reference in Beatles song

[Kingaroo]

In "Paperback Writer" (1966) the would-be author says he's written a story that's "based on a story by a man named Lear" about "a dirty man" whose "clinging wife doesn't understand."  I always assumed it was a made-up reference and a stereotypical plot, but I recently noticed that "Lear" doesn't rhyme with anything in that verse, and it made me wonder -- was Lennon referring to a real author?

[VINNY100_2]

here hpoe this helps

[VINNY100_2]

Or even Hope!!

[Didwot]

Paul wrote the Lyrics. The third line never rhymes in the song. there is a www.beatles.com website, but it does not tell you anything.

[epstein]

I'm sure that I read somewhere that after Paul McCartney once boasted that he could write a song about anything,his grandmother suggested writing a song about a paperback writer...anybody else heard this story?

[Kingaroo]

Epstein, the site I saw said his Auntie Lil had asked him to please write about something other than love, and this is what he came up with.

Didwot, I only mentioned the rhyme because if he had needed to rhyme with "here" or "clear" I would assume he just made up the last name to fit.  But since it needn't rhyme, I thought maybe he had picked a real author.

[littleoldme]

Kingaroo - I'd always assumed it was a reference to Edward Lear, the 19th century writer most famous for limericks and nonsense rhymes such as Jabberwocky.

Could be wrong though.

[gazzawazza]

I remember Jimmy Saville talking about this song on his radio one show years and years ago. 

He said he was in the Beatles' dressing room before a concert and Paul had "reminded" John that it was his turn to write the next song.  John changed the subject so Paul pressed him by asking what it was going to be about.  At that, John looked around annoyed, and saw George who was reading a book. 

"That."  he said.   "I'm going to write it about that book."

I have no idea if this is true but that was Jimmy's story...