As a Beatleologist, id never heard this view and thought it was Jagger-Faithfull but hadnt put the timeline together but now convinced it was Sinatra. Lennon was a fanatic on reading all the press etc. On both sides of Atlantic and guarded Beatles fanatically. The April 66 Sinatra article was just days after Maureen Cleave interview on "Jesus" statement and how Lennon thought at time. Funny how Mia Farrow moved into Lennons orbit in India and the Dakota/Rosemary's Baby connection as well. Some kind of Karma Konnection. Spot on detective work.

For me, being a big Beatles ànd Sinatra fan, this revelation is truly astounding and funny.

I always loved ,"And your bird can sing". The guitars are pretty ground breaking,mixed as smoothly as they are.The vocals,lead and especially the harmonies really speak to me.I always thought it is about a girl that got away and John saying "look at what you gave up".

I was 8 years old back then and I remember thinking that this song was about Sinatra. A Beatles fan would note any criticism about them, anSinatra was very critical of RocknRoll in general and the Beatles specifically. To hear this song with the line "And your bird can swing" it was obvious even to an 8 year old. Sinatra was using the words swing, swingin' ring-a-ding-ding, swing-a-ding-ding, swing this, swing that; basically swinging was what Frank preached. I still love Sinatra's music but when he slagged the Beatles, he appeared to be a big square, the direct opposite of swinging, baby.

Nice breakdown... all the way through I kept thinking "Wasn't it about Peter Fonda?", then realised I'd got it mixed up with She Said She Said.

As many years as I have been watching YT videos, I am just now discovering you. I love your video... you have a new subscriber!

To me, this song is addressed to Macca. Paul had recently acquired his house in St John's Wood. He was still the bachelor Beatle living in the big city with a theatrical girlfriend from well connected middle class parents. He had direct access to high brow art and culture and to everything happening on the London scene, including avant garde John Cage style performances that involved musicians and audiences "playing" household objects, radiators and anything else as musical instruments. John was out of it in Weybridge, in the stockbroker belt next to a golf course, with a rather more ordinary wife and son set up. As he said himself, he felt like a nowhere man living in his nowhere land. Paul would regularly go out to him for their 3 hour writing sessions, and would no doubt enthuse to him (unthinkingly) about the latest developments on the London scene and the new roles that Jane had landed etc etc... And John felt left out and also slightly vulnerable and resentful of their changing and contrasting circumstances. Paul was happy, firmly at the centre of things and thriving as a Beatle and as a rapidly maturing elite young man about town. John was inwardly struggling and even Paul, his best mate, didn't seem to notice. I've always thought that this is what this song is about. Its an example of that distinctive brand of Lennon "aggressive vulnerability", this time directed at Paul. Deep down, though, it also reflected the love he still had for his mate. If Paul's new glittering life in London with Jane came crashing down around him...if he looked in John's direction, he'd still be round. He'd still be there for him.

This was the theme song to the Beatles cartoon TV show. Because of this, Ive heard this song a thousand times 😊

Thanks for the deep dive. The rivalry and enmity between Sinatra and Lennon really encapsulates the cultural transition of the mid-60s. You telling of these events makes that time live again.

I thought the laughing on the anthology version was down to them being absurdly high

As a long time Beatles fan I had no idea this song was about Frankie boy. Your sleuthing is impeccable and I completely agree with your hypothesis. A third definition of “swing” of course is the style of long, short rhythm favoured by the cool cats of jazz and we all know Sinatra could do that.

