# Does anybody else see Mother Mary's wisdom: Let it Be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 21, 2023, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873 "2023-06-21T08:58:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/1 "2023-06-21T08:58:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/2 "2023-06-21T10:16:37Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/3 "2023-06-21T10:26:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/4 "2023-06-21T11:32:11Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > 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.](https://genius.com/The-beatles-let-it-be-lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/5 "2023-06-21T11:50:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/6 "2023-06-21T12:06:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/7 "2023-06-21T13:44:27Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > 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.” _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. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/8 "2023-06-21T13:51:53Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > But sometimes it’s amazing what we can change if we’re determined enough. “One person can make a difference. But, they probably shouldn’t”. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/9 "2023-06-21T14:42:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/10 "2023-06-21T15:05:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/11 "2023-06-21T15:27:30Z")
Wouldn’t be out of character for Paul at all. He loved(loves?) the stuff: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/r95-7zfgtLw/maxresdefault.jpg "Got To Get You Into My Life (Remastered 2009)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r95-7zfgtLw) ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/12 "2023-06-21T15:49:13Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/13 "2023-06-22T03:20:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/14 "2023-06-22T04:46:04Z")
“Let it be” is wise in many situations. I try. I try so hard. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/15 "2023-06-22T04:55:19Z")
You succeed, @Beckdawrek . ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/16 "2023-06-22T08:13:08Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/17 "2023-06-22T11:59:54Z")
He also came up with Obla-Di, Obla-Da, which is basically the same advice, right? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/18 "2023-06-22T21:55:20Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Both types of song have their place. 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. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/19 "2023-06-22T22:09:50Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Have you looked around you lately? Let it be, indeed. Hence climate change. Let it be future generations problem. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873/20 "2023-06-22T22:29:00Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-else-see-mother-marys-wisdom-let-it-be/985873.md?page=2)