Introduction
The way I've heard it is that, Paul got into this car accident early one Wednesday morning at 5 am while looking at a pretty meter maid, not seeing the changing traffic lights. He wasn't killed outright, but his car caught fire, a crowd of people stood around, and then he died from head wounds (he lost his teeth and hair). The morning paper came out with an article which was quickly censored. Enter William Campbell and the upcoming Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
One day, a Paul McCartney look alike contest was held. The winner was William Campbell and he supposedly looked enough like Paul to sit in with the other Beatles for photographs. There is a picture of William Campbell on the poster that comes with the White album. He's in the lower left-hand corner. A small picture, he has a mustache and is wearing glasses.
It all started when a DJ stated that he thought Paul McCartney was dead, and that the proof lied in the album covers and lyrics of their songs.
Clue #1
This is the message one hears when they play the final lyrics of "I'm So Tired" from the Beatles White Album, backwards. People have discovered phone numbers on some album covers and called them. They recieved strange replies like, "you're getting closer" and "beware of Abbey Road". Many people started to believe that Paul Mccartney was dead. Of course, the phone numbers and messages could have been faked. But at the time....
Clue #2
The title "Rubber Soul" is in the shape of a upside-down heart, indicating a "false soul" amongst them. Also notice that the Beatles are all peering downwards (at/in a grave?!). The photograph is somewhat distorted so that no one can tell that the person in the picture is not really Paul but a look-alike.
Rubber Soul lyrics:
Girl: "..that a man must break his back to earn his day of leisure will she still believe it when he's dead.." (who, Jane Asher?!) I'm Looking through You: "..I'm looking through you, where did you go? I thought I knew you, what did I know. You don't look different but you have changed, I'm looking through you, you're not the same.." "..your lips are moving I can not hear, you don't sound different I've learned the game.." "..you were above me but not today, the only difference is you're down there.." "..you've changed, you've changed, you've changed.." (yep, he's down there in the grave) In My Life: "..all these places have their moments ... some are dead and some are living, in my life I love you more.." Nowhere Man: "He's a real nowhere man.." "..doesn't have a point of view, knows not where he's going to.." "..you don't know what you're missing, nowhere man can you see me at all?.."
Clue #3
This is the first cover with an open palm above Paul's head. An open palm signified that the person below was departed from this world. The album cover was drawn because the absence of Paul made taking pictures of him difficult.
Revolver lyrics:
Taxman: "..if you drive a car *Paul*.." "..if you get too cold *Paul*.." "..my advice to those who die -taxman.." (see your taxidermist) Eleanor Rigby: "..father McKenzie (Father McKenzie was to be originally called Father McCartney; the Beatles decided against refering to Paul's Dad in such a manner) writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear.." "..was buried.." "..father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave, no one was saved.." She Said She Said: "..she said I know what it's like to be dead.." And Your Bird Can Sing: "..you can't see me, you can't see me.." "..you can't hear me, you can't hear me.." For No One: "..she says her love is dead.." "..she says that long ago she knew someone but now he's gone.." Dr. Robert: "..you're a new and better man.." "..he does everything he can, Dr. Robert.." (William is the new man. Nothing Dr. Robert can do will bring Paul back) Got To Get You Into My Life: "..I was alone I took a ride I didn't know what I would find there.." "..and then suddenly I see you.." (lovely Rita, metermaid) Tomorrow Never Knows: "..laid down all thoughts surrendered to the void.." "..*Paul* play(ed) the game existence to the end.." (hmmm, we all play the game existence to the end)
Clue #4
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band:
Here, the The Beatles display a mischievious talent not unlike their talent in the studio, simply masterfull. The crowd includes faces (and bodies) of many famous people who passed away or have become outdated. Even the wax figures of the "early" Beatles stand in. They're overlooking a grave site and each of the Beatles is facing Paul who is facing forward into the grave (indicating his significance). Its ironic that each Beatle is holding an instrument: John, a brass French Horn; George, a brass Flute; Ringo, a brass Trumpet; and Paul, a woodwind black Cor Anglais. The flowers spell out the word "Beatles" and there is a left handed bass guitar there with 3 sticks upon it indicating that there are 3 remaining Beatles. Some even believe that the guitar appears to spell, "PAUL?" There is another open palm above Paul's head. A doll sits off to the side (Jane Asher?!) with red lines (blood) running down her dress. A small car sits on her lap, a model of the car Paul was driving. On the back cover, the Beatles are all facing forward except for Paul, who's turned around. George is pointing a "sixth finger at him, a sign of ill-omen. If you read across the back cover, from left to right, you can find all sorts of clues. Starting with "Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly" (from Lucy), continue to read across "Wednesday Morning at five o'clock as the day begins", "life flows on within you and without you", "you're on your own you're in the street". Inside the album, Paul has a patch on his left arm "O. P. D.", which in Canada means "Officially Pronounced Dead". Hmm, looks like William Campbell again ;). He always had a mustache or slight beard.. One last note, the paper sleeve that held the vinyl record looked like it had been soaked inblood! At the bottom it's bright red but then fades into a light pink at the top. Subsequent releases of this album did not have the red-faded-into-pink color scheme on the inner sleeve.
