Beatles' hit 'Let It Be' was inspired by Paul McCartney's tragic heartbreak
Let It Be is still considered one of The Beatles' - whose popularity endures with fans recently hailing
two of their tracks as having the 'greatest transition' they ever heard
-
finest tunes, but there's a poignant tale behind its inception.
Written and performed by Paul McCartney, the song became the band's last single before Paul - whom fans believe they have
"worked out" his real reason for leaving The Beatles
- announced his exit. Years later, Paul revealed the inspiration for Let It Be, attributing it to his mother's passing.
Paul's mother, Mary Patricia McCartney, tragically died from an embolism following breast cancer surgery when he was only 14. Speaking to James Corden on Carpool Karaoke, Paul, who opened up on
his acrimony with John Lennon, who he said wanted to "punch him,"
shared: "I had a dream in the 60s where my mum who died came to me in a dream and was reassuring me, saying, 'It's gonna be OK. Just let it be."
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Given that Paul's mother's name was Mary, many believe she is the "Mother Mary" referred to in the song. However, another version of the story exists.
Paul McCartney wrote Let It Be
(Image: Getty Images)
Mal Evans, a road manager and personal assistant for The Beatles, worked closely with Neil Aspinall as the band's main man and became good friends with The Fab Four, reports
the Mirror US
.
During a 1975 TV special hosted by David Frost titled A Salute To The Beatles, Mal claimed he was the actual inspiration for the song.
He said: "Paul was meditating one day and I came to him in a vision, and I was just standing there saying, 'let it be, let it be."
He elaborated: "And that's where the song came from... It's quite a tale because we were returning from a session one night, and there it was, 3 a.m., amid the rain and darkness of London, with Paul recounting this story and declaring he'd penned this tune."
The Beatles are still hugely popular
(Image: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
The man also noted that the famed "Mother Mary" line was originally set to be different. Reflecting on Paul's words, Mal recalled him saying: "It was gonna be Brother Malcolm but I've had to change it in case people get the wrong idea!"
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Throughout the years, Mal's account has been challenged by some enthusiasts. Nonetheless, a rare outtake of the melody uncovered in the 2018 50th-anniversary edition of the White Album appears to authenticate his claim.
In the archived track, Paul tests out Let It Be while working on the number of Piggies. Therein, his voice rings out: "When I find myself in times of trouble, Brother Malcolm comes to me."
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