Paul McCartney reveals how ‘Let It Be’ was inspired by Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’
nme.comPaul McCartney has revealed how William Shakespeare’s Hamlet subconsciously inspired The Beatles track ‘Let It Be’.Macca opened up about the origins of the Fab Four’s 1970s hit, suggesting that his mother, Mary McCartney said the phrase “let it be” to him in a dream.
In an episode of McCartney: A Life in Lyrics podcast, Macca revealed how Hamlet may have inspired the track without him realising.“In those days [at school], I had to learn speeches off by heart.
So I could still do a bit of ‘to be or not to be’, or ‘O that this too too solid flesh’,” he said.He continued: “And it had been pointed out to me recently that Hamlet, when he has been poisoned, he actually says, ‘Let it be’ – act five, scene two.
He says ‘Let be’ the first time, then the second time he says, ‘Had I but time — as this fell sergeant, Death, Is strict in his arrest — oh, I could tell you.
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