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, 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:
- Recording: Fixing A Hole
- Recording, mixing: Fixing A Hole
- Ask Me Why
- Misery
- Mixing: Sgt Pepper crossfades, With A Little Help From My Friends, Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!, Fixing A Hole, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
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.
Lush doesn't say he SAW John play bass on the song, he just says that he knows John played the bass. His knowledge could have come from the boys themselves.
I think this song is supremely underrated, and although the lyrics don't mean too much, the actual sound of it is just so completely unique and interesting that I can't help but perk my ears up when I hear it.
I agree. It's a brilliant melody and a brilliant vocal. There's a few places in the song where Paul sings up a measure or so (notably, the first syllable of "fixing" in the opening line). It's unexpected but it works beautifully.
Drug references? I suppose you take veiled ones for granted in anything they did at the time, but this song certainly doesn't bring heroin to mind. I think the lyrics could be interpreted as taking stock of one's self and taking care of one's own well-being.
George Harrison plays one of his better solos on this one. There is a five note/ chord sequence intermittenly throughout the song especially towards the end where paul sings the opening lyrics in a more melodic way that to me sounds like dim sunlight breaking through and warming the song a bit.
Is that Paul or George playing that guitar phrase?
George.
Paul McCartney has stated that he played the guitar solo in this song.
Could you please provide a source for that?
I was carefully listening to the recording and I think that the maracas are on the basic track and were not overdubbed later, probably played by John. It's the first time that I write so I'd like to thank Joe for his beautiful job. This is the best Beatles site
Has anyone ever heard that Mal contributed to the writing of this song and was compensated with a one time payment?
I've read that Mal went on radio interviews and said he wrote this song, and that the concept of Sgt. Pepper was his. He wrote about it in his diary.