Expert: Elizabeth - 10/29/2009

Question
Did Paul, George, and Ringo really rejected the song Cold Turkey because of the lyrics? I mean the lyrics weren't so explicit or hardcore unless you want to count the word hell as hardcore. If Ringo really didn't like the song it's kind of ironic since he played drums on it. In my opinion Cold Turkey would have been a big hit for The Beatles and a classic rock tune that would have fit in nicely with Abbey Road. Probably would have been better than I Want You (She's So Heavy).

Answer
In US television ratings, the ratings are explained by four codes.  S=sex, V=violence, D=dialogue, and L=language.  See how they separate the last two?  You can say all the swear words you want, but if you're talking about an inappropriate situation, that's a different bag altogether.

The Beatles didn't reject Cold Turkey because it had the word hell in its lyrics.  They rejected it because the lyrics are about John Lennon's withdrawal from heroin addiction.  Not usually hit single material.

Ringo probably played on the single because John asked him to and that's that.  Ringo, most of the time, was very agreeable and got along with everybody.  It's probably why, after the Beatles broke up, that John, Paul and George all regularly worked with Ringo, but not each other.

And it's only your opinion that Cold Turkey would have fit well on Abbey Road.  My opinion happens to be that the song's not all that great.  Sorry.