- Published in 1967
- Author: Lennon/McCartney
- Track 5 on “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band“
PAUL 1967: “It’s really about the fans who hang around outside your door day and night. ‘See the people standing there/ They worry me, and never win/ And wonder why they don’t get in my door.’ If they only knew the best way to get in is not to do that, because obviously anyone who is going to be straight and be like a real friend is going to get in… but they simply stand there and give off the impression, ‘Dont let us in.’ I actually do enjoy having them in. I used to do it more, but I don’t as much now because I invited one in once and the next day she was in The Daily Mirror with her mother saying we were going to get married.”
JOHN 1980: “That’s Paul… again writing a good lyric.”
PAUL 1984: “Yeah, I wrote that. I liked that one. Strange story, though. The night we went to record that, a guy turned up at my house who announced himself as Jesus. So I took him to the session. You know– couldn’t harm, I thought. Introduced Jesus to the guys. Quite reasonable about it. But that was it. Last we ever saw of Jesus.”
About “Fixing a Hole”
“Fixing a Hole” was written by Paul McCartney. Because of the drug slang “fixing a hole”, some fans assumed the song was about heroin, but McCartney later said it was an “ode to pot”.
McCartney revealed in his 2021 book The Lyrics that the song was inspired by a “little blue hole” he saw under the influence of LSD. According to McCartney, “the most important influence here was not even the metaphysical idea of a hole…but this absolutely physical phenomenon – something that first appeared after I took acid. I still see it occasionally, and I know exactly what it is. I know exactly what size it is”.
On 9 February 1967, “Fixing a Hole” was recorded in three takes at Regent Sound Studios in London. It was the first time the Beatles recorded at a British studio other than Abbey Road because all three studios at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios were unavailable that night.
Beatle’s post-1964 approach of overdubbing the lead vocal was changed to recording it at the same time as the rhythm track. The recording was enhanced with overdubs on 21 February 1967 at EMI Studios. Since McCartney felt it was important for him to perform the bass part, producer George Martin played the prominent harpsichord part throughout.
Meaning of “Fixing a Hole”
The lyrics of “Fixing a Hole” can be interpreted in a few different ways, as with many Beatles songs, it allows for a degree of personal interpretation. At its core, the song is often seen as a metaphor for self-improvement or finding purpose. The lyrics suggest a desire to address something that feels incomplete or lacking in one’s life. It can be about seeking fulfillment, growth, or a sense of direction.
The notion of “fixing a hole” can also be applied to various aspects of life, such as relationships, personal goals, or even mental and emotional well-being. It’s about taking proactive steps to make things better or to find a sense of completeness. The Beatles often crafted songs with layered meanings, and interpretations can vary from person to person.
Personnel
- Paul McCartney – double-tracked lead vocals, harpsichord, bass guitar
- John Lennon – backing vocals, bass guitar
- George Harrison – backing vocals, double-tracked lead guitar, maracas
- Ringo Starr – drums
- George Martin – harpsichord