James yet again you knocked it out of the park with this one 👌👌👌

I think the bird is Ronnie Spector, and the song is directed toward Phil Spector, famous producer. According to the book Be My Baby, by Ronnie Spector (chapter 7, pages 68-83), the Ronettes met the Beatles in January 1964 in London, George and John went on a couple of double dates (social outing) with Ronnie and her sister Estelle. According to Ronnie, Phil Spector was jealous and didn’t want Ronnie to be alone with them. When the Beatles arrived in New York in February 1964, the Ronettes joined the Beatles in their hotel suite. John wanted to sleep with Ronnie. John got her alone and but she politely resisted his advances. She claims in her book that she was a virgin at the time. In 1966, the Ronettes were supposed to join the Beatles on the ‘66 tour. Ronnie was not allowed to go. Someone stood in for her. According to Ronnie, she never slept with John. I’m not sure if it was known Ronnie would not be on the tour when John wrote the song. So for my theory the verses: And your bird can sing - Ronnie Spector was Phil’s bird and she could definitely sing And your bird is green - Ronnie claiming to be a virgin still in February 1964 And your bird can swing - John planting a seed for Phil, playing mind games, for Phil to wonder if maybe John did sleep with her after all So I feel like there is a jealous vibe to the song…John kind of saying I didn’t get to sleep with your bird, but you don’t get to produce The Beatles, the most famous act in the world. And it would follow that if I am correct and the song was about Phil and Ronnie, it would be awkward to admit it later when Phil Spector finished producing the Let It Be album, and was producing much of John’s solo work at the time he was being asked about the meanings of his songs.

Brilliant, fascinating, and very entertaining as usual! Thank you for this & all of your work!

I think we can't really blame Paul for keeping SOME things under his hat. The public demanded and still demands to know absolutely everything about The Beatles; not just about their music, but their loves, their hates and in this case their laughs, perhaps at Sinatra's expense. If it IS true that the song is a dig at Sinatra, and J&P shared many laughs about it, those laughs may be a memory between two great friends, one of them tragically not with us that he wants and deserves to keep to himself.

First time visitor to this channel. Very impressive detective work, Mr. Hargreaves! I've always loved this song, but mostly for the music. The lyrics were rather opaque to me. It's clearly critical of someone the singer thinks is arrogant, or foolish, or both, but never had any idea who it might refer to. Now I'm confident that it is indeed about Sinatra.

You did an excellent job here! Fantastic detective work with convincing research...thank you for such an interesting an enjoyable deep dive into this great song.I never knew about the intense rivalry between the old school/Sinatra and the fresh Beatles. Lennon wrote sometimes in a kind of abstract free association style...a bit like Dylan, but more colorful imo, and so it may be possible that Cynthia's gift coincided with the timing of him reading the Esquire article and thus the spark that birthed this song, (and perhaps he found Mia a hot bird too), but you make an excellent case for Sinatra being the main target...you are becoming a formidable force in Beatles musicology, may I suggest a topic for your next dive??? The Charles Manson/Beatles connection in the White Album; the Helter Skelter book only scratches the surface, check out the old book called "The Family" by Ed Sanders for more and the famous Lennon Rolling Stone interview, plus the Manson interviews with Tom Snyder and Geraldo...either way, please keep it up

Well done James, excellent research and presentation. I've been a Beatles fan for years and, until now, believed the story that this song was about Mick and Marianne, although the lyrics didn't make too much sense. But your explanation totally fits. This will give me a new appreciation for this song...and I still love Sinatra too.

Hello, James, this was such a great video. I was laughing as I heard about Lennon's swipes about Sinatra and there was one I was hoping to hear about which didn't come up. It was on George's Dark Horse album at the start of Far East Man in which he mumbles "this is Frank Sinatra...we luv ya, Frank..." and the rest is unintelligible - I'd love to apply A.I. to the rest of that phrase to hear what he was saying all that time ago. I love this and other videos and other ways to keep the excitement in Beatle-fandom. I used to go to fests for many years but they became corporatized and boring, not to mention outrageously priced. So I value these sorts of videos very highly. Thanks for a great clip to wake up to. And Your Bird Can Sing has always been one of my favorites and I'm listening to IT ALL before I go out on errands - the early versions, including giggling and disgusting mouth noises 🤣. This stuff is comedy gold.

Only Lennon could call this song a "Throw away" Beatles song. Unbelievable!

