Paul Is Dead: More "Proof" From Sgt. Pepper

Part 1 / Part 3
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth album by The Beatles. It is often said to be one of the greatest albums of all time. The album defines psychedelic rock and is well known for its iconic cover. With its surrealism and experimental feel, it is a go-to for fans searching for hidden meanings in their quest to prove that Paul is Dead.


The cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a funeral. That is one thing casual fans and conspiracy theorists who think Paul died can agree on. The Beatles are shown surrounded by other famous people, the dead among them allegedly staring directly at Paul. There is a hand over Paul's head which subscribers to the Paul is Dead theory say resembles a holy man blessing a dead body. Paul is the only Beatle facing completely forward and some contend that he looks as though he is being propped up by the others because he is actually lifeless.

On the inside cover, Paul is in the fetal position. Theorists say that this is how the dead are buried in India. Also cited as a clue is the O.P.D patch Paul has. Those unfamiliar with Canadian law enforcement claim it stands for "Officially Pronounced Dead" and is used to somehow declare someone dead in England. While most clues may seem improbable, this one is plainly false as the patch is indisputably an "Ontario Provincial Police" patch. It was given to Paul after the Beatles' 1966 concert in Toronto.

On the back cover, Paul is facing backwards. How this proves he is dead is never really discussed by anyone but it is often cited as a clue nonetheless. The Ribbons on the three "living" Beatles are on the left sides, which is military funeral dress code in England.
Some versions of the album have the lyrics printed on the back. On some of these, George's finger is pointing to the lyric "Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins." This is apparently the time that Paul was in his fatal accident.



The titular song on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band introduces the concept of the album. The Beatles are no more and the album is being recorded by a new group, lead by a man named Billy Shears (the songs that "Billy" sings are voiced by Ringo Starr). Theorists claim that Billy Shears is the name of the winner of a Beatles look-alike contest and is the man who may have replaced Paul. In the song he sings, A Little Help From My Friends, there is a line that goes “What would do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?” This is said to refer to the fact that the "new Paul" can't quite sing the same as the real one.




On British pressings of the record, the album ends with a 15-kilohertz high-frequency tone which Lennon has said it "especially intended to annoy your dog." It is followed by what seems to be gibberish. A consensus on what is said has never been reached (although Paul has said that it says "'It really couldn't be any other," theorists don't believe him because he is not the real Paul to them). Despite the uncertainty, this too is often cited as a clue of Paul's death, even though nobody knows what it is they are citing. This seems to occur rather frequently for such a persistent urban legend.