It's the third flap-related post in a row, and this is the timeliest one yet, involving, as it does, a snappy little number from 1967.
So here are the lyrics to "Getting Better," from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band LP, presented in my usual format (where D represents a flap and T represents an aspirated t):
I’m only an amateur flap detective, so there might be a lot more to this business than I’ve been assuming. But considering the post-lexical nature of flapping—the rule’s exceptionlessness—I don’t know what to make of all those places where Paul or whoever is flapping. I would have expected to see “geTing beTer” (each word with an aspirated t) or “geDing beDer” (each word with a flap), and not this hybrid “geDing beTer” flapping. Does it reflect the underlying tensions and cultural upheaval of the turbulent ’60s? The pull between established norms and exciting new possibilities of expression? No, I don't think that's it. But what, then? I know that in my speech, my flapping isn't inconsistent like this is. This is all over the place, a freewheeling ecstasy of unpredictable flapping!
So here are the lyrics to "Getting Better," from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band LP, presented in my usual format (where D represents a flap and T represents an aspirated t):
It's
geTing beTer all the time
I
used to get maD at my school
(No
I can't complain)
The
teachers that taught me weren't cool
(No
I can't complain)
You're
holding me down
(Ah-ahh)
Turning
me round
(Ohh)
Filling
me up with your rules
(Ooo)
I've
got to admit it's geDing beTer
(BeTer)
A
liDle beTer all the time
(It
couldn't get no worse)
I
have to admit it's geDing beTer
(BeTer)
It's
geTing beTer since you've been mine
Me
used to be angry young man
Me
hiDing me heaD in the sand
You
gave me the word
I
finally heard
I'm
doing the best thaD I can
I've
got to admit it's geDing beTer
(BeTer)
A
liDle beTer all the time
(It
couldn't get no worse)
I
have to admit it's geDing beTer
(BeTer)
It's
geTing beTer since you've been mine
GeTing
so much beTer all the time
It's
geTing beTer all the time
(BeTer,
beTer, beTer)
It's
geTing beTer all the time
(BeTer,
beTer, beTer)
I
used to be cruel to my woman, I beaT her
And
kept her apart from the things that she loved
Man,
I was mean, buD I'm changing my scene
And
I'm doing the best thaD I can
(Ooo)
I
admit it's geDing beTer
(BeTer)
A
liTle beTer all the time
(It
couldn't get no worse)
Yes,
I admit it's geDing beTer
(BeTer)
It's
geDing beTer since you've been mine
GeTing
so much beTer all the time
It's
geTing beTer all the time
(BeTer,
beTer, beTer)
It's
geTing beTer all the time
(BeTer,
beTer, beTer)
GeTing
so much beTer all the time
I’m only an amateur flap detective, so there might be a lot more to this business than I’ve been assuming. But considering the post-lexical nature of flapping—the rule’s exceptionlessness—I don’t know what to make of all those places where Paul or whoever is flapping. I would have expected to see “geTing beTer” (each word with an aspirated t) or “geDing beDer” (each word with a flap), and not this hybrid “geDing beTer” flapping. Does it reflect the underlying tensions and cultural upheaval of the turbulent ’60s? The pull between established norms and exciting new possibilities of expression? No, I don't think that's it. But what, then? I know that in my speech, my flapping isn't inconsistent like this is. This is all over the place, a freewheeling ecstasy of unpredictable flapping!
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