John Lennon said in an interview that this song was aimed at Phil Spector, not any of the three you mentioned. Lennon had a conversation with Spector, who bragged about his conquests "Seven wonders" and his bird was "green" (inexperienced). Spector said he wanted to produce The Beatles but Lennon felt he wasn't listening to him/understanding him/ getting him...yet. When Spector ultimately "gets it". "I'll be 'round". Listen to the lyrics again with an ear to Phil Spector. Not a fan theory. Lennon said it.

Entertaining show, but I’ve been reading about The Beatles for over forty years now, never heard of any of them admiring Sinatra when they were growing up, they mention artists like Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, etc. In fact, John was actually quoted at one point saying “Sinatra never did it for me.” Paul is probably the exception, having sent him his composition titled “Suicide.” Nice of Frank to sing Happy Birthday to Maureen. It’s also very possible the lyrics are about more than one bird. Or most likely stoned/tripped out nonsense from Mr Lennon.

Very well done sir! I’ll never listen to this song the same way again

I am 71 and a big Beatles fan since 1964. Always liked And Your Bird Can Sing, especially the dual guitar breaks. It was obviously a song critical of someone but in my mind I made it a generic put down. Always knew the British slang “bird” was a girl, but he Sinatra slang was new to me. I think you hit the nail on the head with this one. It makes more sense of all the lyrics and allows for Lennon’s talent to give them double meaning. Good job!

Always enjoyed the happy crescendo double guitar intro interspersing in and out of the song's fly away lyrics...

I love the song interpretation videos. Keep 'em coming!

I like your interpretation of this brilliant song and I don't disagree with you. I like how it can bé applied to anyone though, as well. I played it to my ex-wife when we were splitting up; she was always claiming that she knew me better than even myself did, but while she may have known me well she still didn't understand me which I was really upset about. I won't go on about it...but she is also called Cynthia and I still love her but she still doesn't understand me, she never will. So I played her "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Hey Bulldog" (amongst many others) emphasizing the lyric "You think you know me but you haven't got a clue". She never got the subtle messages. 😔 . I miss John Lennon. Hé was a brilliant, funny, witty bloke, a genius to me. And I love the other 3 too. Thanks for posting this video. It cheers me up. 🌞

This is brilliant analysis! Gotta hand it to Lennon again! The Sinatra-wig element brought a sly smirk to my face.

I TOTALLY agree! Thank you! I always wondered what that song was about. The dual guitar leads are what I liked. The best Beatle instrumental of all (except maybe Nowhere Man). So, what is "Doctor Robert" all about?

Fantastic, James. This totally makes sense

Great vid again Jamesy! Love it 🤣

Hi, kudos, very intelligent and entertaining spot. That Sinatra Esquire cover portrait is hysterical. Fabs and Frank are my two faves. Male vocalist of the year? I think they surprisingly got that one right..Our Beatles were new, Frank older and long out of favor. Good Year was a masterpiece. Topping the mid 60's pop charts was maybe the most astonishing feat in popular music. I remember kids scoffing but rarely was the channel changed. Good Year was like a drug. Deservedly Yesterday has had a deservedly phenomenal afterlife and good year went the way of great hit songs, I'm glad Frank got the nod. I don't think the Fabs, particularly Paul needed many minutes to get over the slight.

Very good James, had never thought much about that song and it's origins but can't really argue with anything that you have said...

I always watch all your ads because I want u to get paid for having a great channel.... success to u😊

Absolutely amazing analysis!🙏

Great research and insight - thanks! (subbed)

I never got the feeling that the song was being specific about anyone, although you make a great case that it was. I always took it more generally. I think it applies to many people who fit that arrogant philosophy of life. I think also that the people that it does fit, hated Lennon in return for calling them out! Regan and Bush come to mind who tried to get him deported and who I believe we're responsible for his death!

is that version of ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’ on Anthology 2 is the same one you spoke of on Revolver Deluxe ?

