Song Spotlight: “Penny Lane”

“Penny Lane” is an iconic song by The Beatles about a real place, known by the band members who grew up in Liverpool.

Paul McCartney wrote a majority of this song, setting it around an area that he lived in when he was growing up. McCartney noted that his writing was primarily around shared experiences of spending time taking the bus and waiting around Penny Lane with John Lennon, who also contributed to the lyrics. A fun fact about Penny Lane is that it was also mentioned in a draft of “In My Life” that was released before “Penny Lane.”

One of the endearing features of the song is the description of the people in the town, key places that these people inhabit on Penny Lane, and how they fit into the town. This song’s lyrics can be a jumping off point to discuss home towns or places that you have lived and the places that make the town unique or recognizable. 

Here are some of the lyrics:

In Penny Lane, there is a barber showing photographs

Of every head he’s had the pleasure to know

And all the people that come and go

Stop and say hello

On the corner is a banker with a motorcar

And little children laugh at him behind his back

And the banker never wears a mac in the pouring rain

Very strange

Who are the interesting people in your community? If you took a look around the next time you’re in a shopping center, who would you observe?

Try This:

Theme: This song would fit well into a collection of songs about hometowns, places, or cities. Other complementary songs may include “Downtown,” “59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy),” and “Dancing in the Street.”

Have a discussion about the iconic or easily recognizable places in your town. Expand the discussion to include hometown/small town stories and the memorable places inside them.

Add rhythmic movement along with the song.

Sing along with the chorus of “Penny Lane.”

Read the lyrics of the song and discuss the characters in the song, discuss careers of the people you are with, and write a verse based off of group members. 

Look at photos of the real Penny Lane.

For more song spotlights, visit our Song Spotlights page.