Top 10 "Paul is Dead" Clues (The Theory that the Real Paul McCartney Died in a Car Accident in 1966)
PLEASE READ:I am not a firm believer in this theory. I would say about 80% of me thinks it's a hoax, but 20% of me thinks there just might be something to it. Most have heard the story, but for those of you who haven't, here it goes (in short form).
In late 1966 (some say September, others say November), Paul allegedly left the EMI studio on a rainy night or early morning. Rumor has it he left feeling really stressed out or angry. As he's driving along in his Aston Martin, he either sees a beautiful meter maid ("Lovely Rita") and gets distracted, causing a crash, or another version of the story claims he picked up a pretty female hitchhiker. Upon realizing who he was, the hitchhiker supposedly panicked and caused the crash. Either way, the story goes that Paul blew through a red light and was hit by a truck, which pinned him or both of them to a pole, resulting in his or their death.
The rumors say Paul was decapitated and badly burned, with most of his teeth knocked out. Quickly after his death, the record company and/or the remaining Beatles allegedly found a lookalike replacement, a Scottish man named William Campbell.
Whether you believe it or not, there are a lot of people who think it's true. As I said, for me, I think this was most likely an elaborate hoax by the Beatles or the record company. However, there's a part of me that wonders, "What if?" I keep an open mind about it.
Here are some interesting quotes attributed to Paul McCartney himself:
"I joined the Beatles as an already set up affair." (But he was a founding member?)
"There's me and then there's famous him. I don't want to sound schizophrenic, but I'm probably two people. I look in the mirror and think, I am a shell of this guy I've read so much about. I don't know if it's a schizo thing. Paul McCartney is like the successful bit of it all that I'm very proud of, but, you know, I don't imagine that I am him, otherwise I'll probably just blow my head off."
"They shouldn't be paying me all this money 'cause, you know, I'm not him. I'm some kid masquerading as this guy who's like the famous guy, and, oh no, I'm a clone, you know."
There's a lot more to this theory. I really suggest people read up on it. It's a fun read and journey, even if you think it's nonsense.
I have this at number 1 because this is the one that really makes me raise an eyebrow. Almost everything else can be hoaxed by the band. There are old photos and videos of the "original" Paul playing right-handed.
This is actually really interesting. I never gave it a thought until now. You raise some good valid points.
This really is a good list.
Personally, I think most (not all) of these are a stretch. There are so many examples. These are just a few popular ones.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Album
Lovely Rita - The line "standing by a parking meter / when I caught a glimpse of Rita" refers to Paul's accident.
Good Morning, Good Morning - The lines "nothing to do to save his life," "you're on your own / you're in the street," "people running 'round / it's five o'clock" (the supposed time of the accident), and "watching the skirts you start to flirt, now you're in gear" are all said to reference Paul's accident.
With a Little Help From My Friends - The intro announces "Billy Spears," a play on words for "Billy's here," introducing the man who replaced Paul, William.
The Magical Mystery Tour Album
I Am the Walrus - At the end of the song, there are voices of men saying, "bury me...bury my body" and "Paul you're darn near death...rest you."
Hello Goodbye - Some think the line "you say goodbye, I say hello" refers to the "new" or fake Paul addressing the "original" Paul.
All You Need Is Love - People think when John sings the word "yesterday," he's purposely making it sound like he's saying "yes he's dead." Then the chanting of "we love you yeah, yeah, yeah" comes in. Notice "yeah" is said three times? Supposedly, it's each of the three remaining original band members sending "dead" Paul their love.
Strawberry Fields Forever - At the end of the track, when the music fades back in, John is said to be saying, "I buried Paul."
Abbey Road Album
Come Together - "He got early warning" is supposed to reference Paul's recurring dream about his death. "One and one and one is three" refers to the three Beatles. "He's got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see" refers to the "fake" Paul. It could also be referring to "dead" Paul.
I Want You (She's So Heavy) - The abrupt stop to the song is said to symbolize the sudden... more
The album cover is supposed to represent a funeral scene.
All the people on the album cover are supposed to be the people Paul looked up to or admired. There is also a photo of the "early" Beatles who look like they're in mourning. Some theorize they're not just mourning Paul's death but also the end or death of the original band itself.
The headstone is the stone statue to the right of the drum.
The floral display in the front is in the form of a left-handed bass guitar and spells out Paul or "P." Above, it spells "LIES."
