In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs
Of every head he’s had the pleasure to have known
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello
On the corner is a banker with a motorcar
The little children laugh at him behind his back
And the banker never wears a mac
In the pouring rain, very strange
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit, and meanwhile back
In Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass
And in his pocket is a portrait of the queen
He likes to keep his fire engine clean
It’s a clean machine
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
A four of fish and finger pies
In summer, meanwhile back
Behind the shelter in the middle of a roundabout
The pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
And though she feels as if she’s in a play
She is anyway
In Penny Lane the barber shaves another customer
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
And then the fireman rushes in
From the pouring rain, very strange
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit, and meanwhile back
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
Penny Lane
Nostalgia and Everyday Life in “Penny Lane”
“Penny Lane” by The Beatles is a vibrant stroll through the familiar streets of Liverpool, painted with whimsical and vivid imagery. The song captures everyday scenes—a barber showing photographs, a banker observed by playful children, a fireman with an hourglass—each character brought to life through Paul McCartney’s storytelling. These vignettes create a tapestry of suburban life, blending nostalgia with a gentle, surreal humor. The repeated chorus, “Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes,” underscores the powerful memories and sensory impressions that the place holds for the narrator, making it more than just a physical location but a cherished part of personal history.
Song Credits
Songwriters: Paul McCartney, John Lennon
Release Year: 1967
Label: Parlophone