Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 9, 20 August 1968
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Ken Scott
Released: 22 November 1968 (UK), 25 November 1968 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar, drums, timpani, bass
Uncredited: two trumpets, two trombones
Available on:
The Beatles (White Album)
Anthology 3
Written by Paul McCartney, Mother Nature's Son was inspired by a lecture on nature given by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India, although the song was mostly completed in Liverpool.
I seem to remember writing Mother Nature's Son at my dad's house in Liverpool. I often used to do that if I'd gone up to see him. Visiting my family I'd feel in a good mood, so it was often a good occasion to write songs. So this was me doing my mother nature's son bit. I've always loved the [Nat King Cole] song called Nature Boy: 'There was a boy, a very strange and gentle boy...' He loves nature, and Mother Nature's Son was inspired by that song. I'd always loved nature, and when Linda and I got together we discovered we had this deep love of nature in common. There might have been a little help from John with some of the verses.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
In the studio
Mother Nature's Son was recorded during an often fractious period for The Beatles. McCartney worked mostly alone on the song; no other Beatles appear on the recording.
On 9 August 1968 he recorded 25 takes of Mother Nature's Son. He recorded his vocals and acoustic guitar simultaneously, and take 24 was judged to be the best attempt. Take two, meanwhile, was released on Anthology 3 in 1996.
The song was completed on 20 August in studio two. Onto take 24 McCartney overdubbed timpani, another acoustic guitar part, and drums - the latter set up in the corridor outside the studio, to give a staccato effect.
McCartney worked with George Martin on the brass arrangement, also recorded on this day. John Lennon and Ringo Starr were working on Yer Blues elsewhere in Abbey Road at the time; they did, however, briefly enter studio two.
Paul was downstairs going through the arrangement with George and the brass players. Everything was great, everyone was in great spirits. It felt really good. Suddenly, halfway through, John and Ringo walked in and you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. An instant change. It was like that for 10 minutes and then as soon as they left it felt great again. It was very bizarre.
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mark Lewisohn
McCartney also recorded two other songs, Wild Honey Pie and Etcetera, during the 20 August session.
Related articles:
- Child Of Nature
- Recording, mixing, editing: Yer Blues, Mother Nature's Son, Etcetera, Wild Honey Pie
- Recording: Not Guilty, Mother Nature's Son
- Wild Honey Pie
- Mixing: Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey, Helter Skelter, Mother Nature's Son, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Long Long Long
'Mother Natures Son'- What a special song on such a; should I say, 'Intense' album! It seems to float by like a feather in the wind. The songs simple beauty brings back memories of 'And I love her' or 'You've got to hide your love away'. Paul, was absolutely essential to so many Beatles' songs. The years 1968'-1969' we're in many respects 'very' un- pleasant;..and yet songs like this we're such a
welcomed + pleasant surprise! Richard 2009'
I think it's even more far beyond those songs... My impression is that "Mother Nature's son" has got a almost metaphisical essence.
A beautiful song, full of peace.
I can't believe such a lovely song doesn't have more comments. It's one of my absolute favorites, and I really enjoy Paul's odd finger picking style here. I watched a tutorial on it, and his style is very distinct on songs such as this, Blackbird, and Mull of Kintyre.
Like with Dear Prudence, I didn't really appreciate this song when I was younger. I love it now--easily in my top three favorite Paul songs.