Songs Mentioning the Beatles: Life in a Northern Town

Tweet

Howdy from an unusual place: Cracker Barrel! I stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn last night, and their breakfasts aren’t included with the room rate. (Weird about how various hotels within a franchise chain vary on things like that, but that’s for another discussion.) It’s time for another song that references the Beatles! At least I have one that everyone can sing along with, (on the chorus, if nowhere else)! Life in a Northern Town - The Dream Academy Most people think, “That has lyrics other than ‘hey ma ma ma, yeah’?” Well, at least everyone can sing along with that part! This nostalgic look back at the good old days that weren’t all that good in a dying town (inspired by the decline of the shipping industry in England). Think of it as the British version of Billy Joel’s “Allentown.” Here’s an interesting note: co-writer/lead singer Nick Laird-Clowes said that he was trying to invoke the style of the late Nick Drake, a British singer/songwriter who died much too young. And another interesting note: Paul Simon joked with Laird-Clowes about whether the title would be “Ah, Hey Ma Ma Ma Ma, Yeah” or not. Laird-Clowes bounced a couple of title ideas off Simon before settling on the title we know and love today. And this gets my vote for one of the biggest rock hits to feature an oboe! (Yeah, it may be the only one, but still….) Life in a Northern Town Written by Gilbert Gabriel and Nick Laird-Clowes Recorded by The Dream Academy From The Dream Academy, 1985 BEATLE REFERENCE LYRICS: With John F. Kennedy and the Beatles, Yeah, yeah, yeah