What is psychedelia ? a good question . would you consider that SGT PEPPER is a psychedelic album ? LUCY IN THE SKY has got to be LENNONS most psychdelic song ,lyrics and music .

Having said that i`d go for TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS  

It is rather strange going back and reading old threads.
I voted for 'Rain' many months ago - but now I am firmly waving the Psychedelic flag for 'Strawberry Fields Forever'.

Personally, this song not only embodies the Beatles at their most creative, but also aurally paints a distorted & dark Psychedelic perspective of the human condition (or rather Lennon's own battle of genius versus the indulgent drug-fuelled fool)

I feel Strawberry Fields Forever directly taps into the Sgt Pepper album imagery; their faces alluring toward some sort of deep drug induced purpose, yet also historically mixed with a deep overtone of Edwardian imagery - creatively bright and luxurious yet structurally stern and rigid in composition.

The song opens with the mellotron wavering down until it seemingly lands 'on its feet' where it signals Lennon's opening vocal. I always feel this very strong introduction could be likened to someone entering a dream or embracing a 'trip; their mind flowing with thought ... commanding their senses before the real 'journey' begins.

The distorted guitar echo, the constant low beat of the bass, the dramatic drums and finally the 'spaced out' vocal all combine to create a powerfully hypnotic feeling.

As the one minute mark passes, so does the light feeling of the song. The orchestra touch is dramatically brought in - the sound transcends into somehting more urgent and assertive. The cynical musical backdrop emphasises Lennon's "Nothing is real" vocal - creating a crisis of conscience to which the nostlagic context of the song seems to help pave the way to present & future undertanding of himself. The constant reminder of "Let me take you down" shows this trip is not a singular occurrence - that the trip is more - maybe a new way to view the world.

The musical interlude 2:57 to the end - marks the trip taking full flow - that the music is now talking - taking command instead of Lennon's very personal and booming vocal. The very end of the song sees a fading of sound into an instrumental celebration- and what sounds almost like a passing band. Maybe Lennon is following the band into a brightly starched horizon - toward a new understanding  - maybe the passing sound hints to Lennon a new direction of lifestyle he could take ...

maybe not.

^Good explanation, Indica ... you've been studerying the song  

Quoted from Indica

It is rather strange going back and reading old threads.[...]

Always a good exercise ... I recommand it  

Living is easy with eyes closed!   had to be Strawberry Fields forever!

Quoted from The End

I personally think that Tomorrow Never Knows by far exceeds all of these! But seeing as it isn't there, I chose Strawberry Fields forever.

I agree about Tomorrow never knows... but I picked I am the warlus, but Strawberry fields forever is good too.


Semolina pilchard, climbing up the Eiffel Tower.  I couldn't get out that phrase from my mind when I visited the Eiffel Tower.... LOL

I voted for I Am The Walrus, it's probley the most Psychedelic song the fabs did.

I Am The Walrus is one of my favorite songs: classic psychedelic Lennon.

I said I am the Walrus too (even though i had to debate with moi about the strawberries).

I have to say i do not find Rain much of a psychedelic song... But i do find LSD psychodelic*...


*Did i misspelt this?  

i should say lucy in the sky with diamonds. lyrically and musically.

Helter Skelter is Psychedelic just close your eyes and listen to it  
But i voted Walrus ,as Helter Skelter was'nt their

DaveRam

Huge 'I Am The Walrus' fan here. I've actually never been a big Lucy in the Sky fan, really...and the 'Walrus bit in Magical Mystery Tour (the movie) is totally teh awesome.

Quoted from The Fox Drummer

.and the 'Walrus bit in Magical Mystery Tour (the movie) is totally teh awesome.

And it's very Monty Python (with the policeman etc! )

As far as straight up psychedelia goes I think the most psychedelic song they had would be Tomorrow Never Knows.

I Am The Walrus for me...the lyrics are just so weird.

I think Tomorrow Never Knows is the best psychedelic classic of all time above White Rabbit & Light My Fire, but I voted for IATW because it's the second best as far as I'm concerned.