The trouble with this sort of thing is that as listeners we assume that every line of every song has deep and specific meaning, and that every bit is about a specific event/person. But if you listen to the clip of George writing Something with John giving him tips, you realise most of it isn't as deep and meaningful as the attachment we form with it afterwards, and to the writer is more just whatever scans and sounds good. It may have been inspired by a specific person or thing, but every line... nah, it's too pat.

this makes a lot of sense to me. I know Sinatra hated the Beatles & the new wave of rock 'n roll that everyone was drawn to. Before the Beatles, a lot of music involved singers performing with a large orchestra. Much of it was directed at older people since they had jobs & money of their own & could afford to buy albums. But after the Beatles that seemed to change. The new artists didn't require large orchestras or arrangements & could be produced without the large price tag. Plus recording labels began to see that if something was really good, younger people would find a way to buy it! Suddenly the purchasing power was with the young people, not their parents. Back then, I didn't care much for Sinatra. He seemed like another old guy who was trying to exist in a world that had changed. But now I love him! He was a very talented man & I often enjoy listening to him sing.

Excellent analysis!

Knowing Lennon's style, why couldn't a combination of these theories be the case? This verse I was thinking about Cynthia, that verse about the Stones and Marianne Faithful, & finally, and maybe ultimately as you suggest, Frank (& his bird) ...

Very informative post , thanks for taking the time to arrange all events in a time line...later on george ,patty and frank in 1969 would dinner together...Patty's mother loved Frank's music

Great video interesting an enjoyable... Thank you

I only knew two theories about the song. The Jagger & Marianne one and another related to Phil and Ronnie Spector that I believe makes no sense at all. Apparently John was not very fond of Sinatra but I always believed that he wrote Good Night inspired by him. The arrangement of the song and the way Ringo sings on it have a Sinatra vibe, I can easily imagine he singing it.

Really funny to hear about the bird slang. I heard bubbles from trailer park boys say that and I always wondered it’s origin.

I agree that the Sinatra theory adds up best, as far as the lyrics go, with a play on Byrds for the music. Could it also have incorporated all of these interpretations, and perhaps even other more obscure references?

Right! I know why he calls it "bird". It is the same slang in Italian (uccello), and his parent were Italians (if I'm not wrong). BTW, I thought the song was about Roger McGuinn ....

I never thought much about this song: Lennon loved word-play, and frequently wrote songs that didn't really mean anything.

This is a very convincing argument. The Sinatra/Beatles rivalry was real among fans at the time also. This was even reflected in furniture. Sinatra fans were the WWII generation furnishing their spacious living rooms with a huge Hi-Fi cabinet console with a big platter record player for albums. Teens, however, bought 45 rpm singles and played their own music on table-top players they could take with them wherever they went. Rock 'n Roll was the music you heard in picnic groves and on the beaches because it came from portable record players and transistor radios carried by the youth. Sinatra fans only played his albums indoors.

Well thought out explanation. And as my English Literature professors said, if you can justify it, it works. It still may be wrong, but maybe not.

Favourite Beatles song

Remember, Frank’s daughter (bird) Nancy had a #1 single in January of 66. Which I’m sure brought in plenty of “Green”backs. And she was a swinger.

Great info. I enjoyed it thoroughly. 😊

Hey James really been into making my music recently and would love to see a video into how to make vocals sit into a mix because i feel youve only briefly covered it in other videos and when it comes to making music i always seem to listen back and think that the vocals just dont blend into the music as it should it feels like 2 completely seperate layers. Love the content as always if you have any tips or possible helpers a reply would be very much appriciated and that goes for anyone else reading this aswell.

The Sinatra connection is interesting. And you do a great job putting it together. But I prefer the Cynthia connection as the inspiration. Some of the things you say, like Cynthia wouldn’t brag about seeing everything, or being weighed down by possessions, comes from the popular belief she was a down to earth, humble person. Which she appears to be. But when John was in a nasty mood, I’m sure he wouldn’t be above accusing her of living off him and enjoying his fruits of success. And her bird can sing? Well, that would be John. And the cage would be the prison of his marriage. He often claimed she did not understand him. “But you can’t see me.” Fits in perfectly with how John would think Yoko sees him, but Cynthia does not. Look at the lyrics from Lennon’s point of view back then, not how we see things today.

