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The Beatles - I Me Mine

The Beatles - I Me Mine Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Let It Be
Released: 1970

I Me Mine Lyrics

I Me Mine Song Chart

George Harrison wrote this song and sang lead. He said it is "About the ego, the eternal problem."

This uses a 3/4 time signature like a waltz, rather than the standard 4/4. With a rather mournful sound, Harrison called it a "heavy waltz."

This song owes its release to the Beatles movie Let It Be. Filmed in 1969 and originally called "Get Back," the plan was to get footage of the group recording the album and use it as a TV special or movie. During sessions at Twickenham Studios in London, Harrison, McCartney and Starr played an early version of this song as John Lennon and his future wife Yoko Ono waltzed to it. The movie was shelved, and Let It Be moved forward as an album, but without "I Me Mine."

Later in 1969, The Beatles manager, Allen Klein, made a deal with United Artists to release the film. With the project revived, a new version of "I Me Mine" was needed for the film and the soundtrack - the footage of John and Yoko dancing together was deemed crucial to the film. On January 3, 1970, the Beatles - minus Lennon - assembled at Abbey Road studios and recorded a polished version of the song with George Martin producing. After further delays, The Beatles broke up and Phil Spector was brought in to produce the album from the tapes.

The Beatles recorded this without John Lennon. The session took place just four days after the band learned that Let It Be was picked up as a movie and this song was needed for the soundtrack. By this time, the group had the #1 album in America with Abbey Road, but were fractured and moving on to solo projects - they wanted to get their remaining obligations settled quickly. With Lennon unavailable, George Harrison played acoustic guitar, Ringo Starr handled drums and Paul McCartney played electric bass and overdubbed organ and electric piano. Harrison also played the electric guitar lead which he overdubbed. What was so unusual about this session was the efficiency. In their later years, The Beatles spent a lot of time working up songs in the studio, but this one was completed in just one day.

The first version The Beatles recorded ran just 1:34, and had only one chorus. The album's producer, Phil Specter, copied and pasted parts of that recording to make the song 2:25.

When the album was re-released in 2003 as Let It Be... Naked, the songs were remixed to eliminate most of Phil Spector's lush production. His edit to make this longer was one of the few things he did that was left alone.

Harrison's 1980 autobiography is titled "I Me Mine." The book was reissued in 2002.

The Beatles - Dig a Pony

The Beatles - Dig a Pony Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Let It Be
Released: 1970

Dig a Pony Lyrics

I Dig a Pony
Well you can celebrate anything you want
Well you can celebrate anything you want
Ooh.

I do a road hog
Well you can penetrate any place you go
Yes you can penetrate any place you go
I told you so, all I want is you.
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
Because

I pick a moon dog
Well you can radiate ev'rything you are
Yes you can radiate ev'rything you are
Ooh.

I roll a stoney
Well you can imitate ev'ryone you know
Yes you can imitate ev'ryone you know
I told you so, all I want is you.
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
Because

I feel the wind blow
Well you can indicate ev'rything you see
Yes you can indicate ev'rything you see
Ooh.

I dug a pony
Well you can syndicate any boat you row
Yes you can syndicate any boat you row
I told you so, all I want is you.
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
Because

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN WINSTON / MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Dig a Pony Song Chart

The Beatles recorded this on the Apple Records rooftop on the afternoon of January 30, 1969. It appears in rooftop sequence of the movie Let It Be. It was their first live performance since they stopped touring in 1965.

There is a false start in this song that was caused by Ringo, as you can see Lennon looking back at him to make sure he's ready before they start again. What caused the hiccup is unclear: if you watch the clip, just as they are getting ready to count into the song, you see Ringo blowing smoke out of his mouth. There is a hesitation and you see him bending over, but it looks like he's already put his cigarette down prior to that.

In the 1988 film Imagine: John Lennon , home video footage reveals Lennon being asked about several lines from this song by a young man who was found hiding on the property surrounding Tittenhurst, Lennon's home in Ascot, England. Lennon assures him that the song refers to no specific person and that the lyrics are "nonsense," a lyrical technique he also attributes to unspecified Bob Dylan songs. John stated in 1969 about this song, "I just make it up as I go along." (thanks, Nick - La Crosse, WI)

The working title of this song was "Con A Lowry." Lennon changed it because, "'I con a Lowry' didn't sing well... it's got to be d's and p's you know."

Lennon wrote this as 2 songs: "All I Want Is You" and "Dig a Pony." In the original pressings of the Let It Be LP, it's listed as "All I Want Is You."

Producer Phil Spector cut out 2 lines for the album version. The unedited version is in the movie.

This song was listed as "I Dig A Pony" on the album (though that error was corrected for the CD). Some people thought that the line "Hi, hi hi, hi hiyeeee.... dig a pony" was "I, I, I, I Iyeeeeeeeee.... dig a pony." You can still find tabs online for "I Dig A Pony." (thanks, Loretta - Liverpool, England)

The line "I do a road hot" was originally "I dig a skylight" and then "I did a groundhog."

The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down

The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Hey Jude
Released: 1969

Don't Let Me Down Lyrics

Don't Let Me Down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down

Nobody ever loved me like she does
Ooh, she does
Yes, she does
And if somebody loved me like she do me
Ooh, she do me
Yes, she does

Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down

I'm in love for the first time
Don't you know it's gonna last?
It's a love that lasts forever
It's a love that has no past

Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down

And from the first time that she really done me
Ooh, she done me
She done me good
I guess nobody ever really done me
Ooh, she done me
She done me good

Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down

Writer/s: NOEL WILLIAMS
Publisher: HAKA TAKA MUSIC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Don't Let Me Down Song Chart

John Lennon dedicated this song to Yoko One. It was the first song he wrote for Yoko, who he married on March 20, 1969.

