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.
That's Paul, again writing a good lyric.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
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.
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.
No way it's Lennon playing bass, the part is way too accomplished for his somewhat "sloppy" playing (even though there actually is a slight mistake like a minute into the son ). No, this is certainly Paul, and a grand example of that melodic playing style he began dabbling with late '65 and which by this time had reached it's zenith
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.
Funny thing,for me it was always clear that this lyric it's about freedom of thinking and speech
"I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in.And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go."
Maybe a reference to the act of thinking about the problems of the world that surrounds us
(not only emotional individual problems that music lyrics usually talk about)
"And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right
Where I belong I'm right
Where I belong.
See the people standing there who Disagree and never win.And wonder why
they don't get in my door."
Here it is said that don't matter what my point of view is and don't matter how many people disagree me, at least I made a reflection and showed a new point.
"I wonder why they don't get in my door"
Probably a defiance to the people who contradict but don't face a rational process and think about solutions.
Fixing a Hole maybe represents youth engaged with political and social matters of the 60's society.
I know it sounds a bit vague . But that's my interpretation...
my interpretation has always been a zen interpretation,,,im fixing a hole where the rain gets in & (via fixing this hole)..it> stops my mind from wandering,,,so i can concentrate on the task im engaging in & not thinking bout distracting things,,,quite a zen statement
I think this is a response (and slowed down minor version) to Elvis 's Were Gonna Move ..."There's a hole in the roof where the rain pours in";...haha love it!
Whoever played the guitar solo, it is very tasteful and one of the handful of electric guitar solos on the Beatles most 'non-guitar' albums.
I've always thought the guitar solo in Fixing a Hole is one of the most musical guitar solos ever, right down to that final low note.
P.S. I love this site and visit every day!
Well, for all those who claim that George played the excellent guitar solo on this song, you folks better correct Mr. McCartney, who has claimed several times in interviews that he himself played the solo.
As I asked when you made this claim this back in February 2011, could you please provide a source for this? Or, even better, several. Thanks.
According to "The Beatles Gear" by Babiuk, Richard Lush says that Lennon's bass part was added during a later overdub session at Abbey Road. That would seem to lend creedance to his claim that John played the bass.
@Jonathan re: Paul's bass playing (post # 9
,Tuesday 26 February 2013) -- I agree. As a matter of fact, I rather doubt John had much of anything to do with "Fixing A Hole" at all, what with it's being entirely Paul's composition, etc..
As for the guitar playing, it is clearly George's work: listen to the two precisely "pre-bent" downward slurs from E to D, quite characteristic of sitar playing, that follow "... past my door." The second one is spot-on chromatic, with E falling to E-flat to D. Just listen to George's sitar lines in "Love You To", and you'll hear what I 'm referring to, regarding his style vs. Paul's superbly played, but slightly more "rough-'n'-ready" aggressiveness, sans any of the limpid sitar inflections George's post-'65 work showed to an ever-increasing degree.
I neglected to say that the guitar is tuned down a whole step to the key of B-flat, making the aforementioned notes D, D-flat, and C...