Register / Create an Account

Paperback Writer

From Beatles Wiki - Interviews, Music, Beatles Quotes

Revision as of 18:52, 27 April 2009 by BWadmin (Talk | contribs) (add quote)

Jump to: navigation, search
“Paperback Writer”
“Paperback Writer” cover
Single by The Beatles
B-side "Rain"
Released 30 May 1966 (US)
10 June 1966 (UK)
Format 7"
Recorded Abbey Road Studios: 13 April 1966
Genre Rock
Length 2:18
Label Parlophone R5452 (UK)
Capitol 5651 (US)
Writer(s) Lennon/McCartney
Producer George Martin
The Beatles singles chronology
"We Can Work It Out" / "Day Tripper"
(UK-1965)

"Nowhere Man"
(US-1965)
"Paperback Writer"
(1966)
"Eleanor Rigby" / "Yellow Submarine"
(1966)
We always try to do something different. And this idea's a bit different. Years ago my Auntie Lil said to me, 'Why can't you ever write about a horse or the summit conference or something interesting? So I thought, 'All right, Auntie Lil. I'll show you.'

—Paul McCartney, 1966

Paul. I think I might have helped with some of the lyrics, Yes, I did. But it was mainly Paul's tune.

—John Lennon, 1972

'Paperback Writer' is son of 'Day Tripper' ...meaning a rock 'n roll song with a guitar lick on a fuzzy loud guitar.

—John Lennon, 1980

I arrived at Weybridge and told John I had this idea of trying to write off to a publishers to become a paperback writer, and I said, 'I think it should be written like a letter.' I took a bit of paper out and I said it should be something like, 'Dear Sir or Madam, as the case may be...' and I proceeded to write it just like a letter in front of him, occasionally rhyming it... And then we went upstairs and put the melody to it. John and I sat down and finished it all up, but it was tilted towards me-- the original idea was mine. I had no music, but it's just a little bluesy song, not alot of melody. Then I had the idea to do the harmonies, and we arranged that in the studio.

—Paul McCartney, 1994

Lyrics

Watch a video of a "performance":

Personal tools