GET BACK

Paul McCartney wrote and The Beatles recorded 'Get Back' in January 1969. It was released as a single in April 1969, and another version of the song appeared on Let It Be (1970). The single was a No. 1 hit and sold over two million copies. 'Get Back' is a simple, back-to-basics rock'n'roll song, slightly similar to 'Lady Madonna' (1968) which had marked a stop to the band's more experimental psychedelic phase. Although John Lennon later described 'Get Back' as a better version of 'Lady Madonna', I find the earlier song more charming. Ringo's drumming rarely gets as central, but overall 'Get Back' is rather half-baked as a composition.

Paul's original lyrics were a parody of the anti-immigrant views of Enoch Powell, a member of parliament, whose racist speeches had recently gained media attention. Because the song would have been too easy to misinterpret as racist, Paul re-wrote all the lyrics apart from the chorus. Now the song deals with two persons from Tucson, Arizona, and the story is not developed further.

On the B side there's a non-album John Lennon song 'Don't Let Me Down', which I unpredictably like a lot, for all its bluesy and soulful rawness. John notoriously was afraid of being emotionally hurt and let down by the loved ones (think of his earlier songs such as 'Help' and 'If I Fell'). Naturally Yoko Ono was the muse for this passionate and lyrically very bare song, which also has a certain humorous or ironic feel to it, especially on John's vocal expression ("ooh she done me / she done me good"). Billy Preston's keyboards were an essential part of the song's delicious groove.

The prog aspect completely taken aside from the rating, I think this is among the most interesting singles by The Beatles in their later years (despite 'Get Back' being a bit too monotonous), and my four stars are also in line with given ratings here.