The Beatles – ‘Helter Skelter’

I got blisters on my fingers…

To The Beatles, their creativity and expression were more important to them as artists than whether or not people liked them. Thus, when Paul McCartney set out with the intention of creating the “loudest, nastiest, sweatiest rock number” he could, the band ran with it! The result was ‘Helter Skelter’ – just as Paul intended, it was loud, it was nasty, and it was sweatier than anything The Beatles had ever done!

Paul McCartney was inspired by The Who’s Pete Townshend. Townshend had done an interview where he’d hailed his own ‘I Can See For Miles’ as “The most raucous rock ‘n’ roll, the dirtiest thing they’d ever done.”

As a heavy metal fan, I can definitely see how ‘Helter Skelter’ is the prototype for modern metal. It’s gritty and distorted, with a great rhythm and it’s made to be listened to at ear-splitting volumes. In fact, it sounds even better when it’s cranked up!

Unfortunately, ‘Helter Skelter’ does have a negative connotation after the infamous Charles Manson claimed that the song inspired the Tate/LaBianca murders.

Never fear – The Beatles wrote him off as an absolute nutcase, and proceeded to keep rocking us all with this fantastic tune!

+ Helter Skelter lyrics +

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah yeah yeah hey

Do you, don’t you want me to love you
I’m coming down fast but I’m miles above you
Tell me tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
Well you may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer

Now helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter yeah
Ooh!

Will you, won’t you want me to make you
I’m coming down fast but don’t let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter ooh

Look out, cos here she comes

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
And I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
And I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah yeah yeah

Well do you, don’t you want me to make you
I’m coming down fast but don’t let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter

Look out helter skelter
She’s coming down fast
Yes she is
Yes she is coming down fast

(My head is spinning, ooh…

Ha ha ha, ha ha ha, alrgiht!

I got blisters on my fingers!)