Taxman

"Taxman" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. Written by the group's lead guitarist, George Harrison, with some lyrical assistance from John Lennon, it protests against the higher level of progressive tax imposed in the United Kingdom by the Labour government of Harold Wilson, which saw the Beatles paying over 90 per cent of their earnings to the Treasury. The song was selected as the album's opening track and contributed to Harrison's emergence as a songwriter beside the dominant Lennon–McCartney partnership. It was the group's first topical song and the first political statement they had made in their music. The Beatles began recording "Taxman" in April 1966, a month after Wilson's landslide win in the 1966 general election. Coinciding with the song's creation, Harrison learned that the band members' tax obligations were likely to lead to their bankruptcy, and he was outspoken in his opposition to the government using their income to help fund the manufacture of military weapons. Drawing on 1960s soul/R&B musical influences, the song portrays the taxman as relentless in his pursuit of revenue and name-checks Wilson and Edward Heath, the leader of the Conservative Party. The recording includes an Indian-influenced guitar solo performed by Paul McCartney. "Taxman" was influential in the development of British psychedelia and mod-style pop, and has been recognised as a precursor to punk rock. The Jam borrowed heavily from the song for their 1980 hit single "Start!" When performing "Taxman" on tour in the early 1990s, Harrison adapted the lyrics to reference contemporaneous leaders, citing its enduring quality beyond the 1960s. The song's impact has extended to the tax industry and into political discourse on taxation.

Forever - 2024-10-04T00:00:00.000000Z

The Classic Collection - 2020-11-13T00:00:00.000000Z

Scanners EP - 2017-03-06T00:00:00.000000Z

Synthetic Visions - 2014-03-03T00:00:00.000000Z

Who Wants It - 2025-12-19T00:00:00.000000Z

Sun Lo Na - 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000000Z

Return of the Dubplate Killa - Vol.2 - 2025-07-04T00:00:00.000000Z

Excalibur - 2025-07-04T00:00:00.000000Z

Sekkle Dub - 2024-12-18T00:00:00.000000Z

Imposter - 2024-11-27T00:00:00.000000Z

Something Special (Taxman Remix) / (T>I Remix) - 2024-02-19T00:00:00.000000Z

Super Dose - 2024-01-10T00:00:00.000000Z

Push It - 2023-08-18T00:00:00.000000Z

Lethal Weapon (Taxman Remix) - 2023-06-02T00:00:00.000000Z

Sword Style - 2023-05-26T00:00:00.000000Z

Rumble (Remixes) - 2022-12-16T00:00:00.000000Z

Tremendous Vibes / All Crew - 2022-09-30T00:00:00.000000Z

Bad From Morning (Taxman Remix) - 2022-09-09T00:00:00.000000Z

Special Request / Out of Your Mind - 2022-07-15T00:00:00.000000Z

Ganja / Ratty Badboy - 2022-02-11T00:00:00.000000Z

Just a Friend (Taxman Remix) - 2021-12-10T00:00:00.000000Z

M16 - 2021-11-05T00:00:00.000000Z

Saigon (Taxman Remix) / Smooth Operator (Sub Killaz Remix) - 2021-10-11T00:00:00.000000Z

Bring the Danger - 2021-08-27T00:00:00.000000Z

Listen Good - 2021-06-04T00:00:00.000000Z