Penny Lane
Exploring Life's Tapestry in Penny Lane
Lyrics
Penny Lane, there is a barber showing photographs
Penny Lane has a barber who displays photos of all the customers he has had.
Of every head he's had the pleasure to know
The barber cherishes memories of all the people whose hair he has cut.
And all the people that come and go
There are constant visitors to Penny Lane who pause and greet others.
Stop and say, "Hello"
People passing by say "Hello" in this social environment.
On the corner is a banker with a motorcar
There is a wealthy banker on the street corner with a car; children mock him.
The little children laugh at him behind his back
The children ridicule the banker when he's not aware.
And the banker never wears the mac
The banker doesn't wear a raincoat ("mac") even in the rain, an unusual behavior.
In the pouring rain, very strange
The situation of the banker not using a raincoat in the rain is odd.
Penny Lane is in my ear and in my eye
The place Penny Lane is vividly present in the singer's senses.
There beneath the blue suburban skies
It's depicted as a serene location under peaceful blue skies.
I sit, and meanwhile back
The singer reflects on Penny Lane, possibly from a different place or time.
In Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass
There's a fireman in Penny Lane carrying an hourglass, representing time.
And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen
The fireman carries a picture of the Queen, suggesting patriotism.
He likes to keep his fire engine clean
The fireman takes pride in keeping his fire engine spotless.
It's a clean machine
The fire engine is maintained meticulously.
Penny Lane is in my ear and in my eye
The singer feels Penny Lane vividly in their senses.
A four of fish and finger pies
A variety of food is available in Penny Lane during different seasons.
In summer, meanwhile back
While it's summer elsewhere, the singer is still reflecting on Penny Lane.
Behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout
There's a shelter in the center of a roundabout where something interesting happens.
The pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
A nurse sells poppies in Penny Lane, possibly contributing to a charitable cause.
And though she feels as if she's in a play
She feels like she's part of a theatrical performance despite reality.
She is anyway
Despite feeling this way, she continues her actions anyway.
In Penny Lane, the barber shaves another customer
The barber continues his work, shaving another customer.
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
The banker waits for his turn for a haircut.
Then the fireman rushes in
The fireman suddenly arrives in the barber's shop from the rain, which is unusual.
From the pouring rain, very strange
Repetition of the oddity of the rain's effect on people's actions.
Penny Lane is in my ear and in my eye
Penny Lane remains a vivid presence in the singer's perception.
There beneath the blue suburban skies
The description emphasizes the peaceful, suburban setting of Penny Lane.
I sit, and meanwhile back
Reflection on Penny Lane from a different viewpoint or time.
Penny Lane is in my ear and in my eye
Reiteration of Penny Lane's vivid presence in the singer's perception.
There beneath the blue suburban skies
Continued emphasis on the serene, suburban atmosphere of Penny Lane.
Penny Lane
A final mention of Penny Lane, completing the song's lyrical cycle.
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