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there is a penny lane in liverpool. but that is not what the song is about. it is about sex and how everyone is into sex but denies it outwardly. lets take a look at the lyrics...

In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs

Of every head he's had the pleasure to know.

And all the people that come and go

Stop and say hello.

(ok this one is pretty clear. the "barber" has had many lovers)

On the corner is a banker with a motorcar,

The little children laugh at him behind his back.

And the banker never wears a mack

In the pouring rain, very strange.

(so the banker does a girl who gets around and doesnt know it. the banker doesnt wear a mack (rain coat)- condom reference)

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.

There beneath the blue suburban skies

I sit, and meanwhile back

In penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass

And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen.

He likes to keep his fire engine clean,

It's a clean machine.

(masturbation reference)

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.

A four of fish and finger pies

In summer, meanwhile back

(a four of fish and finger pies? hello- fingering a lady)

Behind the shelter in the middle of a roundabout

The pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray

And tho' she feels as if she's in a play

She is anyway.

(basically the "nurse" is a crack whore.)

In Penny Lane the barber shaves another customer,

We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim.

And then the fireman rushes in

From the pouring rain, very strange.

(ok im not quite sure what this one is about)

Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes.

There beneath the blue suburban skies

I sit, and meanwhile back.

Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes.

There beneath the blue suburban skies,

Penny Lane.

basically, the thing is full of british slang for sexual acts while the song seems overtly about this pleasant suburban life. the juxtaposition of these is intentional.

I just read your other post where you say that you are looking for a beatles song for an english project to analyze. If this is college, absolutely go with my translation. It is an A. if it is highschool or lower do their translation and mention sexual undertones without going into details. I was an english major in college, i know. Oh and by the way condoms have been used since ancient egypt and the modern condom was alive and well in the late 60s. I say crack whore not literaly meaning crack, poppies are used to create a number of drugs. also, i was raised in a pleasant suburb.

oh and one last thing- michaelfwilson1359 the account was created today and only answered one question. interesting. i wonder if this is a person from liverpool or one of these misinterpretters trying to discredit my british slang claim.