Let It Be (song)

March 6, 1970

Let It Be ( dt, 'Let it happen ') is a song by The Beatles, the Paul McCartney composing, however, was, as usual, attributed to the copyright of Lennon / McCartney.

The recording

The track was recorded by the Beatles during the recording sessions for the film Let It Be on 31 January 1969. On April 30, 1969 to January 4, 1970 George Harrison added the recording added more guitar solos. Also on January 4, the brass and string arrangements were recorded, which originated from George Martin.

When recording McCartney took over the lead vocal, while Lennon and Harrison contributed harmony vocals. McCartney played the piano, Lennon played six-string bass, Starr's drum sound was provided with reverb and echo effects, and Harrison played lead guitar.

In addition to the Beatles participated as guest musician Billy Preston, who played the organ.

Paul McCartney had the idea of ​​the last octave sound of Let It Be once. He tried to sing this, but the note was out of his tonal range. He therefore asked his wife Linda to sing this tone. When the overdubbing on January 4, 1970 Linda McCartney Paul McCartney and therefore supported George Harrison in the backing vocals. The version with Linda McCartney's vocal part was used only for the single version.

For the album version of Phil Spector raised the orchestral arrangement more apparent from the mix.

The song appeared on the same album Let It Be. An alternative remixed version of the piece was two months previously published on 6 March 1970 as a single; Also on this is another guitar solo by Harrison.

The text

Let It Be is often mistakenly into German with " Let it be " translated. In fact, it means " let it be ". McCartney processed in the text, the discord that existed at that time between the band members. The text has led to speculation about whether it might be in the song is a hymn to Mary the Mother of Jesus, act. Only later commented Paul McCartney that he had had a dream in this difficult time for him, where he died early his mother Mary had appeared. In the dream, she told him that everything would be fine. This gave him plenty of grip.

" Yeah, I had a lot of bad times in the 60s. We used to lie in bed and wonder what what going on and feel quite paranoid. Probably all the drugs. I had a dream one night about my mother. She died when i was fourteen so I had not really heard from her in quite some while, and it was very good. It gave me some strength. In my darkest hour, Mother Mary comes to me. "

" Yes, I had a lot of bad times in the 60s. We often lay in bed, have been asking what's going on, and felt quite paranoid. Probably because of all the drugs. One night I had a dream about my mother. She died when I was 14, so I really had a long time not heard from her, and it was very good. It gave me some strength. In my darkest hour mother Mary came to me. "

Hit Parade placements

• USA: March 28, 1970 to May 22, 1970: eight weeks Highest position: # 1 on April 11, 1970 for three weeks
• United Kingdom: March 14, 1970 to April 17, 1970: five weeks Highest position: # 2 on March 21, 1970 for two weeks
• Germany: April 4, 1970 to July 3, 1970: 13 weeks Highest position: 2nd place from April 1, 1970 four weeks
• Switzerland: March 3, 1970 to June 23, 1970: 17 weeks, highest ranking: 1st place on 10 March 1970 seven weeks
• Austria: from 15 April 1970 to 15 October 1970: 24 weeks, highest position: # 1 on May 15, 1970 one weeks

Well-known cover versions (a selection)

• Joan Baez took the song in 1971 for their album Blessed Are ... on.
• Ferry Aid has it on the occasion of a ferry disaster started in 1987, in which nearly 200 people died.
• Nick Cave took it in 2001 for the soundtrack to the movie I Am Sam on.
• Ray Charles sang it on his 1977 album True to Life.
• Joe Cocker played it in 1969 for his album Joe Cocker! one.
• John Denver sang it in 1971 on his album Poems, Prayers & Promises.
• José Feliciano sang it in 1970 on his album Fireworks
• Aretha Franklin played in 1970 for her album This Girl 's in Love with You one.
• Tina Turner interpreted the song in a 1971 Ike Turner arrangement on the album Workin ' Together.
• Chris de Burgh took it in 2011 for the album Footsteps 2.