<P> "Sgt . Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a song written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon--McCartney), and first recorded and released in 1967, on the album of the same name by the Beatles . The song appears twice on the album: as the opening track (segueing into "With a Little Help from My Friends"), and as "Sgt . Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)", the penultimate track (segueing into "A Day in the Life"). As the title song, the lyrics introduce the fictional band that performs on the album . </P> <P> Since its original album release, "Sgt . Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" has also been released on various Beatles singles and compilation albums . The song has also been performed by several other artists, including Jimi Hendrix, U2, and a comic interpretation by Bill Cosby, using the opening to John Philip Sousa's Washington Post March as the instrumental bridge . </P> <P> In November 1966, on the flight back to England after a holiday, McCartney conceived an idea in which an entire album would be role - played, with each of the Beatles assuming an alter - ego in the "Lonely Hearts Club Band", which would then perform a concert in front of an audience . The inspiration is said to have come when roadie Mal Evans innocently asked McCartney what the letters "S" and "P" stood for on the pots on their in - flight meal trays, and McCartney explained it was for salt and pepper . This then led to the Sgt . Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band concept, as well as the song . </P> <P> The group's road manager, Neil Aspinall, suggested the idea of Sgt . Pepper being the compère, as well as the reprise at the end of the album . According to his diaries, Evans may have also contributed to the song . John Lennon attributed the idea for Sgt . Pepper to McCartney, although the song is officially credited to Lennon--McCartney . The Beatles recorded the track in Abbey Road's studio 2, with George Martin producing, and Geoff Emerick engineering . Work on the song started on 1 February 1967, and after three further sessions the recording was completed on 6 March 1967 . </P>

What is sgt pepper's lonely hearts club band song about