Let's talk Gamecocks football using Beatles song titles, since Paul McCartney's playing at CLA next week

Next Thursday, the Colonial Life Arena (home of the South Carolina Gamecocks' basketball team) will welcome Paul McCartney. Everyone knows who McCartney is: one of the greatest songwriters of all time, musical icon, and a member of some band from Liverpool, England, called the Beatles. Following in the steps of the old .com in merging pop culture with the world of sports (sport if you're from the U.K. like McCartney), we asked ourselves: How do some of the Fab Four's most well-known lyrics relate to the state of Gamecocks football? Join us on this musical and historical journey, won't you?

"Help!"

Help, I need somebody
Help, not just anybody
Help, you know I need someone, help...

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me

This very well could have been written about the Gamecocks needing plenty of "help" at defense in 2014 and "feeling down" when Kenny Hill and Texas A&M dropped them on national TV in week one, or losing one of the three games they very well should have won (Florida? Kentucky? Tennessee?). And apparently Steve Spurrier appreciated Lorenzo Ward "being 'round" because he kept him for another year even though every single person in the fanbase¹ wanted him fired.

"We Can Work It Out"

We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night
We can work it out
We can work it out

Well, hopefully they can. Consider "it" being their defensive struggles and "say(ing) good night" as a metaphor of their hopes of an SEC championship fading into the sunset. That's what Lennon/McCartney² were referring to, right? One can hope the light of day keeps shining on the team until the end and that their flaws of last year are worked out.

"I Am The Walrus"

I am he as you are he as you are me
And we are all together
See how they run like pigs from a gun see how they fly
I'm crying

Sitting on a cornflake waiting for the van to come
Corporation tee shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you been a naughty boy. You let your face grow long
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen
I am the walrus, goo goo g' joob

This one...actually, you know something? I have no earthly clue what these nonsensical lyrics mean³. I'd assume it just as well as could have been written by a drunk Gamecocks fan drowning his sorrows in alcohol⁴ after losing to Kentucky. (Or a drunk Kentucky fan imbibing just a bit too much after they beat USC, because, well, Kentucky and bourbon.)

"Yesterday"

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
oh, I believe in yesterday

Another strong use of metaphorical language here by Lennon/McCartney, "Yesterday" is clearly referring to the seasons of yesteryear, specifically the three 11-2 seasons in a row, and the belief that the Gamecocks can very much return to that form. Or maybe even surpass it. Keep your heads up, USC fans.

"With A Little Help From My Friends"

Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm gonna try with a little help from my friends

It's believed that Connor Mitch will be the starter at quarterback, and the redshirt sophomore will need a little help from his friends up front if he wants to be on the road to success in 2015 and beyond. His friends, of course, being the offensive line that's been pretty good for USC in recent years but have a few injures to overcome. (High should be meant solely metaphorically and not literal, by the way.)

I think that's all we've got, so join us next time as we examine the lyrics of Meagan Trainor (including "All About That Bass") and relate them to Gamecocks baseball.⁵

¹Slight exaggeration, but pretty close
²The songwriting team of Paul McCartney and the late John Lennon that penned the majority of the Beatles' songs
³John Lennon was supposedly on acid when he wrote part of the song because it was the 60's and of course he was. BTW DRUG USE IS NOT ENDORSED BY THIS SITE SO DON'T DO IT EVEN IF YOU THINK IT WILL INSPIRE YOU TO WRITE MUSIC
⁴EXCESSIVE DRINKING AND/OR RAMPANT ALCOHOLISM NOT ENDORSED BY THIS SITE SO DON'T DO IT EVEN IF USC GOES 0-11 NEXT SEASON 
⁵No, we're not really doing this. You kiddin'?