Blackbird // Mclennon

Golden Slumbers

===============================

" Golden slumbers fill your eyes!
Smiles await you when you rise!
Sleep, pretty darling,
do not cry...
and I will sing a lullaby. "

===============================

circa 1964,

It has been several months since we all graduated from secondary school. Even more months since we released our first album. Now, we had much more music on the way.

Everything was different, so much changing all at once. I'd be a liar if I said it wasn't overwhelming.

Now, we are in the middle of our first tour. An actual Goddamn tour! Before it officially begins, tonight we are going to be playing the Ed Sullivan show, our first show in America. People say if you make it this far, you're catching a big break.

"C'mon, Paulie, we oughta get ready to be on stage." George told me.

I stared down at the comb in my hand, "Ye sure yer not nervous, Geo?"

"When'd I say I wasn't nervous? Ye know how I feel abou' performin' in public." George exclaimed. "Nothin's changed."

I scoffed, "Oh, c'mon, Georgie, we've performed hundreds of times before."

"So?! We're not exactly immune to criticism, after all." George shook his head. "John still gets flack for shoutin' 'Heil Hitler!' back in bloody Germany."

I scoffed, "The man was knackered, he didn't mean anything by it."

"What's our first song we're playin' tonight, lads?" Ringo asked as he entered the room, interrupting George and I's little dispute.

"I Want To Hold Your Hand, ofcourse." John said, putting my hand in his own. "It's a right hit!"

"How smooth." I joked.

He lifted my hand up and kissed my knuckles, "Oh, ye live for this, Macca." He smiled, "Don't even act like ye hate it."

I blushed, "C'mon, we gotta set up for the show, yet."

"Right, well then, lets go." John nodded and patting my back for me to walk forward.

We hopped onto the stage with the curtains still drawn shut. We set up Ringo's kit in place and hooked up all the amps we needed for the night. Before curtain call, I went to the nearest mirror and tidied up my suit and tie for the billionth time. Ever since Brian's been our manager, he always insisted on us looking neat and pristine.

"Yer tie isn't gonna get any straighter, Paul." George laughed, carrying his guitar in his hands.

I rolled my eyes and turned to face the lad, "Can never be too sure." I stepped forward, "It's our first performance in the States, after all. I wanna look me best."

"Georgie!" Ringo called out from the center stage. "C'mere for a moment, need help liftin' this bloody amp."

George quickly turned to the direction of the noise, "Comin'!"

I cleared my throat and looked back into the mirror and smiled deeply at my reflection.

"Ye've got this, ye've made it this far, yeah? What's the difference between here and a little night club." I smiled, "Oh yeah... national television."

John peered around the corner and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, "Ye look stunning, darl'."

My face turned a deep shade of pink and I looked up at the boy, "Still a bit nervous, I am."