Very good as usual. The laughing version though is - I think from Mark Lewisome's book attributed to the fact that they were both stoned out of their heads...

John say's in an interview that the song was inspired by Mc Jagger introducing Maryann Faithful to him and Jagger said this is my new bird and she can sing to, it's on you tube.

I think the song is saying to a one-time friend, when you're done with your ego trip, I'll still be here for you.

This post reminds me of a interview with John Lennon when he once was quoted as saying that he couldn't wait to read the reviews of his songs so he could find out what they were about.😅

This theory is very convincing and doesn't leave any questions (at least for me). Great job! I still find it weird, that Sinatra calls his [____] bird...

i'm 100% convinced that the BEATLES' SONG: "AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING" is definitely about Frank Sinatra for sure!! GREAT DETECTIVE WORK SIR! CHEERS!

Perhaps “prized possessions” wasn’t the original lyric and “possessions” was instead a certain word that rhymes with “direction”…

I like this theory and it makes logical sense. There is a fully worked version of Suicide on YT by a Seattle based band called Apple Jam. It features along other "could have beens" on their "Off the White Album" album. Well worth a listen.

You went deep there son.. I love it jamesy boy! 👊🏼⚡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Many people today do not understand the culture war that was going on in the 1960s. At the time it was referred to as the "Generation Gap." It was real, it was deep, and it was visceral. Many members of the Sinatra generation absolutely detested rock-&-roll and especially the Beatles. They would often make disparaging remarks and jokes about the younger generation's music and culture. The Beatles, as the leaders and most recognizable symbols of that culture took the brunt of it. Many in the younger generation felt a similar disdain toward the older generation of Sinatra. This was summed up in a common saying, "Don't trust anyone over 30." It wasn't just music, hair, slang and fashion, either. It was to varying degrees, the Vietnam War, the Draft, drugs, sex, mores, religion, politics, and spirituality. You can still find artifacts of this mutual disdain in the popular media of the era. The "gap" mostly disappeared in the 1970s. After the Manson killings and several other such incidents, the youth culture lost much of its veneer of innocence. Several other factors eased the antagonism: ending of the military draft, ending the Vietnam War, society's broad adoption of much of the youth fashion, and the younger generation getting older and having children of their own. By the 1980s, it was all forgotten. But in 1966 it would have been at its peak.

GREAT breakdown!

George Harrison mentions Frank Sinatra in the intro to the Song 'Far East Man' on the Dark Horse album.

Can you do a video on elephant stone - took 2 years to write and record.

I’m not disagreeing with your analysis, but I’ve always chalked up the laughter on the “Anthology” outtake to them being really stoned. Of course, the one conclusion does not prohibit the possibility of the other ;)

Wonderful analysis.

Outrageously Great observation ‼️

Great video !

On the subject of this song, I have to ask you, and I'm going to write to Andrew at Parlogram Auctions on this, too - on the US Yesterday & Today, I could swear I hear a loud cymbal clash at 0:50, just after the first chorus ends. Have you ever heard it, or am I just hallucinating? It's easy if you try.

When I finally got to hear “and your Bird can sing“ which was years after I had memorized the entire Revolver album, I felt some resentment towards capitol records for leaving it out of the initial release of “revolver“ in the US. Also, listening to the narrator/presenter, I hear another example of a Brit saying “different to” instead of “different from”. I’ll never understand that usage.

You made convincing points. I agree completely. Thank you.

I think the Sinatra theory makes the most sense. As far as I know, Frank never wrote his own music. Lennon did. Although both men were musical illiterate (unable to ŵrite or read musical notation), Lennon and McCartney were able to get their musical ideas across to George Martin. As far as lyrics go, Lennon was definitely was one of the beat ever. Plus, The Beatles played their own instruments. Frank did none of this. However, Frank's genius was his interpretation of other people's songs. They were both great artists with egos to match.

