I Me Mine

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I Me Mine is a song off The Beatles' 1970 album, Let It Be. It was written by George Harrison.

Contents

Writing

The song was written about revelations he had about ego due to his LSD usage. In his 1980 auto biography, George says this, "Having LSD was like someone catapulting me out into space. The LSD experience was the biggest experience that I'd had up until that time... Suddenly I looked around and everything I could see was relative to my ego, like 'that's my piece of paper' and 'that's my flannel' or 'give it to me' or 'I am'. It drove me crackers, I hated everything about my ego, it was a flash of everything false and impermanent, which I disliked. But later, I learned from it, to realise that there is somebody else in here apart from old blabbermouth. Who am 'I' became the order of the day. Anyway, that's what came out of it, I Me Mine. The truth within us has to be realised. When you realise that, everything else that you see and do and touch and smell isn't real, then you may know what reality is, and can answer the question 'Who am I?'" The Let It Be film contains a performance of the song the day it was written. George came in with the song and said this about it, "I Me Mine, it's called. I don't care if you don't want it... It's a heavy waltz." Harrison then plays the song to Ringo, and then Paul, George, and Ringo perform a version while John and Yoko dance to it. The song was considered a filler track to the other Beatles. However, George thought highly of the song and named his 1980 autobiography after it. George said this about the song, "I Me Mine is the ego problem. There are two 'I's: the little 'i' when people say 'I am this'; and the big 'I' - ie duality and ego. There is nothing that isn't part of the complete whole. When the little 'i' merges into the big 'I' then you are really smiling!" The song was first performed in the Get Back sessions. Actually, John's complaining about it's "droning melody" was what caused George to quit The Beatles, only to come back a couple days later.

Recording

The song was recorded at what would turn out to be the last Beatles session in John's lifetime. Only Paul, George, and Ringo attended, because John was in Denmark and also because he basically wasn't in the group anymore. Sixteen takes of the basic track of the song were recorded on January 3, 1970. On the basic track, George plays acousic guitar and sings guide vocal, Paul plays bass, and Ringo plays drums. Between Take 6 and Take 7, they recorded an instrumental jam. Before Take 12, they performed the song Peggy Sue Got Married. This cover has become one of the most sought-after unreleased, unbootlegged Beatle recordings. On Anthology 3, a fake press statement made before Take 15 was edited onto the beginning of Take 16. In this 'statement,' George said this, "You all will have read that Dave Dee is no longer with us. But Mickey and Tich and I would just like to carry on the good work that's always gone down in [studio] number two." Take 16 was considered the best take and was overdubbed electric piano, electric guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals, Hammond Organ, and acoustic guitar. Phil Spector arranged orchestra parts for the song on March 23, when he also extended the song by repeating a verse. With the orchestra adding new parts, this made the repitition less noticeable. On April 1, the orchestra was actually recorded, as well as Ringo's parts, finishing work on the last Beatles song ever recorded in John's lifetime.

Recording Sessions


Available Versions

Available On

Personnel

Musicians

The Beatles

Guest Musicians

  • Uncredited: 18 violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, a harp

Production

Cover Versions

  • Elliot Smith
  • Tinta Preta & Wanderléa - In 2009 the brazilian rock band TINTA PRETA with the most important female singer of 60´s brazilian rock WANDERLÉA recorded a version of this song for the cd BEATLES´69 - VOL.1 - GET BACK DE VOLTA AOS BEATLES (2009 - DB-021 - DISCOBERTAS label)

Source

Retrieved from "http://www.beatleswiki.org/wiki/I_Me_Mine"
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