Seltaeb was a company set up in 1963, by Nicky Byrne (real name Douglas Anthony Nicholas Byrne) to exclusively look after merchandising interests on behalf of Brian Epstein, who managed NEMS Enterprises and The Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Directly prior to The Beatles' first American visit, Brian Epstein wanted someone to manage the escalating volume of merchandising requests that NEMS found itself unable to cope with, and asked his lawyer, David Jacobs, to oversee this task. Jacobs knew Nicky Byrne and asked him if he would be interested in taking over the merchandising subdivision from NEMS altogether, and pay NEMS a commission. Byrne accepted the offer subject to a 90% rate, leaving only 10% for The Beatles and NEMS combined. Completely unaware of the potential market that existed, particularly in America, Epstein agreed to the deal, and subsequently lost The Beatles an estimated $100,000,000 in possible income.
In December 1963 Byrne took over the control of Stramsact in the UK, and then set up Seltaeb (Beatles spelt backwards) in the USA. Epstein was able to re-negotiate a more favourable commission of 49% in August 1964, but then became embroiled in a three-year court battle with Byrne regarding payment of monies due, during which time potential sponsors lost interest. In August 1967 Epstein died, from what was ruled an accidental overdose of a prescribed drug. Jacobs was found hanged in his garage on 15 December 1968. Byrne later retired to the Bahamas.
I got a lot to do I got a lot to do
I got a lot to do how bout you
I got a lot to say I got a lot to say
And If you haven't noticed I like things my way
I've had enough of you I've had enough of you
I've had enough of all the stupid fucking things you do
I've had enough of your shit
I've had enough of your face
I've had enough I've had enough I've had enough okay
And I don't know why I don't know why
I don't know why I don't know
Why are we so low
And why should we explain
Why are we the ones you blame
So what ya gonna do, what you gonna do, what ya gonna do, fuck you
Do you wanna play you got something to say
Why don't you step to me and say it to me in my face
I'm fucking sick of you I'm fucking sick of you
I'm fucking sick of all the stupid fucking shit you do
I've had enough of your shit
I've had enough of your face
I've had enough I've had enough I've had enough okay
Why are we so low
And what makes you so great
Catch me, catch me,
As I glide right through this bleak oasis.
Match me, match me,
To the face you held so dear within you.
Wake me, wake me,
Won't be long before you change direction.
Won't be long before you change direction.
I've watched you slide, I've watched you slide.
Selotape these empty eyes and,
See behind the walls you hide the,
Shock might blow your paradise,
The shock might blow your paradise away.
Catch me, catch me,
As I glide right through this bleak oasis.
Trap me, trap me,
In a room with no existing fear.
Wake me, wake me,
Won't be long before you change direction,
Won't be long before you change direction.
I've watched you slide, I've watched you slide.
Selotape these empty eyes and,
See behind the walls you hide the,
Shock might blow your paradise,
[Brett's voice narrating]
Dear Jermaine, by the time you read this, I will be far, far away, at Coco's house, and I will no longer be residing--
And that is just one of the reasons why I'm moving out. You didn't seem to understand th--
And the most important thing for me to say is that--
Do you remember that time that seagull--
Yours sincerely, Brett.
[Jermaine]
Lives are like retractable pencils
If you push them too hard theyre gonna break
And people are like paper dolls
Paper dolls and people, theyre a similar shape
Hmm hmm hm hmm
[Brett]
Love is like a roll of tape
Its real good for making two things one
[Jermaine]
But just like the roll of tape
Love sometimes breaks off before you were done
[Brett]
Another way that love is similar to tape
That Ive noticed
Is sometimes its hard to see the end
[Together]
You search on the roll (search on the roll)
Search on the roll (searching round the roll)
Search on the roll (search)
[Together]
With your finger nail
Again and again
And again and again
[Jermaine]
And again...
[Brett]
Whoa, whoa
[Together]
Brown paper, white paper
Stickin' together with the tape
The tape of love
The sticky stuff
[Jermaine]
Brett.
[Brett]
Hey man. What are you doing here?
[Jermaine]
Mary and I miss you and we want you to rejoin the band again.
[Brett]
Really?
[Jermaine]
Yeah, on one condition. That you...
[Brett]
I'm not gonna kill her man.
[Jermaine]
No, just leave-- just leave her, not--
[Brett]
Oh no I'm not gonna leave her, I told you that. You know, I like the band, but no I'm not leaving Coco.
[Coco]
I wouldn't mind. I mean if that's what you really wa--
[Brett]
Shush, baby.
[Coco]
I don't-- I don't really see us as a long term--
[Brett]
Shush.
[Jermaine]
So what's it gonna be man? The girl or the band?
[Brett]
Well it's gonna be Coco.
[Jermaine]
Oh. Are you sure?
[Brett]
Yeah.
[Jermaine]
Oh I thought you... I was sure you were gonna say the band.
[Brett]
No I'm staying with Coco.
[Jermaine]
I guess you can still be in the band
[Brett]
Okay.
[Jermaine]
Okay. Okay well I'll see you later. Actually I'm gonna wait til the bus stops, and then... get off.
[Together]
Brown paper, white paper
Stickin' together with the tape
The tape of love
The sticky stuff
[Jermaine]
Oooh hoo
People people
Paper paper
Paper paper
People people
People people
Pencil Pencil
Paper paper
Put the pencil to the paper
Give the paper to the people
Let the people read about the sello tape
Oh baby baby yeah
[Brett]
You know, Jermaine, Ive been thinking about love. And I guess its the very strongest adhesive.
[Jermaine]
Oh sorry, Bret. Were you talking to me? I was humming. What did you say?
[Brett]
No, doesn't matter.
[Together]
Brown paper, white paper
Stickin' together with the tape
The tape of love
The sticky stuff
Yeah
Ooh brown
Brown paper, white paper
Stickin' together with the tape
The tape of love
Stick
Stickin' together
Stick stick stickin' together