TheBeatlesOnline

Dear Prudence

John Lennon: Vocals, guitar
Paul McCartney: Vocals, drums, bass guitar, piano, flugelhorn, tambourine, handclaps
George Harrison: Vocals, lead guitar, hanclaps

Mal Evans: Handclaps
Jackie Lomax: Handclaps
John McCartney: Handcaps

Recorded August 28, 29, 30 1968.

Available on:
The Beatles (The White Album)

Dear Prudence, written by Lennon in India, was the second song recorded in Ringo's absence (see Back In The USSR for details). The replacement drummer was Paul McCartney.

Dear Prudence is really about Prudence Farrow, sister of actress Mia Farrow. Prudence and Mia studied Transcendental Meditation with the Beatles India, but Prudence preferred to meditate in solitude in her chalet. In the end Lennon and Harrison had to convince her to come out and join the others: Dear Prudence, won't you come out and play?

The guitar playing on Dear Prudence was based on a special finger-picking technique, which Lennon had learnt from folk-singer Donovan. Lennon used this technique on many of the songs he wrote while in India.

The song was recorded in Trident Studios, and Paul's cousin John McCartney was present during the session. He was credited for handclaps, together with Mal Evans and Jackie Lomax.

Dear Prudence

Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence greet the brand new day
The sun is up the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play

Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
The wind is low the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence, won't you open up your eyes

Look around round
Look around round round
Look around

Dear Prudence let me see your smile
Dear Prudence like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see your smile again
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile

Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence greet the brand new day
The sun is up the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play