The Word
Written by: John Lennon (100%)(credited to Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded: November 10, 1965 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: November 11 and 15, 1965
Length: 2:40
Takes: 3
Musicians:
John Lennon: lead vocals, harmony vocals, rhythm guitar (1961 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster)
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1), piano (1905 Steinway Vertegrand "Mrs. Mills")
George Harrison: harmony vocals, lead guitar (1961 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster)
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig), maracas
George Martin: harmonium (Mannborg)
Available on: (CDs in bold)
Rubber Soul (UK: Parlophone PMC 1267; US: Capitol PCS 3075; Parlophone CDP 7 46440 2)
History:
- Written by John and Paul as a dissertation of sorts on the concept of love, "The Word" was the third straight example in a row of the Beatles' new social conscience on Rubber Soul, coming as it did after "Nowhere Man" and George's "Think For Yourself." Perhaps inspired by George, John intended "The Word" originally as a one-chord drone of sorts, like an Indian raga, but as it was fleshed out it became a standard Western pop tune. It does, however, retain a little of its original harmonic intent, largely due to George Martin's one-note harmonium (later used to similar effect on Paul's "You Won't See Me"). John would of course revisit this concept in the more popular "All You Need Is Love."
- This song was brought to the Rubber Soul sessions, and like the other "simple" songs on that album, was arranged and recorded in one night (beginning at 9 pm on November 10, 1965, the second-to-last session for the album). Guitar, bass, and drums were laid down first, then the other instruments, and finally the quite amazing harmony vocals (John sings lead along with his backup, making for an actual four-part harmony). With that, the band then used the rest of the session to begin the final remake of Paul's "I'm Looking Through You."
- The mixing was done a day later, but the stereo mix was judged unsatisfactory, and a new one was made on November 15th.
Trivia:
- Lennon and McCartney smoked marijuana while writing "The Word" (not standard procedure for the duo during composition), then drew the lyrics in multicolored words on a sheet of paper as they were written, an idea they'd gotten from avant-garde minimalist composer John Cage. Much later, Yoko Ono would present these lyrics to Cage as a birthday gift; Cage published them -- albeit in black-and-white form -- in his 1969 book Notations.
Covered by: Joan Jett, Music Company, Don Sebesky
