**Taxman Revisited: If The Beatles and The Kinks Were Here Today, They’d Be Screaming Louder Than Their Fans**
As Labour takes the reins in Britain with renewed pledges for fiscal reform and public investment, whispers of “Taxman” and “Sunny Afternoon” echo from the past. The Beatles and The Kinks—two pillars of British music history—once sang bitterly about high taxation during the 1960s, and it’s hard not to imagine them railing against today’s political climate with the same melodic fury.
The Beatles’ 1966 classic “Taxman,” penned by George Harrison, was a biting response to Harold Wilson’s government imposing a staggering 95% supertax on top earners. “There’s one for you, nineteen for me,” Harrison sang, capturing the frustration of an era when musicians, despite their fame, felt exploited by the state. Similarly, Ray Davies of The Kinks penned “Sunny Afternoon,” lamenting the taxman’s reach into a rock star’s lavish lifestyle: *“The taxman’s taken all my dough / And left me in my stately home.”*
Fast forward to 2025, and while Labour’s modern tax plans may not mirror the extremes of the ’60s, the return to progressive taxation and closing of loopholes for high earners has sparked debate. Would the Beatles still be voicing dissent through song? Would The Kinks be mocking mansion taxes with a modern twist?
Today’s musicians might not face the same rates, but the principle remains: creative figures pushing back against political systems perceived to be overreaching. With talk of capital gains alignment and wealth redistribution, many in the top income brackets are sounding alarms. If Harrison and Davies were writing today, their lyrics might not change much—only the names of the chancellors.
In the ever-repeating loop of art and politics, one thing is clear: when tax hits the top chords, rock ’n’ roll doesn’t st
ay silent.
