Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 22, 24, 28, 30 January 1969
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Glyn Johns
Released: 8 May 1970 (UK), 18 May 1970 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, lead guitar
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass
George Harrison: lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Let It Be
Anthology 3
Let It Be... Naked
John Lennon's only significant new contribution to the Let It Be album (his Across The Universe had been recorded nearly a year previously), Dig A Pony was the first song to be recorded during the Apple Studios sessions in late January 1969.
The version which appeared on Let It Be, however, was from the group's famous rooftop performance on 30 January.
Dig A Pony contained mostly nonsense lyrics, which Lennon dismissed in 1980 as "Another piece of garbage". However, some tantalising references can be found, including to The Beatles' one-time name Johnny and the Moondogs ("I pick a moondog") and Mick Jagger (I roll a stoney/Well you can imitate everyone you know").
However, like so many of Lennon's songs of the period, the dominant influence is Yoko Ono. Dig A Pony was originally titled All I Want Is You, words which appear in the chorus and which constitute the song's only direct, meaningful sentiment.
I was just having fun with words. It was literally a nonsense song. You just take words and you stick them together, and you see if they have any meaning. Some of them do and some of them don't.
In the studio
The Beatles first performed Dig A Pony at Twickenham Film Studios in January 1969, during a series of rehearsals which were filmed for the Let It Be movie.
By the time sessions started at the group's own studio at Apple later in the month, they were familiar with the song and enjoyed playing it. They recorded it a number of times on 22 January, one of which was later released on Anthology 3.
The Beatles returned to the song two days later, recording a number of attempts - one of which was later chosen for the unreleased Get Back album.
A session on 28 January kicked off with another attempt at Dig A Pony. The Beatles recorded the song a number of times, as well as discussing how best to perform it.
The Let It Be album and film contained a version of the song recorded during the group's rooftop performance at Apple on 30 January. The recording began with a false start; in the film Ringo Starr can be seen putting his cigarette down and crying out 'Hold it!'
On the rooftop an assistant held a clipboard before Lennon with the lyrics on it. The performance ended with Lennon saying "Thank you brothers. Hands getting too cold to play the chords".
The 22 January version on Anthology 3 preserves the "All I want is..." opening and closing lines. These were a part of Dig A Pony throughout the various recording sessions. On 23 March, however, Phil Spector edited them out while mixing the song for Let It Be.
You missed Dylan's referene "...feel the wind blow/
Yes you can indicate everything you see".
Wow - I never noticed that the line might be a Dylan reference. Thanks for that.
Never one of my favorites, but it has grown on me over the years. I particularly appreciate all of the word play and sly references.
John's most new significant song for the Get Back sessions was Don't Let Me Down.
I was very disappointed to discover that Don't Let Me Down was not on the Let It Be album when it came out.
I had been expecting it to be on since I owned the Kum Back bootleg which also included Teddy Boy as well.
I guess they wanted to build up the Beatles Again (or Hey Jude) album with the inclusion of Don't Let Me Down.
I'd suggest that Don't Let Me Down was not included on the LIB album, primarily, because it had been released as a B-side. Remember that Klein's rather poorly conceived Beatles Again was, originally, not released in the UK.
Poorly conceived is right but LIB does contains one B-side---For You Blue.
So why not two B-sides on LIB?
Except of course to increase sales for Beatles Again.
Oh well, those were the days.
For You Blue was not a B-side (to The LOng And Winding Road) until after the Let It Be album was released and even then, it was only a US single and so the single was not considered part of the official UK Beatles canon.
The Beatles usually kept their singles and albums separate because they felt that using an already released song again was ripping the fans off. Not including hits on an album was rare in the USA, which is why Capitol often changed the albums' track lists and even the album names without the Beatles prior knowledge.
This particular single may only be a US single but it was still a single in the biggest record market in the world.
The Beatles usually issued singles and albums separate because their record contract stipulated it so.
Capitol often changed or altered albums' track list because they had the power to do so despite any other intentions or considerations by the Beatles.
It sounds more like Ringo is sniffing than blowing his nose during the false start. Would make sense, given how cold it was on the rooftop.
I've also heard that the false start was because he was only holding one drumstick, the other hand being occupied with a cigarette.
The latter is correct. In the Let It Be film he can clearly be seen smoking a cigarette, leaving him unable to play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWuNGqwnyKk
I really enjoy this song. It's nonsense, but part of my attraction to Lennon is his absurdism. What I enjoy most about the song is the sentiment I take away from it - as well as "Don't Let Me Down": His unconditional love for Yoko Ono, which made permeated every aspect of his being.
i love this song. the way i take it is that it is gives one a wonderful permission to be free with one's mind emotions and attitude. it's saying, it's ok - go for it baby! radiate, penetrate, indicate, syndicate, imitate, celebrate. i love it!
i don't know what lennon meant, but that's the way it have taken it.
i personally think it was a great move to get rid of the "all i want is you" lines. they seemed to me to be clunky and sort of forced into or pasted on to the rest of the song. removing them really cleaned the song up, to my way of thinking.
as far as lennon saying it was a piece of crap, i have learned to ignore it when i read that he said stuff like that. i am guessing he was sensitive to criticism, and that was his defense.
for pete's sake it was brilliant. it was part of what i consider lennon's sort of transcendent phase, with Across the Universe, Because, and other works created toward the end of the beatles.
I always thought the sniffing was Lennon making the joke of I dig a pony - which is I like a little horse - or I like a little heroin - which he sniffed. I could be wrong.
Which version of the song was released on Let It Be... Naked?