chanting in unison, "hold that line" and "block that kick" meaning people eventually "coming together"
  • Veronica from West Covina, CaI found an mp3 online of Revolution 9 backwards on when the guy says "number nine" it seriously sounds like "turn me on dead man". It's creepy and you can also hear some one in one part saying something like "get me out". Just plain weird.
  • Marvin from East Brady, PaOnly Beatles song to drop an f-bomb???
  • Kay from Wakefield, MaThis is another one of my fave Beatles songs that I've found only about two other people who like it. It is rather strange, but in a way (to me at least) a beautiful classic.
  • Bob from Okc, OkIf you play it backwards u can hear "Paul is Dead". It's kinda creepy.
  • Ken from Hartland, MiJohn was obsessed with the number 9, and many things in his life seem to revole around it (the date he met Paul, etc.)
    The tragedy of John's death occured in the evening of Dec. 8th in the U.S. which was of course already Dec. 9th in England.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Songfacts® Newsletter

A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs

Information

Follow Us

Contribution

©2026 Songfacts, LLC