Released as the B-side of "Get Back," this song was recorded the same day. It was going to be on the Let It Be album, but when the tapes from the sessions were turned over to Phil Spector to produce, he took it out.

This was one of the songs The Beatles played at their impromptu rooftop concert in 1969. The concept of the album was The Beatles performing new songs for a live audience, with film footage of their rehearsals used to make a documentary TV special. George Harrison didn't like the idea, and when things got tense during recording, he left the sessions and returned only after they agreed to cancel the live performance. The Beatles were still under contract to make another movie, so they decided to use the rehearsal footage as their last movie, Let It Be. In order to end the movie, they needed a big scene, so they went to the roof of Apple Records and started playing. John Lennon forgot some of the words to this song while the Beatles were playing their rooftop concert. (thanks, Jonathon - Clermont, FL)

Billy Preston, who The Beatles met when he was on tour with Little Richard in 1962, played keyboards on this track. Preston was one of the few outside musicians (excluding members of orchestras) to play on any Beatles song. George Harrison brought him in to smooth tensions in the studio. He did the same thing during The White Album sessions, when he brought in Eric Clapton. The presence of a musician The Beatles respected had a way of making them put aside their differences.

When Apple Records remixed the album Let It Be and released it in 2003 as Let It Be... Naked, this was included. An alternate take was used. It was the only song on the new album that did not appear on the original.

Lennon asked Ringo to crash his cymbals loudly to "give me the courage to come in screaming."

Billy Corgan's band Zwan covered this. They rearranged the entire song so only the melody was the same. They added a guitar solo at the end. Others artists to cover the song include Randy Crawford, Crown of Thorns, Dylan & Clark, Garbage, Gene, Marcia Griffiths, Taylor Hicks, Julian Lennon , Annie Lennox, Maroon 5, Matchbox Twenty, The Persuasions, Phoebe Snow, Stereophonics and Paul Weller. (thanks, SJ - skalj, Denmark)

Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson is from Edinburgh, and in 1999 they played this song at the opening of the newly-elected Scottish Parliament, which was celebrating autonomy after 300 years of British rule. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

The Beatles - Revolution 9

The Beatles - Revolution 9 Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Revolution 9 Lyrics

Number nine, number nine, number nine, number nine...

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN WINSTON / MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Revolution 9 Song Chart

John Lennon wrote this with contributions from Yoko Ono. It's a highly experimental piece, which Lennon once called "The music of the future." It is the most controversial and bizarre track on the album - you have to have a very open mind to appreciate it.

This was made by layering tape loops over the basic rhythm of "Revolution." Lennon was trying to create an atmosphere of a revolution in progress. The tape loops came from EMI archives, and the "Number 9" voice heard over and over is an engineer testing equipment.

Lennon told Rolling Stone that this was, "an unconscious picture of what I actually think will happen when it happens; that was just like a drawing of revolution." He added: "All the thing was made with loops, I had about thirty loops going, fed them onto one basic track. I was getting classical tapes, going upstairs and chopping them up, making it backwards and things like that, to get the sound effects. One thing was an engineer's testing tape and it would come on with a voice saying 'This is EMI Test Series #9.' I just cut up whatever he said and I'd number nine it. Nine turned out to be my birthday and my lucky number and everything. I didn't realize it; it was just so funny the voice saying 'Number nine'; it was like a joke, bringing number nine into it all the time, that's all it was."

Paul McCartney and Beatles producer George Martin hated this and tried to keep it off the album.

This is the longest Beatles song - it runs 8:15. It also took longer to complete than any other track on album.

This helped fuel the "Paul is dead" rumors. If played backwards, you were supposed to hear the car crash where Paul died, and a voice saying "Turn me on, dead man." Also, playing the line, "I'm not in the mood for wearing clothing" in reverse eventually becomes a rather odd but clear reversal, "There were two, there are none now." This is referencing the rumor that Paul McCartney died in a car with "Lovely Rita" and that the 2 were burned away after the wreck.

The rumor took off in October, 1969 when a listener called the radio station WKNR in Detroit and told the DJ Russ Gibb about the backward message. When Gibb played it backwards on his show, listeners went wild and spent the next week calling in and offering their own rumors. The story quickly spread, and McCartney helped it along by laying low and letting it play out.

Lennon felt the number 9 was quite significant. He was happy that, after he changed his name to John Ono Lennon, his and Yoko's names collectively contained 9 O's. (thanks, Nicole - Lake Forest, CA)

According to the book The Beatles, Lennon And Me, by John Lennon's childhood friend Pete Shotton, One evening, Lennon was with Shotton in the attic of his Kenwood home, tripping on LSD and smoking a few joints. They messed about with John's Brunnel recorders, fiddling with feedback, running recordings backwards and creating tape loops. Opening the windows for some fresh air, John and Pete began to shout whatever was on their minds at the trees outside, the recorder running. This night's lark was to later captured on "Revolution 9." (thanks, Margaret - Cullman, AL)

Marilyn Manson released their own version of this on the B-side of the single for "Get Your Gunn." It was called "Revelation 9" and ran 12:57. (thanks, Brett - Edmonton, Canada)

This was parodied on an episode of The Simpsons. When the guys for a group called The B-Sharps, Barney meets a girl during recording. He exclaims at the studio that he's making the music of all time. The song is Barney's girl friend (with striking resemblance to Yoko Ono) saying "Number 8" and Barney burping. (thanks, yo - sudbury, Ontario, Canada)

Charles Manson thought that when they screamed the words "Right!" it was actually "Rise!" meaning the black community rising over the white people. Charles Manson was of course crazy, and thought The Beatles were warning about a race war. (thanks, Mischa - Winnipeg, Australia)

The Beatles - Savoy Truffle

The Beatles - Savoy Truffle Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Savoy Truffle Lyrics

Savoy Truffle Song Chart

This was inspired by Eric Clapton's love of chocolate. He and George Harrison were good friends.

