And a bell was ringing in the Village Square
For the rabbits on the run
Up and at 'em early in the morning, time to do me some exploring of the Liverpool streets around the hotel. Sadly, it was a Solo run, as I couldn't shake the sheets madly enough to get my running buddy Heather out there with me.
Down by the Mersey ferries, on Pier Head, heading towards the river Mersey is a fairly new addition to the city of Liverpool, that of a close-to-lifesized statue of the four lads that made the city famous more than half a century ago.
The bronze statue was only added in 2015 after the owners of the sorta-nearby Cavern Club felt the city needed some type of commemorative gathering point to honor John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
I took advantage of the damp morning to run with the Fab Four to the ferry dock
Each of the statues has a secret detail that speaks to the individual:
- John is carrying two acorns, symbolic of his and Yoko's wish for world peace (after their marriage, they sent acorns to world leaders asking that they be planted across the globe as a symbol of world peace)
- Paul is carrying a camera - a possible nod to his photographer wife, Linda Eastman, or a reflection of the camera he carried with him on the band's visit to Paris in January, 1964
- George's spiritual beliefs are reflected in the Indian mantra written across his coat belt.
- Ringo has the number 9 on the sole of his shoe, referencing his Liverpool zip code
The unveiling of the statue - sculpted by Andy Edwards - coincided with the Beatles' final show in their hometown, at the Empire theater in 1965,
From there, it was a run along the River Mersey itself.
The river gets its name from the Anglo-Saxon language, and translates into "boundary river," possibly because it is believed to have once separated the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria, not to mention the boundary between the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.
The river spawned the brand of music known as the Merseybeat, something the Beatles came to embody.
And of course, as music historians Pauls Askew and Marion would be quick to point out, the river itself is the inspiration for Gerry and the Pacemakers hit song, which can be viewed here:
Interestingly, the walkway along the Mersey has become yet another site for the love locks that have cropped up at chained locations across the world.
For those who haven't seen them elsewhere, the padlocks are supposed to symbolize a couple's love, usually with their names or initials emblazoned upon the lock. The key is usually thrown into the nearby water to symbolize unbreakable love.
Chains, my baby's got me locked up in chains
It took a bit, but with the help of the trusty iPhone maps, I was able to wander around and find something I'd been hunting for since arriving in Liverpool - the statue dedicated to Eleanor Rigby
A handbag on her lap, shopping back to her right, a Liverpool newspaper on her left, Eleanor Rigby sits beneath a plaque reading
ELEANOR RIGBY
ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE
Sculpture by Tommy Steele
A thank you to the people of Liverpool
December 3, 1982
From the Album Revolver, August 5, 1966
Eleanor Rigby, died in the church
And was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
From his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Next up: time for a very special tour
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