Sgt. Pepper's lyrics:
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band: "..so let me introduce to you the one and only Billy Shears and Sgt. Pepper's lonely heart's club band.." (Sgt. Pepper's Band is actually an idea taken from history (somewhere) where a man was able to take the place of another man without anyone catching on. Billy is a nice nickname for William Campbell, isn't it?) Fixing A Hole: "..and it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right where I belong. See the Beatles standing there, they disagree.." "..silly Beatle run around, they worry me.." (William is adjusting to his new role) She's Leaving Home: "..Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins.." (the time of the fatal accident) Lovely Rita: "..standing by a parking meter when I caught a glimpse of Rita.." (took his eyes off the road!) Good Morning, Good Morning: "..nothing to do to save his life.." "..and you're on your own you're in the street.." "..people running around it's 5 o'clock.." "..watching the skirts you start to flirt, now you're in gear.." A Day In The Life: "..I saw the photograph. He blew his mind out in a car, he didn't notice that the lights had changed. A crowd of people stood and stared they'd seen his face before, nobody was really sure if he was from the house of *Paul*.."
Clue #5
Magical Mystery Tour:
Paul is in the black walrus costume on the cover, each of the other Beatles is wearing white. The walrus is a sign of death in certain cultures. The word "Beatles" when held to a mirror is actually a phone number! The number is: 2317438. When the number was called, way back then, the person get this strange, cryptic message "You're getting closer.." and then the call would cut off abruptly. Inside the album is a booklet with pictures from the movie. Page 3 has a picture of Paul seated at a desk with a banner in front of him stating "I was". Also looks like Campbell again, you can see the scar on his lip here. Page 15 has a cartoon of Paul playing with a car on his desk. On page 18 and on the last page of the booklet there's that open palm again above Paul's head. Page 23 has Paul wearing a black flower, not a red one like the others are wearing.
Magical Mystery Tour lyrics:
The Fool On The Hill: "..day after day, alone on a hill, the man with the foolish grin is perfectly still.." "..but nobody ever hears him and the sound he appears to make.." (that's because he's gone) I Am The Walrus: (no you're not! Said little Nicola.) "..bury me, bury me.." "..bury my body.." "..*Paul* you're darn near death!.." "..rest you.." Hello Goodbye: "..you say goodbye, I say hello.." (exit Paul, enter William) Strawberry Fields Forever: "..I buried Paul.." (this infamous line means he must've been there with father McKenzie) All You Need Is Love: "..No one you can save that can't be saved.." "..nothing you can see that isn't shown.." "..yes, he's dead.." "..we loved you yeah, yeah, yeah.."
Clue #6
Hey Jude:
The picture above the Beatles on top of the doorway they are standing in front of is a picture of where Paul is supposed to be buried.
Hey Jude Lyrics:
Lady Madonna: "..Wednesday morning papers didn't come.." (they were recalled remember) Revolution: "..don't you know it's gonna be -all right, *Paul* died, all right.." (a couple of those "all rights" sound just like "*Paul died", also a background vocal occasionally dubs in/over *Paul* died)
Clue #7
White Album:
The 4 glossy pictures of the Beatles are John, George, Ringo, and William! And, of course, there is a small picture of William on the poster that comes with the album, as previously mentioned.