George Harrison got the lyrics for this from the inside lid of a box of chocolates. Montelimart, Ginger Sling, Cream Tangerine, and Coffee Dessert were names of candies in the Mackintosh "Good News" assortment.

Beatles' publicist Derek Taylor wrote some of the words.

Harrison had the sax distorted to create a distinctive sound.

According to Mojo magazine, the line "You know that what you eat you are" was suggested to Harrison by the Beatles' press officer Derek Taylor.

The Beatles - Long, Long, Long

The Beatles - Long, Long, Long Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Long, Long, Long Lyrics

I'm gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John
He said he had the misery but he got a lot of fun
Baby, yeah now baby
Woo baby, some fun tonight

I saw Uncle John with Long Tall Sally
He saw Aunt Mary comin' and he ducked back in the alley
Oh, baby, yeah now baby
Woo baby, some fun tonight

Well Long Tall Sally's built pretty sweet
She got everything that Uncle John need
Baby, yeah now baby
Woo baby, some fun tonight

Well, we're gonna have some fun tonight
Have some fun tonight
Everything's all right
Have some fun tonight
Have some fun
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
We're gonna have some fun tonight
Have some fun tonight
Everything's all right
Have some fun tonight
Yeah, we'll have some fun
Some fun tonight

Writer/s: PENNIMAN, RICHARD / JOHNSON, ENTORIS / BLACKWELL, ROBERT
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Long, Long, Long Song Chart

George Harrison wrote this and sang all the vocals. The "you" in the song refers to God.

The Beatles recorded 67 takes.

The rattling sound at the end is a bottle of Blue Nun wine that was left on a speaker.

The last 30 seconds of this song has been called an audio simulation of Paul's supposed death in 1966. (thanks, Adrian - Wilmington, DE)

The Beatles - Sexy Sadie

The Beatles - Sexy Sadie Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Sexy Sadie Lyrics

Sexy Sadie what have you done
You made a fool of everyone
You made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie ooh what have you done.

Sexy Sadie you broke the rules
You laid it down for all to see
You laid it down for all to see
Sexy Sadie ooh you broke the rules.

One sunny day the world was waiting for a lover
She came along and turned on everyone
Sexy Sadie, the greatest of them all.

Sexy Sadie how did you know
The world was waiting just for you
The world was waiting just for you
Sexy Sadie ooh how did you know.

Sexy Sadie you'll get yours yet
However big you think you are
However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie ooh you'll get yours yet.

We gave her everything we owned just to sit at her table
Just a smile would lighten everything
Sexy Sadie she's the latest and the greatest of them all.

She made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie.

However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie.

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN WINSTON / MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Sexy Sadie Song Chart

John Lennon wrote this about the Maharishi while he was leaving India in 1968. After attending his Transcendental Meditation camp with the other Beatles, Lennon thought The Maharishi was a crock.

The song describes Lennon's total dissatisfaction with the Maharishi. While at his retreat, it has been said that the Maharishi attempted to rape Mia Farrow. Once The Beatles learned of this, they immediately went to the Maharishi, and Lennon announced they were all leaving. The Maharishi asked why? Lennon said, "If you're so cosmic, you'll know why." As originally written, some of its lyrics were considered obscene, and had to be refined. Lennon had used the Maharishi's name, but had to change it for fear of being sued. But, Sexy Sadie is the Maharishi. Needless to say, that was the end of the Maharishi and The Beatles relationship. (thanks, Dominic - Pittsburgh, PA)

Lennon dubbed the Maharishi "sexy" after he hit on Mia Farrow. Farrow's sister, Prudence, was also there, and her experience led Lennon to write "Dear Prudence."

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was born January 12, 1917. The founder of the Transcendental Meditation Movement, the Beatles spent time with the Maharishi in 1967-68; they were visiting him when they learned of the death of their manager Brian Epstein. John was disenchanted with the Maharishi and thought he was a hoax, and left abruptly convincing the others he was using the girls The Beatles had brought him.

This song required 52 takes and a full day-and-a-half of studio time. Lennon spent much of time cussing his way through the sessions, deeply hurt after coming to the conclusion that the Maharishi was not as holy as he'd hoped.

The song confirmed Charles Manson's belief that the Beatles were talking directly to him, by virtue of one of his followers, Susan Atkins, having already been nicknamed Sadie Mae Glutz. Many of the tracks from The White Album ("Piggies" for example) were interpreted by Manson as messages directed to him.
In the Anthology book when The Beatles were talking about Manson, John Lennon was quoted as saying, "All the other fellows had some 'influence' on Manson, but not me I didn't do nothing," but Sadie was the nickname for Susan Atkins (Sadie Mae Glutz) which did contribute to Manson's belief that the Beatles were singing about him and his "Family." (thanks, Breanna - Henderson, NV)

The Beatles - Mother Nature's Son

The Beatles - Mother Nature's Son Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Mother Nature's Son Lyrics

Born a poor young country boy
Mother Nature's Son
All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone.

Sit beside a mountain stream
See her waters rise
Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies.

Find me in my field of grass
Mother Nature's son
Swaying daisies sing a lazy song beneath the sun.

Mother Nature's son.

