After all of the hoopla and energy that went into creating Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, it seemed that nobody could figure out how to end it ("A Day in the Life" still waiting in the wings as a separate single for the time being.) Finally, roadie and manager Neil Aspinall made a suggestion: why not just reprise the original song, a fitting arch to the storyline? John looked at Neil and glibly replied, "Nobody likes a smart-ass, Neil." And so the decision was made to do exactly that.
Musically, the song offers little variation on the original theme, with the exception of the tighter and more cleanly recorded drums, the tape loop vocals of "Sergeant Pepper's lonely", and the key change halfway through for reprising effect. The band's rocking out jamming near the end was a live spontaneous result, with each instrument caught on tape by Geoff Emerick in the final session of the greatest album of all time.
Lyrically, the song uses its brief time to once again set the band's hijinks off as that of this new and heretofore unknown band of Sgt. Pepper's: "we hope you have enjoyed the show" implying that if you didn't, don't worry, The Beatles will still be putting out good music shortly, and "it's getting very near the end" with its awkward phrasing nevertheless reminding you that it was all just an act, and to think of it more as an experiment than a real record. If you listen closely, you can hear someone mutter "Winston" (John's middle name) near the 0:10 mark in the song.
For Paul is dead fanatics, this song offers little meat, but does have a sort of philosophical overview; "we're sorry but it's time to go" means the end for Sgt. Pepper (Paul), and it's "getting very near the end" for all of us.
Only one other version of this song deserves mention: the classic a cappella group The Persuasions perform a searing, foot-stomping rendition of this song on their Beatles cover album, titled appropriately The Persuasions Sing The Beatles. Also featuring a wonderful take on "The Ballad of John and Yoko", as well as "Oh! Darling", and "Yesterday", the album is a must have for fans of a cappella soul and The Beatles.
The reprise of the title track was recorded on April Fool's Day, 1967, with Paul, George, and John sharing lead vocal duties while each played their respective instrument, and Ringo providing the thunderous backbeat on the set.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
(Lennon/McCartney)
We're Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
We hope you have enjoyed the show
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
We're sorry but it's time to go
Sergeant Pepper's lonely
Sergeant Pepper's lonely
Sergeant Pepper's lonely
Sergeant Pepper's lonely
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
We'd like to thank you once again
Sergeant Pepper's one and only Lonely Hearts Club Band
It's getting very near the end
Sergeant Pepper's lonely
Sergeant Pepper's lonely
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
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