By the mid-1960s, Lennon and McCartney were turning away from the conventions of the Great American Songbook. British cultural and linguistic references began to permeate their song lyrics.
- the (UK) National Health Service (from ‘Dr Robert’)
- '...the News of the World (newspaper notorious for sex scandal stories from ‘Polythene Pam’)
- ‘ring my friend’ (‘Dr Robert’ Americans would say call)
- 'Time for tea’ (British advertising jingle from ‘Good Morning, Good Morning.’
- Dressing gown (‘She’s Leaving Home’(bathrobe in US English).
- Plasticine porters in ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’
- 'Such a stupid git' ('jerk') in I'm So Tired. 'Scouse (Liverpool) git' was also a catchphrase in the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part the model for Archie Bunker.
- 'Doris gets her oats' (interlude on Let it Be). A 'Doris' is an unflattering reference to a female. The word 'oats' is also used in British slang to mean sex.
British Tax
George Harrison's Taxman not only complains about the UK tax system but also refers to British political leaders (Mr Wilson and Mr Heath).By this point, though, the four young men from Liverpool were now the Supreme Court of Popular Music. Their version of English was acceptable in American polite society.
'Britishisms in Beatles Lyrics' Harold Somer