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN WINSTON / MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Mother Nature's Son Song Chart

Paul McCartney wrote this in India after the Maharishi gave a speech about nature. The 4 Beatles were attending the camp to learn transcendental meditation, but were not impressed with the results. John Lennon's demo "Child of Nature," which he later re-worked into "Jealous Guy," was similarly inspired by Maharishi's lecture.

McCartney recorded this by himself after the other Beatles had left the studio.

Paul McCartney told Mojo magazine October 2008 that Nat King Cole's 1948 standard "Nature Boy" influenced this gentle pastoral, "because that's a song I love." He added: "At that time I considered myself a guy leaning towards the countryside. But I would have to tip a wink to Nature Boy. Though, when you think about it, the only thing they have in common is the word 'nature'- the rest of the link is pretty tenuous."

John Denver recorded this in 1972. He was going to name his album after this song, but changed it when he came up with the song "Rocky Mountain High."

The song's bongo-style percussion sound was achieved by miking up the drums in the Abbey Road corridor.

The Beatles - Birthday

The Beatles - Birthday Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Birthday Lyrics

You say it's your Birthday
It's my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party.

I would like you to dance--Birthday
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance-Birthday
I would like you to dance--Birthday
Dance

You say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too--yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Birthday Song Chart

According to Q magazine May 2008, the Beatles were in a rush to get to Paul McCartney's house in time to catch the rock 'n' roll movie The Girl Can't Help It. Consequently they played around with a simple Blues track rather than record anything too involved. Duly inspired after watching the movie, they completed the song back in studio that night.

Paul McCartney told Mojo magazine October 2008 the story of this song: "With 'Birthday' we had a few friends around and it was one of our party's birthday, can't remember who. Pattie Boyd was there, Terry Dolan, just a few mates. Normally we didn't have friends around to sessions so it was very unusual. We didn't know what song to do so we decided to make one up. We did what Roy Orbison had done with 'Pretty Woman' and Little Richard had started with 'Lucille,' do-do do-do do-do do-do; Roy Orbison goes, do-do do-do DO-DO DO-DO- he just changes the end a little bit. We changed basically the same riff of Lucille and Pretty Woman into Birthday- do-do do-do do-do do-do…'You say it's your birthday.'"

This was one of the last songs John Lennon and Paul McCartney collaborated on. Even though all of their songs were credited to Lennon/McCartney, many of their later songs were written separately.

The unique sound of this song was not supplied by an organ or any kind of keyboard. It came from running a guitar through a Leslie speaker. Such speakers are commonly found in keyboard instruments. The speaker rotates, which is what provides the different sound. (thanks, don - rapid city, SD)

There is a rumor that McCartney owns the rights to the song "Happy Birthday." McCartney does own publishing rights to a lot of songs, but not that one.

McCartney played an upright piano that was rigged to sound like a harpsichord.

Pattie Harrison and Yoko Ono sang in the chorus.

Paul Weller covered the song to celebrate McCartney turning 70. His version was made available for download on Sir Paul's actual birthday (June 18th, 2012) for one day only and it entered the UK Singles chart at #64. Proceeds from the cover went to the War Child charity.

Paul played the lead guitar on this with John, as well as the piano, which was cleverly miked and fed into a Vox Defiant, a solid state amp, which featured a unique mid-range booster. You can hear the settings change throughout. (thanks, Eli - Melrose Park, PA)

The Beatles - I Will

The Beatles - I Will Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

I Will Lyrics

Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime
If you want me to-- I Will.

For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same.

Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart.

And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear you to me
You know I will
I will.

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN WINSTON / MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I Will Song Chart

In the televised documentary The Beatles Anthology, Paul, George and Ringo are shown relaxing on a blanket outside. Ringo asks Paul what he wrote in India and Paul answers, "I Will." Then George begins playing the song on his ukulele while he and Paul harmonize with it.

McCartney had the tune for a long time. While in India he made an unsuccessful attempt, together with psychedelic singer-songwriter Donovan, to pen a lyric to go with it, months before coming up with the elusive lyric on his own. (thanks, Adrian - Wilmington, DE)

Recorded at the end of The White Album sessions, the song has some unusual instrumentation. McCartney played acoustic guitar and vocalized the bass (you can hear him going "bom, bom" in parts). John Lennon and Ringo Starr both added percussion using various instruments; George Harrison didn't play on it at all.

67 takes were recorded. The 65th was used.

In 1995, this was recorded by the 18-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist Ben Taylor, the son of Carly Simon and James Taylor. Ben Taylor's version was featured in the movie Bye Bye Love, starring Paul Reiser, and is also featured as part of the movie's soundtrack album. (thanks, Annabelle - Eugene, OR)

Maureen McGovern covered this song for her 1992 album Baby I'm Yours.

In the mind of Charles Manson, this song was a message from the Beatles that they were looking for him:

For if at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Manson took to mean that he should release an album. This along with many others were part of his deranged Helter Skelter plan. (thanks, Breanna - Henderson, NV)

The Beatles - Piggies

The Beatles - Piggies Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Piggies Lyrics

Piggies Song Chart

George Harrison wrote this song as a takedown of the upper crust, who he felt could be greedy and slovenly. The Beatles were already rich and famous, but came from very humble beginnings - Harrison grew up in a working-class family in Liverpool.

Harrison intended this as social commentary, but many people interpreted it as an anti-police anthem. Charles Manson, in his very disturbed mind, thought the term "damn good whacking" meant against the American police. During the murders of Sharon Tate, the LaBianca's and others, knives and forks were used to stab them because these utensils were mentioned in the song. The words "pig and piggy," were written with the victims' blood on the walls. Harrison was horrified when he learned his song took on another meaning. (thanks, Dominic - Pittsburgh, PA)

John Lennon did not play on this, but he improved this slightly with the line, "Clutching forks and knives they eat their bacon" - adding a touch of cannibalism to the proceedings. This replaced the line, "Clutching forks and knives to cut their pork chops" which can be heard on Anthology 3. The pig noises were his idea. (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, WA. U.S.A)

This keeps the animal theme between "Blackbird" and "Rocky Raccoon" on The White Album.

