A Beatles Timeline and Notes on Beatles Songs - M

Maggie Mae
(Traditional)
Real Author: Paul
Recorded: 24 Jan 69
Released: on "Let it Be": 8 May 70 (UK), 18 May 70 (US)

Magical Mystery Tour
(Lennon and McCartney)
Real Author: Mostly Paul
Recorded: 25, 26, 27 Apr, 3 May, 7 Nov 67
Released: on "Magical Mystery Tour" 27 Nov 67 (US), 8 Dec 67 (UK EP)
Notes: Note, recorded months before finish of "Sgt Pepper." Idea was surreal. Much imagery from fairground. "Roll up" = joints. "Dying" was a Tibetan BOD reference. Paul's original idea from a flight of 11 Apr 67. There were real mystery tours up north. Also inspired by Ken Kesey's merry pranksters.

Martha My Dear
(Lennon and McCartney)
Real Author: Paul
Recorded: 4, 5 Oct 68
Released: on "The Beatles": 22 Nov 68 (UK), 25 Nov 68 (US)
Notes: Martha was Paul's Sheepdog, then three years old, bought shortly after getting his house on Cavendish Avenue. Song is more generally about his muse. Paul is the only Beatle on it.

Maxwell's Silver Hammer
(Lennon and McCartney)
Real Author: Paul
Recorded: 9, 10, 11 Jul, 6 Aug 69
Released: on "Abbey Road": 26 Sept 69 (UK), 1 Oct 69 (US)
Notes: 'Pataphysical College was society of surrealists, founded by Alfred Jary. Written in India. The hammer is karma. Guy kills his girlfriend, then a lecturer, then a judge. Drove John crazy because Paul worked on it so much.

Mean Mr. Mustard
(Lennon and McCartney)
Real Author: John
Recorded: 24, 25, 29 Jul 69
Released: on "Abbey Road": 26 Sept 69 (UK), 1 Oct 69 (US)
Notes: Read a story about a mean man who stored 5 pound notes up his ass. Written in India. Originally, Mr. Mustard had a sister Shirley, but changed to Pam to help with patching with "Polythene Pam."

Michelle
(Lennon and McCartney)
Real Author: Mostly Paul
Recorded: 3 Nov 65
Released: on "Rubber Soul": 3 Dec 65 (UK), 6 Dec 65 (US)
Notes: Bizet-inspired bass line. Paul had help on French from Jan Vaughn, wife of the fellow that introduced him to John. John's ("I love you, I love you") inspired by Nina Simone "I Put a Spell on You." Originated as a joke song, making fun of a "beat" French singer in Liverpool. Tune written while still in school. Inspired by Chet Atkins' "Trambone."

Misery
(Lennon and McCartney)
Real Author: Mostly John
Recorded: 11 Feb 63
Released: 11 Oct 65 (US); on "Please Please Me": 22 Mar 63 (UK), on "Introducing the Beatles": 22 Jul 63 (US)
Notes: Written for Helen Shapiro.

Money
(Lennon and McCartney)
Notes: Written Feb. 1963, intended for Helen Shapiro.

Mother Nature's Son
(Lennon and McCartney)
Real Author: Paul
Recorded: 9, 20 Aug 68
Released: on "The Beatles": 22 Nov 68 (UK), 25 Nov 68 (US)
Notes: Inspired by a Maharishi lecture. John wrote a song about the same lecture, "A Child of Nature," which he rewrote as "Jealous Guy." But Paul says written at his dad's house, inspired by "Nature Boy."