Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 9, 21 February 1967
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Adrian Ibbetson
Released: 1 June 1967 (UK), 2 June 1967 (US)
Paul McCartney: lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, bass
John Lennon: backing vocals
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, maracas
George Martin: harpsichord
Available on:
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Condemned upon its release for perceived references to heroin injection, Fixing A Hole was in fact a tribute to marijuana written by Paul McCartney.
It has also been claimed that the song is about repairs undertaken by Paul McCartney on High Park, his farmhouse on the west coast of Scotland, although this is untrue.
It was much later that I ever got round to fixing the roof on the Scottish farm; I never did any of that until I met Linda. People just make it up! They know I've got a farm, they know it has a roof, they know I might be given to handyman tendencies so it's a very small leap for mankind... to make up the rest of the story.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
In truth the song, like Got To Get You Into My Life, was "another ode to pot"; it explored the joys of allowing one's mind to wander, and the freedom from being told what to do.
It was the idea of me being on my own now, able to do what I want. If I want I'll paint the room in a colourful way... I was living now pretty much on my own in Cavendish Avenue, and enjoying my freedom and my new house and the salon-ness of it all. It's pretty much my song, as I recall. I like the double meaning of 'If I'm wrong I'm right where I belong.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
In the studio
The recording of Fixing A Hole began on 9 February 1967. The Beatles used Regent Sound Studio in London as Abbey Road was unavailable. It was the first time the group used another studio to record for EMI.
According to McCartney, an unusual guest was brought to the session.
A guy arrived at my front gate and I said, 'Yes? Hello,' because I always used to answer it to everyone. If they were boring I would say, 'Sorry, no,' and they generally went away. This guy said, 'I'm Jesus Christ.' I said, 'Oop,' slightly shocked. I said, 'Well, you'd better come in then.' I thought, Well, it probably isn't. But if he is, I'm not going to be the one to turn him away. So I gave him a cup of tea and we just chatted and I asked, 'Why do you think you are Jesus?' There were a lot of casualties about then. We used to get a lot of people who were maybe insecure or going through emotional breakdowns or whatever. So I said, 'I've got to go to a session but if you promise to be very quiet and just sit in a corner, you can come.' So he did, he came to the session and he did sit very quietly and I never saw him after that. In introduced him to the guys. They said, 'Who's this?' I said, 'He's Jesus Christ.' We had a bit of a giggle over that.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
The Beatles rehearsed Fixing A Hole a number of times before recording three takes. Unusually, McCartney recorded his lead vocals at the same time as the rhythm track. George Martin is believed to have played the distinctive harpsichord that opens the song.
The third take was incomplete, but the first two were both considered worthy of further work. On 21 February, back at Abbey Road, they recorded a fourth take, before deciding the Regent Sound take two was the best. To this they overdubbed backing vocals, guitar and maracas to complete the song.
Related articles:
- You're Going To Lose That Girl
- Recording: If I Needed Someone, In My Life
- Recording: You're Going To Lose That Girl
- Matchbox
- Recording, mixing: Run For Your Life, We Can Work It Out, The Word, I'm Looking Through You
in fixing a hole and sgt pepper song (the standard version) you forgot to put in the segment about who play what,that paul is the lead vocal
this song is superb
that chord progression
that jazzy drumming, such an original and outstanding song from sgt peppers LP
those choirs!!!!!
I am confounded with this chord progression. All I know is that the guitar is tuned down 1/2 step and it starts in F#. Any help appreciated.
And, Joe, you have one awesome site here!
My favorite psychedelic Paul song.
This song has always seemed like a throwaway to me. Extremely well written and superbly performed but it just does nothing for me. Gives me a weird feeling.
Andi Babiuk quotes Richard Lush, second engineer, who recalls Lennon played bass and McCartney harpsichord.
However, Richard Lush could not be present at the Regent Sound Studio for the recording of the basic tracks, because he was an EMI employee.
You`re right, altough Lewishon book list the second engineer as unknown (p. 95). Then, on p. 99, another session, reductions, overdubs and mixes: a little bit confusing.