There was an extra verse that wasn't included on the song. It goes:
"Everywhere there's lots of piggies playing piggie pranks
You can see them on their trotters
At the piggy banks
Paying piggy thanks
To thee pig brother." (thanks, James - Ashland, OR)

Harrison's mother Louise contributed the line: "What they need is a damn good whacking."

The Beatles - I'm So Tired

The Beatles - I'm So Tired Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

I'm So Tired Lyrics

I'm So Tired, I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No, no, no.

I'm so tired, I don't know what to do
I'm so tired, my mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired, I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid get.

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

Give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN WINSTON / MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I'm So Tired Song Chart

John Lennon wrote this at a transcendental meditation camp in India when he couldn't sleep. He was meditating day and night, and after three weeks of meditation and lectures by Indian gurus he missed his soon-to-be wife, Yoko Ono, and came up with the song. The Beatles went on the retreat to study with the Maharishi. When it was over, Lennon thought it was a crock, but he wrote some good songs while he was there. (thanks, Vicky - LA, CA)

The voice at the end sounds like, "Paul is dead man, miss him," when played backward. This helped fuel rumors that McCartney was dead and replaced by an actor that looked like him.

The line "When I hold you in my arms, and feel my finger on your trigger" from "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" appears in bootlegged, unreleased versions of this song as "When I hold you in your arms, when you show each one of your charms, I wonder should I get up and go to the funny farm." (thanks, Conrad - Los Angeles, CA)

The word "get" as used in this song is a well-known term as a quite mild insult that is still commonly used on Merseyside. Lennon is cursing Sir Walter Raleigh (who is credited with introducing tobacco to Britain from America in the 16th century) for indirectly getting him hooked on cigarettes.

The Beatles - Happiness Is A Warm Gun

The Beatles - Happiness Is A Warm Gun Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Happiness Is A Warm Gun Lyrics

She's not a girl who misses much
Do do do do do do, oh yeah

She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand like a lizard on a window pane.

The man in the crowd with the multi-colored mirrors on his hobnail boots.

Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy working overtime.

A soap impression of his wife which he ate and donated to the National Trust.

I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Down to the bits that I left uptown
I need a fix 'cause I'm going down

Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun

Happiness Is A Warm Gun (bang bang shoot shoot)
Happiness is a warm gun, mama (bang bang shoot shoot)
When I hold you in my arms (oh, yeah)
And I feel my finger on your trigger (oh, yeah)
I know nobody can do me no harm (oh, yeah)
Because, (happiness) is a warm gun, mama (bang bang shoot shoot)
Happiness is a warm gun, yes it is (bang bang shoot shoot)

Happiness is a warm, yes it is, gun
Happiness (bang bang shoot shoot)

Well don't you know that happiness (happiness) is a warm gun, (is a warm gun, yeah).

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Happiness Is A Warm Gun Song Chart

The title came from an article in a gun magazine John Lennon saw. "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" was the slogan of the National Rifle Association. It struck Lennon as "fantastic, insane… a warm gun means you've just shot something."

This complicated song, which involved various different time signatures, (the 6/8 middle section was made more convoluted by Ringo continuing to drum in 4/4), took 15 hours and over 100 takes to nail. The first half of one take was combined with the second half of another to form the complete song.

Like the composer Wagner, Lennon felt that a song must have increasing excitement, climax and redemption. The song is built from pieces of several different little songs, with different melodies and rhythms, and one after another, the excitement is increasing. The climax is the falsetto, and finally the redemption is in the continuing call and answer.
When The White Album was released in 1968, it was not commonly known that Lennon was a composer, as many people thought that he was only a lyric writer. After The Beatles broke up, their individual songwriting contributions were revealed in greater detail. (thanks to Johan Cavalli, who is a music historian in Stockholm)

Lennon said of this song: "It's sort of a history of rock 'n' roll." Much of the imagery in the lyrics is about his sexual passion for Yoko.

Lennon considered this one of his favorites. It's also Paul McCartney's favorite song on The White Album.

In the last section of the song, the backing vocals are "Bang, Bang, Shoot, Shoot." (thanks, Dan - Riverside, CT)

A popular theory is that Lennon meant for this to be a drug metaphor for doing heroin:
-"Needing a fix"
-"Jump the gun" meaning to cook it up
-"Bang, Bang, SHOOT, SHOOT"
-"When I hold you in my arm, nobody can do me no harm" - heroin addicts tell how when you're on it, nothing can do you no harm and Lennon's overall nature seem to point to this. (thanks, Matt - Edgewood, KY)

This was banned by the BBC for sexual symbolism. They thought the gun was a phallic symbol.

The original line "When I hold you in my arms and feel my finger on your trigger..." appears in unreleased, bootlegged versions of "I'm So Tired" as "When I hold you in your arms, when you show me each one of your charms, I wonder should I get up, and go to the funny farm." This could mean the line was originally sexual but was put in as a metaphor for a gun later on. (thanks, Conrad - Los Angeles, CA)

The final Doo-Wop chorus of this song has the exact same chord progression as "This Boy," just in a different key.

Tori Amos covered this on her 2001 album Strange Little Girls. All the songs on the album were written by men - Amos took on different characters to interpret them from a woman's point of view. Yoko Ono had to approve this, and she did.

