Paul McCartney admits to 'stealing' lyrics for classic Beatles song
Paul McCartney,
who recently revealed his favorite Beatles track
, has shed light on the unexpected roots of the iconic Beatles tune Golden Slumbers.
Featured on The Beatles' Abbey Road album, the song has been reimagined by various artists, including Neil Diamond and Mumford & Sons. While the melody is well-known to fans, many were taken aback to learn that the lyrics originated from a Victorian song named Cradle Song.
In an episode of his podcast Paul McCartney: A Life In Lyrics, Paul -
who admitted to being outraged after a fan theory emerged on a classic Beatles track
- delved into the creation of the song. "That chorus that I've used as a chorus, literally, is the lyrics to an old Victorian song," McCartney,
who will be played by a hit Irish actor in the upcoming Beatles biopic
, said.
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When queried if this was what's referred to as sampling, Paul's response was more forthright. He candidly responded, "Well, it's called stealing."
The Beatles are still hugely popular
(Image: Roger Viollet via Getty Images)
He attempted to rationalize the appropriation by confessing his inability to read music. "I don't read music," Paul conceded, reports
the Mirror US
.
"I didn't know what the melody that went with this was. [I] put my own melody to it and just took these words."
He further elaborated on the track in The Beatles' 1995 Anthology documentary. Paul remarked: "I can't read music and I couldn't remember the old tune."
He added: "So I started just playing my tune to it... I liked the words so I kept that, and it fitted with another bit of song I had."
That other piece was the popular number Carry That Weight.
The lyrics for Golden Slumbers were adapted from a composition by playwright Thomas Dekker from his play Patient Grissil. The narrative revolves around a humble woman who weds a wealthy marquess.
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The story takes a sinister turn as Grissil is subjected to psychological torment by her husband, including the traumatic experience of having their baby taken away. The child is eventually returned, and in an attempt to soothe its wails, Janiculo, Grissil's father, sings the gentle lullaby.
While Paul did draw inspiration from Dekker's song, there are noticeable differences in the lyrics. Dekker's original version features the line "Golden slumbers kiss," whereas Paul's rendition reads, "Golden slumbers fill."
Furthermore, Paul injected his own creativity into the song, adding lines such as, "Once there was a way to get back homeward/Once there was a way to get back home."
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