- Published in 1970
- Author: Lennon/McCartney
- Track 6 on “Let It Be“
- Track 26 on “The Beatles 1967-1970” (Blue Album)
- Track 14 on “Past Masters Volume 2“
Beatles quotes about “Let It Be”
JOHN 1980: “That’s Paul… I think it was inspired by ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.’ That’s my feeling, although I have nothing to go on. I know he wanted to write a ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.'”
PAUL 1986: “I had alot of bad times in the ’60s. We used to lie in bed and wonder what was 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 hadn’t really heard from her in quite a while, and it was very good. It gave me some strength.”
PAUL circa-1994: “One night during this tense time I had a dream I saw my mum, who’d been dead ten years or so. And it was great to see her because that’s a wonderful thing about dreams, you actually are reunited with that person for a second… In the dream she said, ‘It’ll be alright.’ I’m not sure if she used the words ‘Let it be’ but that was the gist of her advice, it was ‘Don’t worry too much, it will turn out okay.’ It was such a sweet dream I woke up thinking, ‘Oh, it was really great to visit with her again.’ I felt very blessed to have that dream.”
About “Let It Be”
“Let It Be” released on 6 March 1970 is the title track of Beatles’ album Let It Be. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney, and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership.
The single version of the song (with “You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)” as B-side), produced by George Martin, features a softer guitar solo and the orchestral section mixed low, compared with the album version, produced by Phil Spector, featuring a more aggressive guitar solo and the orchestral sections mixed higher.
At the time, it had the highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning its chart run at number 6 and eventually reaching the top. It was the Beatles’ final single before McCartney announced his departure from the band. Both the Let It Be album and the US single “The Long and Winding Road” were released after McCartney’s announced departure from and the subsequent break-up of the group.
Personnel
The Beatles
- Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, piano, maracas, electric piano, bass guitar
- John Lennon – backing vocals
- George Harrison – lead guitars, backing vocals
- Ringo Starr – drums
Additional musicians
- Linda McCartney – backing vocals
- Billy Preston – Hammond organ
- George Martin – string and brass arrangements
- Various session musicians – orchestration
2 thoughts on ““Let It Be” (song)”