The Beatles Song Banned Over Double Entendres That John Lennon Insisted Was “Pure”

The BBC has banned many Beatles songs throughout the years, typically for politically charged or ostensibly drug-related reasons. Censorship affected a single song, "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite," from the legendary 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It is hardly unexpected that the BBC chose to intervene, considering the lyrics' connotations and the era's fondness for drug references.

[mauricebate]

I'm in my 70s and I still can't believe how much different types of music the Beatles turned out in six years together 👍🏼😎🇬🇧

[johngraves]

Very nice. I had long read drug associations into the song, but that's my problem. Maybe Lennon was being completely honest in that the lyric was simply a play on the circus poster. I also felt there were certainly sly drug references in other songs, and I don't have a problem with that. Lyrics with hidden meanings and double entendres are cool.

Particularly, "Roll up for the mystery tour", countered by "The Magical Mystery Tour is dying to take you away." Which thus makes the lyric anti-drug, at least as far as injectable drugs are concerned.

[miketheaztec]

If you do your research you'll find a photo of John Lennon standing next to the circus poster. I believe it's in the booklet that came with the CD reissue of Sgt Peppers.