Paul McCartney's
Get Back was originally called the "Commonwealth Song,"
because it featured some very controversial, political anti-racism
lyrics to begin with. During the first takes of the song,
Paul (probably) made sarcastic rerences to the then contemporary
racist and propagandaist Enoch Powell, who claimed immigration
to the United Kingdom would cause a race war.
Paul sang:
"don't
dig no Pakistanis taking all the people's jobs, get back
to where you once belonged."
Paul abandoned
this idea, however, possibly becasue he thought some would
not understand the irony.
With new
lyrics, the song became a metaphore for Paul's desire for
the Beatles to "get back" to their musical roots
(see Don't
Let Me Down for furhter info on the "get back"
idea.)
The rest
of the lyrics make little sense though. Jo Jo (who was a
man who though she was a woman) could have been about Jo
Jo Laine, wife of singer-songwriter Denny Laine of The Moody
Blues (who later joined McCartney's backing band, The Wings).
Meanwhile, Tuscon, Arizona, is where Paul's girlfriend Linda
Eastman studied at the state university in 1965.
In between
the recording of Get Back, there is an amusing moment in
which John Lennon sings a parody line:
"Sweet
Loretta Fart she thought she was a cleaner but she was a
frying pan."
The album
version of Get Back ends with an edit from the Beatles legendary
roof top concert in January 1969, where Paul McCartney thanks
Ringo's wife Maureen for applauding.
The single-version
of the song was released in the US on May 5 1969, where
it topped the charts for 5 weeks. The same single was released
in the UK on 11 April 1969. It stayed at number 1 for six
weeks.
Get Back
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it couldn't last
Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
for some California grass
Get back,
get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Jo Jo
Go home
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back Jo
Sweet
Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
But she was another man
All the girls around her say she's got it coming
But she gets it while she can
Get back,
get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Loretta
Ah, get
back
Yeah, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Yeah get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, Ooo
[Past Masters/single version only:
Get back, Loretta,
Your mommy's waiting for you,
Wearin' her high heel shoes and her low neck sweater,
Get back home, Loretta
Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged.
Get back, get back, get back...]
