Matt Nolan

A ranking of Beatles songs

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Marginal Revolution links to a ranking that someone made of Beatles songs.  Its definitely worth a read – it is amazing how diverse the Beatles music was, and how many important economic style considerations they made in their songs.

My top five Beatles songs would be:

  1. “Within You Without You” (27th on his list),

  2. “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (56th),

  3. “Revolution” (48th),

  4. “We Can Work It Out” (12th),

  5. “Come Together” (55th).

Although I read on Wikipedia that Within you without you is about Eastern Religion (namely Hinduism).  However, it seems to be about economics to me – look at some of the lyrics:

We were talking-about the space between us all

The subject matter of economics is the distribution of scarce resources given the inter-related behaviour of individuals.

With our love-we could save the world-if they only knew.

Economists often believe that there are essential messages from their discipline that would increase the happiness of society – ultimately they feel misunderstood when these aren’t taken seriously.

Try to realize it’s all within yourself

As strong a defense of methodological individualism as I’ve ever heard.

And life flows ON within you and without you

Pointing to the difference between micro (within you – the choice of the individual) and macro (without you – the rest of the economy moving) economics.

Then again – maybe George’s message was broad enough to be applied to a number of different belief structures …

2 replies
  1. insider
    insider says:

    you guys are sooo sad and geeky 😉

    They see me mowin’ my front lawn
    I know they’re all thinkin’ I’m so white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    Can’t ya see I’m white and nerdy
    Look at me, I’m white and nerdy

    I wanna roll with the gangsters
    But so far they all think I’m too white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    I’m just too white and nerdy
    Really really white and nerdy

    First in my class here at M.I.T.
    Got skills, I’m a champion at D&D
    M.C. Escher, that’s my favorite M.C.
    Keep your forty I’ll just have an Earl Grey Tea

    My rims never spin to the contrary
    You’ll find that they’re quite stationary
    All of my action figures are cherry
    Stephen Hawking’s in my library

    My MySpace page is all totally pimped out
    Got people beggin’ for my top eight spaces
    Yo, I know pi to a thousand places
    Ain’t got no grills but I still wear braces

    I spread all of my sandwiches with mayonnaise
    I’m a whiz at Minesweeper, I could play for days
    Once you see my sweet moves you’re gonna stay amazed
    My fingers movin’ so fast I’ll set the place ablaze

    There’s no killer app I haven’t run (run)
    At Pascal, well, I’m number one (one)
    Do vector calculus just for fun
    I ain’t got a gat, but I got a soldering gun (what?)

    “Happy Days” is my favorite theme song
    I could sure kick your butt at a game of ping-pong
    I’ll ace any trivia quiz you bring on
    I’m fluent in Javascript as well as Klingon
    This part I sing on…

    They see me roll on my Segway
    I know in my heart they think I’m white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    Can’t ya see I’m white and nerdy
    Look at me, I’m white and nerdy

    I’d like to roll with the gangstaas
    Although it’s apparent I’m too white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    I’m just too white and nerdy
    How’d I get so white and nerdy?

    I’ve been browsin’, inspectin’
    “X-Men” comics you know I collect ’em
    The pens in my pockets I must protect ’em
    My ergonomic keyboard never leaves me bored

    Shoppin’ online for deals on some writable media
    I edit Wikipedia
    I memorized Holy Grail really well
    I can recite it right now and have you ROTFLOL
    I got a business doin’ websites
    When my friends need some code, who do they call?
    I do HTML for ’em all
    Even made a home page for my dog

    Yo, I got myself a fanny pack
    They were havin’ a sale down at The Gap
    Spend my nights with a roll of bubble wrap
    Pop, pop, hope no one sees me get freaky

    I’m nerdy in the extreme – whiter than sour cream
    I was in AV Club and Glee Club and even the Chess Team

    Only question I ever thought was hard
    Was do I like Kirk or do I like Picard?
    Spend every weekend at the Renaissance Fair
    Got my name on my underwear

    They see me strollin’, they laughin’
    And rollin’ their eyes cause I’m so white and nerdy
    Just because I’m white and nerdy
    Just because I’m white and nerdy
    All because I’m white and nerdy
    Holy cow, I’m white and nerdy

    I wanna bowl with the gangstas
    But, oh well, it’s obvious I’m white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    Think I’m just too white and nerdy
    I’m just too white and nerdy
    Look at me, I’m white and nerdy

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