The Beatles feat. Thoreau

Did The Beatles collaborate with

Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau? We all know who The Beatles are, but Thoreau is a 19th century transcendentalist. Doesn’t seem like they have much in common, but one of The Beatles songs is remarkably similar to one of Thoreau’s essays. Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience” was published in 1849, over a century later The Beatles released a song with the same ideas that were in “Civil Disobedience.” The song “Revolution” by The Beatles and the essay “Civil Disobedience” by Thoreau are very similar because they both critique their government, oppose violence, and boycott taxes.

“Revolution” and “Civil Disobedience” are both calling for change in their governments. In “Revolution” by The Beatles, The Beatles are mocking their current government’s agenda, “You say you'll change the constitution/Well you know/We all want to change your head” (The Beatles ln. 20). The Beatles call out the government. They recognize that the government is trying to change the constitution, but then later says “we all want to change your head.” The government isn’t doing what the people want. That doesn’t make a very good government. The Beatles say the people want change not to the constitution but the government. This is similar to Thoreau’s critique of his government’s agenda in “Civil Disobedience.” Thoreau says the government is “more interested in commerce and agriculture than they are in humanity” (Thoreau 93). Thoreau does not like the current government. He believes the government is immoral, and uncivil. He criticizes the government for focusing on “commerce and agriculture” over humanity. If this doesn’t convince you that the two could have collaborated, Thoreau and the Beatles, more specifically, criticize the government’s use violence.