Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 4, 5 October 1968
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Barry Sheffield
Released: 22 November 1968 (UK), 25 November 1968 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, piano, bass, lead guitar, drums, handclaps
Bernard Miller, Dennis McConnell, Lou Sofier, Les Maddox: violins
Leo Birnbaum, Henry Myerscough: violas
Reginald Kilbey, Frederick Alexander: cellos
Leon Calvert, Stanley Reynolds, Ronnie Hughes: trumpets
Leon Calvert: flugelhorn
Tony Tunstall: French horn
Ted Barker: trombone
Alf Reece: tuba
Available on:
The Beatles (White Album)
Recorded without any other Beatles, the jaunty Martha My Dear was written by Paul McCartney as a piano exercise, and was released on the White Album.
When I taught myself piano I liked to see how far I could go, and this started life almost as a piece you'd learn as a piano lesson. It's quite hard for me to play, it's a two-handed thing, like a little set piece. In fact I remember one or two people being surprised that I'd played it because it's slightly above my level or competence really, but I wrote it as that, something a bit more complex for me to play. Then while I was blocking out words - you just mouth out sounds and some things come - I found the words 'Martha my dear'.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
McCartney had bought an Old English sheepdog puppy in 1965, soon after buying his house in Cavendish Avenue, London. He named the dog Martha, and she was his first pet.
She was a dear pet of mine. I remember John being amazed to see me being so loving to an animal. He said, 'I've never seen you like that before.' I've since thought, you know, he wouldn't have. It's only when you're cuddling around with a dog that you're in that mode, and she was a very cuddly dog.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
Many listeners have interpreted the song as a message of love to Jane Asher, who McCartney intended to marry in 1968. However, in 1997 he revealed that it was his dog that had been the inspiration behind Martha My Dear.
It's a communication of some sort of affection but in a slightly abstract way - 'You silly girl, look what you've done,' all that sort of stuff. These songs grow. Whereas it would appear to anybody else to be a song to a girl called Martha, it's actually a dog, and our relationship was platonic, believe me.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
In the studio
Martha My Dear was recorded over two days at Trident Studios in Soho, London, which had eight-track facilities.
McCartney began the song on 4 October 1968. He recorded vocals, piano and drums first, and between 6pm and 9pm 14 session musicians added brass and string parts. George Martin had written the score to a demo previously taped by McCartney.
From midnight to 4.30am McCartney re-recorded his lead vocals, adding handclaps at the same time.
The next day he completed the song with the addition of bass and lead guitar parts.
Related articles:
- Recording: Martha My Dear, Honey Pie
- Recording, mixing: Savoy Truffle, Martha My Dear, Honey Pie, Dear Prudence
- Honey Pie
- Dear Prudence
- Little Child
I'm an ear-trained pianist. I knew I'd be all right when I mastered "Martha, My Dear." Anytime I play a new piano, it's the first thing I try.
Great song. I am a Bassist with my own band and have a dog, but HIS name is Diesel, wouldnt really work for a good song would it?
My first significant pet was an Old English Sheepdog named Shasta. I was too young to remember her joining our family and about 10 when she left. I still think about her. She was a great dog.
Now I have a Lhasa Apso named Juneau. Sometimes she reminds me of a tiny Shasta. One day I may write a song about her.
Great underrated Beatles classic!
Nicole, you should wrote a song about Shasta AND Juneau
Some sources will say that the other three Beatles participated in this session. John on bass, Paul on Piano and vocals, George on lead guitar, and Ringo on drums.
The bass is very Paul-esque on this. Very clean, precise, and accurate compared to John's rather "dirty" bass playing.
Ringo on drums is a possibility, but the drums also sound a bit like Paul's other drumming work.
Perhaps the reason this song is so endearing is that on the drugged 'White Album" you get a blend of Paul-esque wit ("Spend my days in conversation") and his love writing. Consider it; you get it right in between "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and "I'm So Tired".
My mother's name is Martha. Is it wrong to sing this song to her?
Hello hello! I have a beloved aunt named Martha who lives in Ireland, and when I was a child I would spend a week at her house every Summer. My first extended exposure to the Beatles was in her kitchen; when we'd prepare dinner she always had music on -either the "blue and red" albums or the 'Yellow Submarine' soundtrack- and those songs became permanently imprinted on my brain (to this day I think of that kitchen when I hear some of the songs.) Martha would always point out how well constructed the music was, and how full of surprises the songs were, even 25 years after their release (this was in the late 1980's.) Years later when I heard this song on 'The Beatles' I smiled and thought of my fab aunt. Thanks Auntie Martha for opening my ears!
By the way Joe, you neglected to include this song in your main article on 'The Beatles', where you list songs recorded by McCartney without the other three. Because George and John always struck me as more the "loner" types, it's strange to think that Paul, with his bubbly demeanor, was the one who most frequently excluded the others from recording sessions. One wonders if he did this purposely, or if his fastidiousness scared them off.
And also Joe, congratulations on your terrific site. I love its scope, and how logically the different pages/sections link to each other (unlike many Beatles sites.) I also appreciate the comments of your readers; it's great to hear from some people who are just discovering the joy of the Beatles through the remasters, and from others who were around during the original releases, and who can attest to the excitement they caused. Long live the Beatles and long live this site! Keep up the fab work.
Hi. Thanks for the kind words on the site. I'm glad you like it! If your aunt Martha is online please let her know about it too - I hope fans old and young find something of interest here.
I've added Martha My Dear to the list of songs McCartney worked on without the other Beatles. Thanks for the suggestion. As for why he didn't involve the others more, I suspect it might have been his enthusiasm for recording leading him to just get on with it. He lived very close to Abbey Road in the 1960s too - it might have been the case that he got on with recording while the others weren't around.
There is photographic evidence (Linda McCartney, Sixties. Portrait of an era, p. 150) that George Harrison was present and playing in the studio (with his Gibson Les Paul) while Paul is recording 'Martha my dear'. Also visible are the six brass players. This picture doesn't prove that George really played on that song, but in any case it's possible. (NB: in the book the song is wrongly called 'Honey Pie', on which saxes and clarinets were used.)
Ive read both versions but it does sound like George on guitar.
If I ever get another dog in the future, I am definetely naming her Martha! I actually had a close friend with a dog who had puppies, and each one was named after a Beatles song: Jude, Prudence, Eleanor, and Maxwell... maybe my future dog Martha will have puppies named after the Fab Four, too!
Love the piano. I wish there existed a version with the piano up in the mix throughout. Still think what's on record is great though.