The Breeders covered this on their 1990 album Pod. (thanks, Melissa - Madrid, IA)

This is the song that inspired 2Pac to cast his gun as his girlfriend in "Me and My Girlfriend": "She's the only woman I need!" (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

The Beatles - The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

The Beatles - The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill Lyrics

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun
In case of accidents he always took his mom
He's the all-American bullet-headed Saxon mother's son

All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Deep in the jungle where the mighty tiger lies
Bill and his elephants were taken by surprise
So Captain Marvel zapped him right between the eyes

All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

The children asked him if to kill was not a sin
"Not when he looked so fierce", his mommy butted in
"If looks could kill, it would have been us instead of him".

All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill? [x3]

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN WINSTON / MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill Song Chart

John Lennon called this quirky tune, "A sort of teenage social-comment song and a bit of a joke."

Lennon wrote this about a guy he met at the Maharishi's camp in India who loved to hunt. The four Beatles went on the retreat to study meditation, but were not impressed with the results.

The hunter's name was Richard A. Cooke, and his wife Bronwyn explained in Mojo magazine September 2008 that Richard, "had asked the Maharishi if it was a sin to kill a tiger. John and George were in the room. Maharishi's response was, 'Life destruction is Life destruction.' Rik has not shot anything since. He became a freelance photographer for National Geographic."

Yoko Ono sang the line "Not when he looked so fierce." It was the first female vocal on a Beatles song.

The opening riff that sounds like a flamenco guitar was played on a Mellotron, which is a type of synthesizer.

Why "bungalow"? At the ashram where The Beatles were visiting in India, guest stayed in luxury bungalows. The hunter they wrote the song about clearly was not into immersing himself in the culture, but more interested in the comfort of his bungalow.

The Beatles recorded this in an overnight session. Everyone around the studio was invited to sing on the chorus. Ringo's wife Maureen sang harmony.

The correct name of the LP this is on is actually called "The Beatles." It became known as "The White Album" because of it's stark white cover. (thanks, Chet - Saratoga Springs, NY)

The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Lyrics

Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond says to Molly girl I like your face
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand

[Chorus]
Ob la di ob la da life goes on bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob la di ob la da life goes on bra
La la how the life goes on

Desmond takes a trolley to the jeweler's store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing

[Chorus]

In a couple of years they have built
A home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones

Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she still sings it with the band

[Chorus]

In a couple of years they have built
A home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones

Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening he's a singer with the band

[Chorus]

And if you want some fun sing ob la di bla da

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Song Chart

The title comes from a Reggae band called Jimmy Scott and his Obla Di Obla Da Band. Says McCartney, "A fella who used to hang around the clubs used to say in a Jamaican accent, "Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on," and he got annoyed when I did a song of it, 'cause he wanted a cut. I said, 'Come on, Jimmy, it's just an expression." (thanks, Chiara - West Vancouver, Canada)

When Jimmy Scott needed money for bail (he was jailed for missing alimony payments), McCartney had his friend Alistair Taylor put up the money in exchange for Scott dropping rights to the name. Taylor had to get the money from a friend, since no one in the Beatles camp carried much cash. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Paul McCartney wrote this and The Beatles spent a great deal of time recording and overdubbing it. John, George, and Ringo became very annoyed. Harrison hinted at his frustration on "Savoy Truffle," which was recorded three months later. In the song he wrote; "But what is sweet now, turns so sour/ We all know Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/ But can you show me, where you are?"

John Lennon hated this song. He didn't like a lot of McCartney's later songs with The Beatles, feeling they were trite and meaningless. Ringo and George disliked this too and all three of them vetoed Paul's wish that this be released as a single.

This was a #1 hit in England for Marmalade in 1968. With this song, Marmalade became the first Scottish group to top the UK charts (leaving little doubt about their origin, they performed the song on Top Of The Pops wearing kilts). It also could be considered the first UK #1 to be done in a Reggae style. Marmalade's bassist Graham Knight recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "The Beatles' music publisher, Dick James, played us the acetate of The Beatles' Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da and we thought it was great. He said, 'You can have it, I won't give it to anyone else,' but of course he passed it to another 27 acts. We rush-recorded it in the middle of the night during a week of cabaret in the north-east. Our manager, who was in America at the time, kept sending us telegrams not to do it. He didn't think we should record a Beatles song. We expected it to do well, but we didn't think it would go to #1. We got no feedback from The Beatles at all. There had been so many covers by that time that I shouldn't think they'd have been very interested." (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

The guitars were over-modulated on purpose to get the desired effect.

This was one of the first songs with a Reggae beat to have pop success.

Paul mistakenly sang "Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face." It was intended to be "Molly," but Paul decided to leave it in to create confusion.

John Lennon played the piano part on this song.

After doing a huge number of takes (around 60), Paul continued on trying to record this as a slow song. John was in the other room listening while doing drugs. After getting high, he was very frustrated to hear Paul record it slow so many times. He subsequently burst into the recording room, pushed Paul aside and got on the piano playing the song very fast and upbeat. The fast and happy recording on the infamous White Album is the result. (Thanks to Charles Barrows) (thanks, Bompsy - Madison, WI)

This was used as the theme to the TV series Life Goes On. It was sung by Patti LuPone and the rest of the cast.

The melody of this song was later used by The Offspring in their song "Why don't you get a job?" (thanks, Austin - Brooklyn Park, MN)

In December 1968, a version by The Bedrocks hit #20 in the UK.

The Beatles never performed this live, as they stopped touring in 1966, but Paul McCartney did play it live - eventually. He included it in his setlist for the first time on his 2010 "Up And Coming" tour.

