The Beatles: Taxman Song Lyrics (1966)

Posted by admin on Thursday, April 7, 2016

The Beatles Money Quote saying in one of the all time great songs about taxes that there is no escaping the taxman. The Beatles said:
 

 

(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.
Don’t ask me what I want it for
If you don’t want to pay some more
Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.
— The Beatles (1966)

 

 In this lyric from their song “Taxman”, The Beatles are playfully yet critically commenting on excessive taxation by governments. The lines listing various everyday activities like driving, sitting, staying warm, and walking that are “taxed” suggest that it seems nearly everything a person does is subject to some tax or fee imposition.

The lyric implies taxes have become so pervasive and onerous it feels like the “taxman” is in control of nearly every aspect of life. While delivered with humor through the catchy rhythm and rhyme, the overall message seems to be one of frustration with how extensive and far-reaching taxation had become by the mid-1960s.

So in short, the Beatles appear to be lightly protesting what they saw as oppressive levels of taxes and government revenues through this song.