To the right of the "headstone" is a woman looking at a car that's on fire. The woman is supposed to be "Lovely Rita the Meter Maid." She supposedly saw and was the cause of Paul's accident.
If you hold the album cover to a mirror, focus on the drum, and split the drum in half (hold a small mirror or use the back of a CD, hold it to the middle or halfway on the words "LONELY HEARTS" on the drum), it reads "1 ONE 1 X HE DIE" with an arrow pointing at Paul. 1 ONE 1 is supposed to represent the three living members, and "HE DIE" is referring to Paul.
The number 5 is next to the word "Beatles," hinting that there are five Beatles members: John, George, Ringo, Paul, and "fake" Paul.
Paul is seen with a hand over his head, said to be an Eastern tradition of blessing the dead.
The four-armed doll on the bottom is holding a bouquet of flowers, and one arm is pointing at Paul.
Paul is holding a small hook that symbolizes the reaper's scythe.
Record version
The inside sleeve looks like it was soaked in blood.
On the back of the album, George is pointing at a line that reads, "Wednesday morning at five o'clock," the day and time of Paul's accident.
On the back cover, Paul is facing the opposite direction of the other members, symbolizing he is not "one of them."
A photo inside shows Paul wearing a patch on his left arm that reads O.P.D. People say O.P.D. stands... more
The album cover is supposed to represent a funeral procession. John is dressed like a preacher. Ringo represents the pallbearer. Paul is the corpse. George is supposed to symbolize the gravedigger.
Paul's eyes are closed, symbolizing he's dead.
In the background, there's a Volkswagen Beetle with a license plate that reads "28IF," rumored to symbolize or state that "if" Paul was still alive, he would've been "28" years old when Abbey Road was released.
Paul is walking out of step with the other members. All the other members are leading with their left foot, and Paul with his right, supposedly representing the same thing as when he is facing away from the rest of the band on the other covers. He is not one of them.
Paul is walking with a cigarette in his right hand. (Rumor has it the "real Paul" was left-handed.) Also, cigarettes were/are known to be called coffin nails.
There are eight circles next to the "Beatles" sign. When the circles are connected, they make the number 3. This is supposed to represent that there are only three original Beatles members.
That same Beatles sign has a crack running through the "S." People think it represents a fracture of the band (Paul's death).
In keeping up with the funeral theme, the record sleeve is black.
The stars that spell out "Beatles," when viewed upside down, reveal a phone number. (Some say it's 5371438, others say it's 2317438.) The number 2317438 is reported to be a mortuary in London. Some have even claimed they got a recorded message of a voice saying, "You're getting closer."
In the movie (also in a photo in a booklet that came with the record version), Paul is sitting at a desk with a sticker that reads, "I WAS."
On page 12 in the booklet mentioned above, Paul's shoes are to the left of him and covered in blood. There are tire tracks leading right up to Paul. In the same picture, the kick drum reads, "LOVE The 3 Beatles."
In the booklet, there's a picture of Paul wearing a black carnation while the rest of the band is wearing a red one.
There are numerous photos of a hand over Paul's head in the booklet.
Again, Paul has a hand over his head, symbolizing an Eastern tradition for blessing the dead.
The Yellow Submarine is beneath the band members. This is supposed to represent Paul's coffin underground.
On the top is a picture of Paul screaming with no teeth showing. Rumor has it that most of Paul's teeth were knocked out and he was decapitated in the accident.
Again, Paul is facing the opposite direction.
Look it up. Either way, I find this kind of disturbing. The story is that John never really accepted "Faul" and was mean to him.
The other members started calling Paul "Faul," as in "fake Paul." I don't know what to think of this. Maybe it's an accent thing and people who are ignorant of the language (like me) are jumping to conclusions?
Maybe Britgirl can give her two cents about this and straighten this out for us? If it isn't an accent thing and they are blatantly saying "Faul" instead of Paul, that leaves only two options in my opinion:
1. This all was an elaborate hoax either started by The Beatles themselves, or at least they enjoyed throwing fuel on the fire for fun or publicity.
2. Paul is really dead.
Compare old (pre-'66) and new (post-'66) pictures of Paul. Tell us what you think. Some people swear you can see a lot of differences.
Personally, I can't see much of a difference. Maybe the eyebrows are a little different, and he does look like he aged a lot. Between '66 to '67, he does look about 5 or 6 years older to me.