Perhaps this is mentioned already but I think it is wrong to pin an entire song on just one subject matter. Individual lines/verses/chorus can very well be about different people and events in John's life, so the whole song isn't just about one person. John (and others) are well known for piecing these together into one song.

The Beatles met Mia Farrow during their visit to the Retreat in India. That must have been interesting.

To add to your theory about Frank Sinatra, which I think is brilliant and heard here for the first time (I'm 70), on the outtake of the song, what might have really cracked Paul up was when John said, "When your bike is broken...", instead of the correct lyric. Coincidentally, "Bike" was (and still is?) an American brand of jock strap. So yeah, they are already laughing it up about John's inside joke when John piles on and Paul busts a gut over it. Sinatra evidently did have custom underwear (British 'pants') made to help house his 'bird'.

Your theory is well argued and supported. I was a busy teenager in the 60's and regarded Sinatra and his sharkskin suits like he was a gangster clown. I didn't realize the rivalry was that intense, nor that the Grammy Awards were so competitive between them. We knew it took too long for the Grammys to give the Beatles any recognition and couldn't figure out why they were focused on the old fuddy-duddy Frank Sinatra. He was a guy who had never been higher than a night of swilling martinis and was about as cool as a stick in the mud. To me, Sinatra's "music" is contrived and "too cool for school." If that is hip... I'd rather take another bong hit and scratch up his LP.

Lennon was quoted as saying that the song was about Mick Jagger and his nonstop talk about his bird, Marianne Faithfull, and how she could sing and sing and sing and sing anything, and he got tired of it. So he ended up with this song .those are direct quotes from him. Yes,He was friends with the Stones and interacted a lot and whether he was private or open about her being involved just doesn’t matter. Some very interesting semi classical guitar writing and playing .

You sir, are brilliant. Good job!

I always thought it was about Dylan and the Byrds, who sang several of Dylan's songs.

Brilliant analysis. I think you are correct.

Your best video yet.

It's funny you talked about this topic as I'm actually wearing my Revolver shirt. lol

Great deep dive!

Perfectly feasible as John was an avid reader, and from this period onwards he started using media to influence his songwriting. Both this and TNK which you covered in another video are based on articles/books. Johns songs on pepper are based on a painting/poster/tv advert/newspaper. Mean Mr Mustard another based on a newspaper article.

Well argued assertion, my friend

I may be mistaken, but I had thought that in a Rolling Stone magazine interview, John Lennon mentioned that he had a song that he had written which would be perfect for Frank Sinatra to have song so maybe somebody can track this down too!

21:10 Just to put $400 per week into perspective, in 1966 the mean average wage for a full time working man was about $37 per week, so Sinatra's Hair-Lady was making pretty good bank.

I tend to bellieve what all the beatles say and said about their songs. I believe them to have been/are honest people who have (had) an interest in keeping the air clean and clear. Whatever John said about anything he did I believe. George and Ringo for sure. Paul tends to sometimes selectively live in fantasy, but just for purposes of a good story, so he might bend things slightly, but benignly, and usually because he doesn't exactly remember, and wants to say everything in an interesting fashion, but basically I believe he tells the truth as well.

Message to Frank about Mia. She's an amazing singer. Check out her tear jerking performance as Peter Pan in '76. John was infatuated with her when they met but she grew up in Hollywood and knew him better than he knew himself when it came to relationships just by listening to his sob story dumped boyfriend songs.

The anthology 2 version was: "Released on: 1996-03-18"

If Sinatra was referring to edit as bird if you listen to John Lennon song well what would you mean by saying and you say Your Bird Can Sing I don't get it

great video!

I think you are right on, buddy.

VERY intresting !! i never heard about this but i also believe the Sinatra theory😀

Min 22.20 - Sadly Lennon left us before, so in an ironic and tragic way this line didn't eventuate. As far as I know Ol Blue Eyes was still going strong at this time, albeit with some help one would imagine 😅