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Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Produced by: George Martin
Released: Aug. '66 on Capitol
Charts: 8 weeks
Top spot: No. 11
One of several mesmerizing art songs that Paul McCartney wrote for Revolver. When he first played the song for neighbor Donovan, the words were "Ola Na Tungee/ Blowing his mind in the dark/With a pipe full of clay." McCartney fumbled around with the lyrics until he landed on the line "Picks up the rice in a church where a wedding has been." It was only then that he realized he was writing about the loneliness of old age. The character sketch was fleshed out by the Beatles' vocals, but the backing music was the sole product of an eight-man string section, working from a George Martin score.
Appears on: Revolver (Capitol)