Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 22, 23 August; 16, 29 September 1967
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: John Timperley, Geoff Emerick, Ken Scott
Released: 8 December 1967 (UK), 27 November 1967 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, piano, bass
John Lennon: backing vocals, organ
George Harrison: backing vocals, guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine
Available on:
Magical Mystery Tour
Anthology 2
Your Mother Should Know was written by Paul McCartney at his home in London. It took its title from the screenplay of A Taste Of Honey, and the music harked back to Busby Berkeley showtunes and the golden age of music hall.
I wrote it in Cavendish Avenue on the harmonium I have in the dining room there. My Aunty Jin and Uncle Harry and a couple of relatives were staying and they were in the living room just across the hall, so I just went to the dining room and spent a few hours with the door open with them listening. And I suppose because of the family atmosphere Your Mother Should Know came in. It's a very music-hall kind of thing, probably influenced by the fact that my Aunty Jin was in the house.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
It's likely that the song was briefly considered for the Our World satellite broadcast of 25 June 1967. The Beatles went instead with All You Need Is Love, a simpler message and one more readily understood by a worldwide audience. But the idea of a big old-fashioned singalong clearly stayed with McCartney when planning the Magical Mystery Tour film.
The big prop was that great big staircase that we danced down, that was where all the money went: in that particular shot on that big staircase. I said, 'Sod it, you've got to have the Busby Berkeley ending,' and it is a good sequence. Just the fact of John dancing, which he did readily. You can see by the fun expression on his face that he wasn't forced into anything.
In the studio
Your Mother Should Know was begun in Chappell Recording Studios in Maddox Street, London, as Abbey Road was booked for other artists.
On the first day, 22 August 1967, they recorded eight takes of the rhythm track. The following day - their last session at Chappell - they recorded overdubs for the song. This was also Brian Epstein's last-ever visit to a Beatles recording session; he died on 27 August.
On 16 September they began a remake of Your Mother Should Know, recording 11 more takes. The arrangement was harmonium, piano, vocals and drums, with a military-style snare rhythm. The eighth of these can be heard on Anthology 2.
The remake was eventually abandoned, and on 29 September Lennon and McCartney completed the song by going back to the Chappell tapes and overdubbed organ and bass.
Related articles:
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- Recording: Your Mother Should Know
- Mother Nature's Son
- The Chris Barber Band records Catcall
- Recording: Every Little Thing, I Don't Want To Spoil The Party, What You're Doing
Ahhh this song is amazing, just as every single one on the album. With 12/8 time, like most of paul's songs. Bloody outstandingm that upright mccarneyish bass, that piano, those beatles-style choruses, yooooooooour mo-ther- shooould., aaaah aaaaaaaaahh.. And that organ on the interlude, so ...psychedelic
Beatiful. Magical Mystery Tour is the only album i really cant get tired of listenin to. Along with Revolver maybe
I agree that every song on the album is great. I do not agree that those are the only albums that don't get old. Rubber Soul? Abbey Road? Come on man...
How did you figure out it was 12/8 time?
It sounds like 4/4 to me...
12/8 is just a fancy way of saying its in 4 with a shuffle... you count 123,123,123,123 instead of 1..2..3..4
I've never heard of a thing called 12/8, and it's definitely not the metrum of "most of Paul's songs" and definitely not the metrum on this one.
And it's no shuffle.
It's like LetsPlayCool says: It's a simple 4/4.
There are songs with 6/8 metrum, which is a fast waltz. "I me mine" (verses) would be an example.
Maybe not a literal shuffle, but Paul DID do a lot of those 4/4 songs with the swing/shuffle feel, either literal or implied. Most of his "granny" songs do that; also "Michelle", "Penny Lane", the middle of "A Day In The Life", etc.
John & George did this in certain songs too, but less often than Paul.
It is not 12/8. It is actually something called 'common time' which essentially translates into 4/4. There are 4 quarters to the measure.
I agree . Never heard of a 12/8 timing, is that a proper thingy Magig or what??
I feel the same way, I could never tire of this album, and the remastered version is awesome. This song, the organ and the piano work together so wonderfully. Just love it.
Always loved Ringo's drums on this album. The way the snare cuts through it all- especially on the opening track and Walrus.
Check out the mono version of this if you haven't. It is completely different. It is phased. More like dance-hall on acid, kind of. Great sounds on this song.
This is probably my favorite of Paul's "granny" songs!
This is an instantly appealing tune which ultimately goes no where. It's not like it necessarily should mean anything, right? The Beatles have plenty of nonsense lyrics and this is just another. Yet it ultimately frustrates by pulling the listener in with a compelling melody worthy of a pied-piper and then hits with a repetitive lyric that almost sounds like an insult involving 'your mother'. She should know. I've often thought what stratospheric heights this song could have become if the lyrics had actually be worthwhile, but I tend to think this of a lot of McCartney tunes - especially his solo work. A great tune that becomes dispensible. Sorry, folks.
You got it:
"It's not like it necessarily should mean anything, right?"
Indeed!
It's just a fantastic song that doesn't mean anything!
Well done, Paul, I love it!
It's kind of meaningless yes, in a "granny shit" kind of way as John might say. But would anyone throw stones let alone pebbles at The Beatles quntessential meaningless song "I Am The Walrus" ?
I agree with my wife, Mrs. Mustard, this is also my favorite Paul "granny" song... close second though is "Honey Pie."
Great song and a great fit to the Mystery Tour album/film. Psychedelic dance hall music is right !