TAXMAN (Beatles-George Harrison)

"Taxman" is a song by The Beatles, opening the Revolver album, about high levels of progressive tax taken by the government. George Harrison, who wrote the lyrics, performs the role of a tax collector on the song in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
Paul McCartney agreed with Harrison's depiction of the circumstances surrounding the writing of "Taxman": "George wrote that and I played guitar on it. He wrote it in anger at finding out what the taxman did. He had never known before then what he'll do with your money."
On the song, Harrison sings as if he is the taxman, who is depicted as a malicious man looking for ways to rob people of their money, with lines like "If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat". The taxman tells the listener to appreciate that he is not left empty-handed: "Should five percent appear too small / Be thankful I don't take it all" and "one for you, nineteen for me" (referring to the 95% top tax rate at the time in the UK).
He even goes as far as advising those who die to "declare the pennies on your eyes." The song closes with the taxman declaring that the listeners are enslaved by him: "And you're working for no one but me."
(from Wikipedia)

Taxman lyrics
One, two, three, four...
Hrmm!
One, two, (one, two, three, four!)

Let me tell you how it will be;
There's one for you, nineteen for me.
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

(if you drive a car, car;) - I'll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I'll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I'll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet.

Taxman!

'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Don't ask me what I want it for, (ah-ah, mister Wilson)
If you don't want to pay some more. (ah-ah, mister heath)
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Now my advice for those who die, (taxman)
Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman)
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

And you're working for no one but me.

Taxman!

Equipment used:
Epiphone Les Paul standard
Peavey Classic 50

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Beatles
• Taxman
• Harrison
• McCartney
• Gibson
• Epiphone
• Les Paul
• Peavey
• Revolver

[BandOnTheRun87]

I have a couple gibson les paul's as well as a black epiphone les paul custom. I must say, for the price epiphone makes a killer guitar, in my opinion way better then the lower ended gibson's.

[roby62gtr]

@BandOnTheRun87

Yes, I agree.

Now I sold this Epiphone, but I can say it was a very nice guitar.

[theonlyantony]

Paul McCartney played the solo. I'd always thought it was George!

[roby62gtr]

@theonlyantony

It's true ! I agree with you.

[beyondalohas]

sweet les paul

[roby62gtr]

@beyondalohas

Thanks so much.

This is a very nice Epiphone that now I solded :-(

[roby62gtr]

I don't know Kevin O'Leary, by the way .... thanks for commenting

[AndyBoy63]

Dude! You look like that scumbag Kevin O'Leary from the CBC show 'Dragon's Den'!

[roby62gtr]

Thaaaaanks.

I'm very happy if you like.

[hhJACK92]

Great solo! It was slightly different to the original, but it was a terrific personal touch. Either way, 5 stars +1 subscriber!