The author Paul Saltzman, who was studying Transcendental Meditation in Rishikesh, India with The Beatles in February 1968, published a photo book on his time with the band called The Beatles In India, where Saltzman recalled watching McCartney and Lennon collaborating on the song. Wrote Saltzman: "I looked over and under Paul's toe, under his sandal was a little torn piece of paper. And I look over and in his handwriting it's 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, bra/La-La how the life goes on.' And I'm sitting beside Ringo (Starr) - maybe five feet away from Paul - and they start singing it and really working with it. Only those words -- only John and Paul. Ringo was just quietly listening." (thanks, DeeTheWriter - Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation, for above 2)

The Beatles - Dear Prudence

The Beatles - Dear Prudence Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The White Album
Released: 1968

Dear Prudence Lyrics

Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play

Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
The wind is low the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes?

Look around round
Look around round round
Look around

Dear Prudence let me see you smile
Dear Prudence like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile?

Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Dear Prudence Song Chart

While Mia Farrow inspired such men as Andre Previn, Frank Sinatra and Woody Allen, her sister Prudence left her mark on John Lennon. According to Nancy de Herrera's book, All You Need Is Love, Prudence met The Beatles on a spiritual retreat with the Maharishi in India, which she attended with Mia. When Prudence, suffering depression, confined herself to her room, Lennon wrote this hoping to cheer her up. It did.

According to American flautist Paul Horn, who was also with them in Rishikesh, Prudence was a highly sensitive person, and by jumping straight into deep meditation, against the Maharishi's advice, she had allowed herself to fall into a catatonic state. Horn stated, "She was ashen-white and didn't recognize anybody. She didn't even recognize her own brother who was on the course with her. The only person she showed any slight recognition towards was Maharishi. We were all concerned about her and Maharishi assigned her a full-time nurse." (thanks, bob - napa, CA)

Prudence Farrow wanted to "Teach God quicker than anyone else," according to John Lennon. She would lock herself in her room trying to meditate for hours and hours. From A Hard Day's Write , by Steve Turner: "At the end of the demo version of Dear Prudence John continues playing guitar and says: 'No one was to know that sooner or later she was to go completely berserk, under the care of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. All the people around were very worried about the girl because she was going insane. So, we sang to her.'"
Prudence Farrow explained years later that she was just trying to take Transcendental Meditation seriously. She said in Mojo magazine, September 2008: "They were trying to be cheerful, but I wished they'd go away. I don't think they realized what the training was all about." (thanks, Lennonfan11 - regawrhhrh, Iceland)

Ringo had left the group as the White Album sessions got very tense, so Paul McCartney played drums. When Ringo came back a short time later, there were flowers on his drum kit welcoming him back.

The guitars were overdubbed 6 or 7 times.

John Lennon's handwritten lyrics were auctioned off for $19,500 in 1987.

Lennon considered this one of his favorites.

Siouxsie And The Banshees covered this in 1983. Their version went to #3 in the UK and became their biggest hit.

This song was in the movie Across the Universe, which was based on The Beatles music. In the movie, Prudence (played by T.V. Carpio) locked herself in a closet after discovering that Sadie and JoJo were together when she thought she loved Sadie. Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), Jude (Jim Sturges), Sadie (Dana Fuges) and Max (Joe Anderson) sing this to make her feel better. It gets her out of the closet and they end the song at a anti-Vietnam War rally. (thanks, Breanna - Henderson, NV)

The Beatles - It's All Too Much

The Beatles - It's All Too Much Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Yellow Submarine
Released: 1969

It's All Too Much Lyrics

It's All Too Much, It's all too much

When I look into your eyes, your love is there for me
And the more I go inside, the more there is to see

It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around you
Everywhere, it's what you make
For us to take, it's all too much

Floating down the stream of time, of life to life with me
Makes no difference where you are or where you'd like to be

It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around here
All the world's a birthday cake,
So take a piece but not too much

Set me on a silver sun, for I know that I'm free
Show me that I'm everywhere, and get me home for tea

It's all to much for me to see
A love that's shining all around here
The more I am, the less I know
And what I do is all too much

It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around you
Everywhere, it's what you make
For us to take, it's all too much

It's too much...It's too much

Too much too much too much

Writer/s: HARRISON, GEORGE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

It's All Too Much Song Chart

George Harrison wrote this. It was inspired by his wife, Pattie.

A verse was edited out of album version, cutting time from 8 minutes to 6. The full version appears in film Yellow Submarine.

This was by far the longest Beatles song until "Hey Jude" was recorded over a year later. (thanks, Adrian - Wilmington, DE)

Paul McCartney played lead guitar on this song and John Lennon supplied the guitar feedback, allowing George to be free to concentrate only on vocals during the recording of this song. (thanks, Jonathon - Clermont, FL)

The Beatles - All Together Now

The Beatles - All Together Now Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Yellow Submarine
Released: 1969

All Together Now Lyrics

One two three four
Can I have a little more
Five six seven eight nine ten
I love you

A B C D
Can I bring my friend to tea
E F G H I J
I love you

Bom bom bom bompa bom
Sail the ship Bompa bom
Chop the tree bompa bom
Skip the rope bompa bom
Look at me

All Together Now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now

Black white green red
Can I take my friend to bed
Pink brown yellow orange and blue
I love you

All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
Bom bom bom bompa bom
Sail the ship Bompa bom
Chop the tree bompa bom
Skip the rope bompa bom
Look at me

All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

All Together Now Song Chart

A simple sing along song that took only 5 hours of studio time to complete, this appears at the end of the Beatles movie Yellow Submarine.

In 2002, this was used in commercials for Verizon wireless. In 2009, a cover of the song by the group The Hours was used to advertise Budweiser beer.

This is the only song in the movie Yellow Submarine where the Beatles actually appear in the film.

