Here, There and Everywhere
Written by: Paul McCartney (100%)(credited to Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded: June 14, 16 and 17, 1966 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: June 21, 1966
Length: 2:26
Takes: 14
Musicians:
John Lennon: backing vocals, finger snaps
Paul McCartney: lead vocals (double-tracked), backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1965 Epiphone E230TD(V) Casino), bass guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 4001S)
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar (1964 Rickenbacker "Fire-glo" 360-12), finger snaps
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig), finger snaps
Available on: (CDs in bold)
Revolver (UK: Parlophone PMC 7009; PCS 7009; US: Capitol (S)T 2576; Parlophone CDP 7 46441 2)
Love Songs (UK: Parlophone PCSP 721, US: Capitol SKBL 11711)
History:
- Widely regarded as one of Paul's finest love songs, if not the finest, "Here, There and Everywhere" was written by Paul in April of 1965, according to the singer himself, who claims that John heard a rough demo of it during the filming of Help! and immediately pronounced it his favorite new Beatles song. Although that's unlikely -- Paul has also remembered presenting it to John in April 1966, which makes more sense -- John was a big fan of "Here, There and Everywhere." Indeed, John maintained even after the band's messy breakup that this was one of the best songs in their catalogue, and Paul has always claimed it as his favorite of the songs he's written. The subject of the song is Jane Asher, Paul's girlfriend.
- Composed while lounging around the pool of John's home in Weybridge, Surrey, waiting for him to wake up and start the day, the song's layered backing vocals and opening line -- "To lead a better life, I need my love to be there" -- were inspired by Brian Wilson's work with the Beach Boys, specifically the song "God Only Knows." (The Beach Boys album Pet Sounds was inspired by Rubber Soul, and Pet Sounds, in turn, inspired McCartney on Revolver.) Paul modeled his vocals after those of Marianne Faithfull, who'd just had a similarly gentle hit covering the Rolling Stones' "As Tears Go By." The effect was augmented by recording the lead vocals at a slower speed and then speeding them up on playback.
- "Here, There and Everywhere" was the second-to-last song begun and completed for Revolver. Work began on June 14, 1966, as Paul laid down the basic track on guitar with light drums by Ringo. This was completed in four takes; then the first backing vocal overdubs were begun. Two days later, the backing vocals were completed; Paul added bass and George a (double-tracked) lead guitar -- left channel, during the bridge, and right channel, over the final chords. John, Paul and George added strategically-placed finger snaps for effect. Finally, on the 17th, the song was completed with the re-recording and double-tracking of Paul's lead vocal. (He was obviously in fine form that day, as he immediately leapt into recording the lead vocal for "Got To Get You Into My Life" after completing the vocals for this one!)
Trivia:
- Although it was never performed live by the group, who had stopped touring, Paul himself has played it in concert. In January 1991, he performed it for the first time on his episode of MTV's Unplugged, then during "secret gigs" in May and July of that year. He included the song in his set list on stops of his 1993 New World Tour, including a rehearsal in London, shows in Italy, Germany, France, Japan, and Australia, and also Mexico and the US.
- This song was offered, in instrumental form, to the legendary UK group the Shadows, but never sent to them; the first guitarist Bruce Welch heard of the song was when he picked up a copy of Revolver.
- "Here, There and Everywhere" is used, in instrumental form, during a wedding episode of the NBC sitcom Friends.
- The original mono mix of this song has Paul's second lead vocal accidentally singing "You" instead of "I" in the song's second-to-last line: "I will be there, and everywhere." That vocal track also drops out on the last "everywhere" of the song. This has been fixed in recent mixes. Take 7 of the song, with Take 13's vocal, was released as a track on the Anthology "Real Love" single, but never on Anthology itself. It cannot be found anywhere else. Paul also re-recorded this song in early 1983 for inclusion in his film Give My Regards to Broad Street.
Covered by: Clay Aiken, Celine Dion, Kenny Loggins, Emmylou Harris, George Benson, Johnny Mathis, Liberace, Jay and the Americans, John Denver, Jennifer Warnes, Jose Feliciano, The Happenings, The Lettermen, Petula Clark, Jackie Gleason, Claudine Longet, Hugh Masekela, Sonny Curtis, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Bobbie Gentry, Dick Smothers, Fourmost, Count Basie, Ofra Harnoy, David Benoit, Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders, Matt Munro, Mi-ke, The Swamp Rats, George Shearing, Vince Hill, Episode Six, Sue Schell, Stephane Grapelli, Olivier Despax, Charles Lloyd, Beegee Adair, Peter Breinholt, The Flying Pickets, Billy Ed Wheeler, Locksley, Martin Taylor, Four King Cousins, John McDermott, Carmen McRae, Tony Trischka, Olivia Ong, Libby Titus, Maaya Sakamoto, Sissel, Goran Sollscher, Marina Verenikina, Gal Costa, Young Americans, Singers Unlimited, Baja Marimba Band