White Album Lyrics:
Glass Onion: "..I told you about Strawberry Fields.." "..well here's another place you can go.." "..to see how the other half live, looking through a glass onion.." "..I told you about the walrus and me.." "..well here's another clue for you all, the walrus *was* Paul.." "..I told you about the fool on the hill.." "..listen to me, fixing a hole in the ocean.." "..looking through a glass onion.." (a glass onion is a term used for a coffin with a glass panel over the top so you can see in, see how the other half live) I'm So Tired: "..Paul's dead man, miss him miss him.." (what you hear when you play the very end of the song backwards) Mother Nature's Son: "..find me in my field of grass, Mother Nature's son.." Revolution #9: "..his voice was low and his eye was high and his eyes were closed.." "..*Paul* died.." "..my fingers are broken and so is my hair, I'm not in the mood for wearing clothing.." "..maybe even dead.." "..you become naked.." (these are heard playing the song forward amongst other things, the droning "number 9". McCartney has 9 letters in it) "..get me out, get me out!.." "..turn me on dead man, turn me on dead man.." (these are heard playing the song backwards, there is a nasty car crash and it catches fire, that's when you hear Paul screaming "get me out! get me out!". Curiously, the forward droning words "number 9, number 9" actually are the words "turn me on dead man" backwards!)
Clue #8
Yellow Submarine:
The open palm appears above Paul's head on the front cover, while the yellow submarine is pictured beneath the land, very stationary.
Yellow Submarine Movie:The movie has a couple of clues, one happens during the song "All You Need Is Love" when John sings "..yes, he's dead.." the word "know" on the screen changes into the word "now" at the same moment.
Yellow Submarine Lyrics:
Only A Northern Song: "..when you're listening late at night you may think the band is not quite right.." "..you may think the bands a little dark and out of key, you're correct, there's nobody there.." (there's nobody there on bass, if that's what you mean) Hey Bulldog: "..you think you know me but you haven't got a clue.." Yellow Submarine: Yellow Submarine: "..in the land of submarines.." "..sky of blue, sea of green in our yellow submarines.." (nice term for a casket that's underneath a sea of green grass) All You Need Is Love: "..No one you can save that can't be saved.." "..nothing you can see that isn't shown.." "..yes, he's dead.." "..we loved you yeah, yeah, yeah.."
Clue #9
Abbey Road :
This one is my favorite, the clues are so obvious. The cover shows the Beatles walking across Abbey Road. John is dressed in white, as the preacher. Ringo is dressed as pallbearer, Paul, who is out of step, barefoot, and the only one holding a cigarette in his right hand when he is a left hander, is obviously a corpse. And George is dressed like the grave digger. A Volkswagen has a license plate that says "28 if." At the time of the release of the album, Paul would have been 28 if he were alive (counting 9 month pregnancy). On the back, the word "Beatles" is broken, and a glimpse of a woman (Rita?!) can be seen walking by. On the back of the album are a group of holes that form the number "3" hmm... the remaining Beatles?
Abbey Road Lyrics:
Come Together: "..he say I know you, you know me.." "he got early warning.." "..he say one and one and one is three. Got to be good looking cause he's so hard to see.." "..he got hair down below his knees.." Dead people's hair keeps growing. You Never Give Me Your Money: "..one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to heaven.."
Also...
The song "I'll Follow The Sun" has some hints of what was to come when Paul sings "..someday, you'll look to see I've gone..
"The song "You Know My Name, Look Up The Number" was released on the flipside of "Let It Be" (45 rpm). This strange song has a cuckoo clock that "cuckoos" 5 quick times just before another phone number is read off. This number gave a "beware of Abbey Road" message each time it was called.
Worried about losing their public or something, the Beatles decided to hide the death and get a replacement instead. The replacement was named . . . Billy Shears. I don't remember the supposed chronology, but I think it was just before the release of Sgt. Pepper. In any case, John was haunted by Paul's death, because he felt that if he had been there, Paul wouldn't have been driving where the accident happened.
In regards to Sgt. Pepper's, there never was a person named "Billy Shears", the Beatles were using a play on words to express that William Campbell was in the group:
Billy Shears = BillyS hears = Billys hear = Billys here
Billy was there, and the Beatles were introducing William (Billy) Campbell.
But we know he's still alive!
Of course, Paul is not dead. That guy in the Anthology shows and CDs certainly looked like him.
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