John Lennon once said "I loved it when football crowds in the early days would sing 'All Together Now.'"

OutKast's Andre 3000 recorded a cover for a 2010 Kobe Bryant Nike commercial that traces NBA history.

The Beatles - Revolution

The Beatles - Revolution Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Past Masters, Vol. 2
Released: 1968

Revolution Lyrics

You say you want a Revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
For people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right
Ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right
All right, all right, all right
All right, all right, all right

Writer/s: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Revolution Song Chart

This was the first overtly political Beatles song. It was John Lennon's response to the Vietnam War.

John Lennon wrote this in India while The Beatles were at a transcendental meditation camp with The Maharishi. Lennon told Rolling Stone: "I had been thinking about it up in the hills in India. I still had this 'God will save us' feeling about it, that it's going to be all right (even now I'm saying 'Hold on, John, it's going to be all right,' otherwise, I won't hold on) but that's why I did it, I wanted to talk, I wanted to say my piece about revolution. I wanted to tell you, or whoever listens, to communicate, to say 'What do you say? This is what I say.'"

Revolutionaries take different approaches to reach their goals. In a 1998 interview with Uncut, Yoko One gave her thoughts on Lennon's approach and how he expressed it in this song: "John's idea of revolution was that he did not want to create the situation where when you destroy statues, you become a statue. And also what he means is that there's too much repercussion in the usual form of revolution. He preferred evolution. So you have to take a peaceful method to get peace rather than you don't care what method you take to get peace, and he was very, very adamant about that."

The original slow version appears on The White Album. The fast, loud version was released as a single. In the slow version, Lennon says "count me in" as well as "count me out" when referring to violence. This gives the song a dual meaning.

This was released as the B-side of "Hey Jude." Lennon wanted it to be the first A-side released on Apple Records, the label The Beatles started, but "Hey Jude" got the honor.

There are so many versions of this song because Paul McCartney didn't like it. Lennon really wanted this song to be the 'A' side of the single instead of "Hey Jude," and kept changing it around to come up with something that would make Paul see it his way. He basically wrote the song because he felt like he was being pulled in so many directions by different people, all of whom wanted his backing, politically. It was also him questioning his own belief in the revolution that was going on... whether he was "out" or "in." In truth, he was writing about a revolution of the mind rather than a physical "in the streets" revolution. He truly believed that revolution comes from inner change rather than social violence. (This is discussed in the DVD Composing the Beatles Songbook )

Nike used this for commercials in 1987. Capitol Records, who owns the performance rights, meaning The Beatles version of the song, was paid $250,000. Michael Jackson, who owns the publishing rights, meaning use of the words and music, also had to agree and was paid for the song.

The Nike commercials caused a huge backlash from Beatles fans who felt that Nike was disrespecting the legacy of John Lennon, who probably would have objected to its use. There were plans to use more Beatles songs in future ads, but they were abandoned when it became clear it was not good business practice. As years went by, it became more acceptable to use songs in commercials, but Beatles songs were still considered sacred, especially since the group did not control their rights. In 2002, "When I'm 64" was used in a commercial for Allstate insurance. Many Beatles fans were not pleased, but it didn't get nearly the reaction of the Nike commercials, partly because it was not a political song, but also because it was sung by Julian Lennon , which implied endorsement by his father.

On September 4, 1968, The Beatles made a promotional film for this song and "Hey Jude" at Twickenham Studios in London. These were directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who did the previous Beatles videos: "Paperback Writer" and "Rain."

Unlike those clips, which were shot outdoors, the "Hey Jude" and "Revolution" videos were shot in a studio setting and meant to look like the band was performing it live. They both aired September 8 on Frost On Sunday, a popular UK show hosted by David Frost, who was at the Twickenham shoot to introduce the clip for the segment on his show, making it appear that the band was really there.

Another edit of the footage was later broadcast on Top Of The Pops, and yet another was shown in America on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. When the Beatles compilation 1+ was released in 2015, a restored version of the video was included in the set.

Nicky Hopkins played the piano. When The Beatles needed keyboards, they usually used Hopkins, Billy Preston, or their producer, George Martin.

The dirty guitar sound was created by plugging the guitars directly into the audio board. The guitar sounded so scratchy that many who bought the 45 RPM single tried to return it, thinking it was defective. (thanks to Dwight Rounds, author of The Year The Music Died, 1964-1972 )

The word "Revolution" is mentioned just once, in the first line.

John Lennon wanted his vocals to have an unusual sound, so he recorded most of them lying on his back in the studio. The famous scream at the beginning is a double-tracked recording of Lennon. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France and Jonathon - Clermont, FL)

The version on the Hey Jude compilation, released in February 1970 in the US, was the B-side of the "Hey Jude" single. The Hey Jude compilation album peaked at #2 in the US and consists of a collection of singles and B-sides that had not previously appeared on US non-soundtrack album releases. The album cover was taken at the final Beatles photo session, at Lennon's (later Starr's) country estate in Ascot, England. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Thompson Twins performed this song at the Philadelphia stage of Live Aid on July 13, 1985. The concert, which raised money for famine relief in Africa, had a global audience of at least 1.5 billion. Thompson Twins were joined on stage for the performance by Madonna (who contributed backing vocals and tambourine), Steve Stevens (best known as Billy Idol's guitarist) and Nile Rodgers, who was also on guitar.

Thompson Twins included the song on their album Here's to Future Days, which was released a few months later and produced by Rodgers.

The Stone Temple Pilots performed this at Madison Square Garden as part of the 2001 special, Come Together: A Night For John Lennon's Words And Music. Their version was released as a single, with proceeds going to charity.