• Published in 1967
• Author: Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey
• Track 3 on “Magical Mystery Tour“

PAUL circa-1994: “‘Flying’ was an instrumental that we needed for (the film) ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ so in the studio one night I suggested to the guys that we made something up. I said, ‘We can keep it very, very simple, we can make it a 12-bar blues. We need a little bit of a theme and a little bit of a backing.’ I wrote the melody, otherwise it’s just a 12-bar backing thing. It’s played on the mellotron, on a trombone setting. It’s credited to all four (Beatles), which is how you would credit a non-song.”

About “Flying” (instrumental)

“Flying” is an instrumental which first appeared on the 1967 Magical Mystery Tour release (two EP discs in the United Kingdom, an LP in the United States). One of the few songs credited to all four members of the band.

Besides being the first instrumental the Beatles wrote since “12-Bar Original” in 1965, it was also the first song credited as being composed by all four members of the group, “Harrison/Lennon/McCartney/Starkey”. As with “12-Bar Original”, it followed the classic twelve-bar blues progression.

Under its original title of “Aerial Tour Instrumental”, “Flying” was recorded on 8 September 1967 with mellotron, guitar, bass, maracas, drums, and tape loop overdubs on 28 September. After the 28 September session, John Lennon and Ringo Starr created tape loops to replace the traditional New Orleans jazz coda that originally ended the recording. While the loops extended the song to 9 minutes and 38 seconds, the track was cut down only to 2 minutes and 17 seconds. A part of the loops was combined with an element of the ending jazz sequence to create “The Bus”, an incidental piece that was used in the TV movie at various points.

Lennon plays the main theme on his mellotron, accompanied by McCartney and Harrison (on guitars, with an overdub by McCartney on bass) and Starr (on maracas and drums). Lennon and Starr created a variety of tape effects to accompany the Beatles’ melody without lyrics. In the film, the music is accompanied by colour-altered images of Iceland landscapes taken from an aircraft, as well as some unused footage from Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. This is the same version heard on the soundtrack of the Magical Mystery Tour film.

On some Beatles bootleg albums (such as Back-track 1), a different version features an added Hammond organ and strange whistling noises. The jazz-inspired ending is also present in this version, which runs around 2:08. Mark Lewisohn speculated this coda was “seemingly copied straight from an unidentifiable modern jazz record”, but it was played on a mellotron.

Meaning of “Flying” (instrumental)

Given the absence of lyrics, the meaning of “Flying” is open to interpretation and is largely subjective. The song is characterized by its dreamy and atmospheric quality, featuring overlapping melodies played on Mellotron and other instruments. The title “Flying” may evoke a sense of freedom, imagination, or the sensation of soaring through the air. The music itself has a hypnotic quality, which could be seen as a representation of the sensations one might experience during flight.

“Flying” is often appreciated for its evocative and calming nature. While it doesn’t have explicit lyrics, the music itself can conjure feelings of tranquility, wonder, and perhaps the sensation of floating or gliding through the air.

Personnel

• John Lennon – wordless vocals, Mellotron, Hammond organ, sound effects
• Paul McCartney – wordless vocals, bass, guitar
• George Harrison – wordless vocals, guitar
• Ringo Starr – wordless vocals, drums, maracas, sound effects

• Published on 1970
• Author: traditional, arranged by Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey
• Track 7 on “Let It Be“

About “Maggie Mae”

“Maggie May” is a traditional Liverpool folk song about a prostitute who robbed a sailor. It has been the informal anthem of the city of Liverpool for about 150 years. “Maggie May” was recorded in the studio by the Beatles during their Get Back sessions in early 1969. They spelled it “Maggie Mae”, perhaps so they could copyright their arrangement. It was included on the resultant 1970 album Let It Be, appearing immediately after the title song.

This song and “Dig It” appear on the Let It Be album, but are not included on the Let It Be… Naked album.
At 40 seconds, it is the second shortest song released on a proper Beatles album (the shortest being Her Majesty, at 23 seconds.

Meaning of “Maggie Mae”

The song’s lyrics tell the story of a sailor who spends his money on alcohol and women, eventually ending up broke and seeking shelter from a prostitute named Maggie Mae. The narrative is a common theme in traditional folk songs, reflecting the rough and often unpredictable life of sailors.

While The Beatles’ version is perhaps the most famous rendition of “Maggie Mae,” the song’s history and popularity extend far beyond their recording. It remains a beloved traditional folk tune and has been covered by numerous artists in various styles and interpretations.

Personnel

• John Lennon – vocal, acoustic guitar (Gibson J-200)
• Paul McCartney – vocal, acoustic guitar (Martin D-28)
• George Harrison – bass-line on electric guitar (Fender Telecaster)
• Ringo Starr – drums

• Published on 1970
• Author: Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey
• Track 5 on “Let It Be“

About “Dig It”

This 51-second version on the album Let It Be is an extract taken from a 12-minute jam (recorded at the Get Back/Let It Be Sessions in January 1969 at Apple Studio), which evolved from a loose “Twist and Shout” jam. A segment of the jam session, clocking in at 4:30, appears in the documentary film Let It Be. The participants in that session are John Lennon on vocals and George Harrison on guitar, Paul McCartney on piano, Ringo Starr on drums, and Billy Preston at the organ. The song is credited to all four members of the band. “Dig It” is a relatively short track, running just over a minute long.

“Dig It” is known for its simple, repetitive lyrics and a bluesy jam session feel. It features a basic chord progression and a loose, improvisational vocal style. The song is notable for its informal and spontaneous nature, giving listeners a glimpse into the band’s creative process during the recording sessions for the “Let It Be” album. It’s often considered more of an impromptu studio jam than a fully realized song.

Overall, “Dig It” is not one of The Beatles’ most well-known or critically acclaimed songs, but it remains an interesting and unique part of their discography, offering a glimpse into the band’s creative process during a tumultuous period in their history.

Meaning of “Dig It”

“Dig It” doesn’t have a particularly deep or complex meaning. It’s a very informal and spontaneous song that was essentially a jam session in the studio. The lyrics primarily consist of the repeated phrase “Like a rolling stone,” which is a nod to Bob Dylan’s song “Like a Rolling Stone.”

The song captures a loose, improvisational moment in the recording sessions for the “Let It Be” album. It’s more about the vibe and camaraderie of the band members during that time rather than conveying a specific message or narrative.

In essence, “Dig It” can be seen as a musical snapshot of The Beatles’ creative process and their camaraderie during a period of their career when they were experimenting with different musical styles and approaches.

Personnel

• John Lennon – lead vocals, six-string bass (Fender Bass VI)
• Paul McCartney – vocals in full version, piano
• George Harrison – vocals in full version, lead guitar (Fender Telecaster)
• Ringo Starr – drums
• Billy Preston – Hammond organ
• George Martin – maracas