HE’D HAD ENOUGH. John Lennon Became “Really Aggravated” While Recording One of Paul McCartney’s Beatles Songs—and the Story Behind That Difficult Studio Session Reveals Just How Tense Things Had Become Between the Fab Four

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Europa Press / MEGA; PF1 / http: / www.wenn.com / MEGA
  • The song “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was written by Paul McCartney and released as a single in 1968 in many countries, but not in the UK or US until 1976.

Even though John Lennon and Paul McCartney created some massive hits for the Beatles, not everything was picture perfect behind the scenes.

A recent article published by American Songwriter takes a look back at the creation of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” which was released by the Beatles on their 1968 album The Beatles (also referred to as The White Album).

According to engineer Geoff Emerick, Lennon — who was a founder, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the iconic rock band — was stoned during the song’s recording session.

Late Beatles Member John Lennon 'Was Really Aggravated' Recording This Paul McCartney Song

American Songwriter reported that the lyrics “Ob-la-di, ob-la-da / Life goes on, brah” apparently frustrated Lennon.

“He went straight to the piano and smashed the keys with an almighty amount of volume, twice the speed of how they’d done it before, and said, ‘This is it! Come on!’ He was really aggravated,” Emerick once said, according to American Songwriter.

“That was the version they ended up using,” he said.

<span class="wp-desc-text"></span> <span class="wp-caption-text">Curt Gunther / Mirrorpix/Newscom/The Mega Agency</span>

Curt Gunther / Mirrorpix/Newscom/The Mega Agency

According to TheBeatles.com, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” is a song credited to Lennon-McCartney, but written by McCartney. It was released as a single in 1968 in many countries, but not in the United Kingdom — nor in the United States — until 1976.

Lennon was assassinated in December 1980 at age 40.

McCartney, 84, recently discussed his new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, in an interview with NME in May when the topic turned to his falling out and reconciliation with Lennon.

“The thing is, I have very good memories of the guys, John and George [Harrison, who died in 2001 at age 58], even though towards the end of The Beatles, John was slagging me off a lot,” McCartney said.

“At the time, it was very hurtful, like sticking little daggers in me,” he explained. “It was just annoying, because you thought, ‘I’ve got to answer him back, what am I going to do?’ But I suddenly realised, ‘Wait a minute, this is John. This is the guy I’ve known since I was 16. That’s just what he does.'”

He added, “It didn’t sting so much once I realised it was just John being John.”