There’s a lot that upsets me in the news, but I step back and think of the wisdom of the Beatles: “Mother Mary comes to me; speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”
I’m a pretty easygoing guy, and “let it be” works,
Just had to say that.
But sometimes it’s amazing what we can change if we’re determined enough. I’d rather go with “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
The song has a slightly different shade of meaning if you know that Paul’s mom, Mrs. McCartney, was named “Mary”. It lends a certain ambiguity as to who “Mother Mary” might be.
That’s interesting— I always thought it kind of odd how overtly religious that song seemed to be; just a bit out of character for the Beatles. But really the reference to “Mother Mary” is the only thing overtly religious about the song, if taken that way and not in the sense he’s referring to his mother; the rest of the song is generally about hope.
Also that Paul has said that he wrote it after having a dream about his deceased mother, who told him “It will be all right, just let it be.” Not much ambiguity there, but McCartney has also said that people can interpret the song how they like.
I think that attitude is why America saw the rise of fascism. We let it be when we should have been doing something about it.
shakes head
God grant me the wisdom to know the difference between the things I can’t change and the things I can, the courage to change the things I can, and when all else fails the serenity to accept what I cannot change. But definitely in that order.
“One person can make a difference. But, they probably shouldn’t”.
I broke my arm when I was 7 (in 1970, no less). I’ll always associate that song with my mom’s angry advice as I rummaged the house looking for implements to scratch the itch under the cast.
Having been 13 when the song came out, I figured Mary was marijuana. After all, I get by with a little help from my friends.
Wouldn’t be out of character for Paul at all. He loved(loves?) the stuff:
I vaguely recall he got busted for bringing a pound of weed into Japan, in his luggage. Incredibly, they searched his luggage, because he’d been in hot water previously. I mean, duh. Celebrities generally have really gotten over on serious drug offenses and other crimes compared to us mere mortals.
Have you looked around you lately? Let it be, indeed.
Lennon hated McCarthy’s mush. The Stones responded with Let It Bleed. Instead of idiot treacle, they screamed about rape and murder in arguably the greatest rock song ever.
Ooh, a storm is threatening
My very life today
Let it be?
McCarthy was singing about personal pain, obviously, not the state of the world, and was involved in a deeply personal quandary. In the end he did not let it be. All words of wisdom are relevant at some times to some situations and not at other times for other situations. That be’s the truth.
“Let it be” is wise in many situations.
I try. I try so hard.
You succeed, @Beckdawrek .
You know, sometimes in life it is refreshing, or even necessary, to have some “treacle” to relieve the eternal grimdark of existence. Both types of song have their place.
He also came up with Obla-Di, Obla-Da, which is basically the same advice, right?
Sure, that’s why I said exactly that.
But types of songs. This particular example isn’t advice to be listened to. It’s a bumper sticker.
Hence climate change. Let it be future generations problem.
How about, let it be the problem of the people who have the power to do something about it? There’s relatively little that I, personally, can do about climate change, as opposed to those who are in a position to look for and implement scientific/technological and/or political solutions.