When I learned that June 25th was Global Beatles Day I felt it called for a little celebration at the piano. The extensive song library of the Beatles can be daunting to choose from but it is the simple piano ballad, Let It Be, that I find most cathartic to play.
“Let It Be” is based on four simple chords that change every two beats. This classic chord progression combined with the easy key of C make it a perfect Beatles song for beginners.
The simplicity also lends to focusing on the lyrics’ meaning and soulful expression of the song.
The first few lines always come to my mind:
“When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be”
When I learned how the song came about it had even more meaning.
Paul McCartney said his mother, who had passed away when he was 14, appeared to him in a dream with a comforting message.
“It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing ‘Let It Be’.”
He added, “ It was so wonderful for me and she was very reassuring. In the dream she said, ‘It’ll be all right.’ I’m not sure if she used the words ‘Let it be’ but that was the gist of her advice, it was, ‘Don’t worry too much, it will turn out OK.’
That is a message I hope to remember often, that: ”There will be an answer, let it be.”