TheBeatlesOnline

Although Paul McCartney's Let It Be was the second last Beatles single to be released in the US, and the last in the UK, it was never written with the intention of being a final "good-bye" song from the Beatles. McCartney was heard playing the song in the studio during the recording sessions for The Beatles (The White Album) in 1968, but it wasn't recorded until January 1969, and not released before March 1970.

Some critics have suggested Let It Be really is a song about the despair Paul McCartney felt at the time. The Beatles was falling a part as group, after a string of tense moments in the studio. Paul and John didn't communicate like they had done in earlier days, and Yoko Ono's constant presence in the studio was annoying everyone apart from John. Should the Beatles continue or Let It Be?

Paul himself has said the song was about the business problems he was going through at the time, since the Beatles suspected that a lot of their money was disappearing beyond their control (see You Never Give Me Your Money.)

It's a common assumption that "Mother Mary" refers to Virgin Mary, but this is not the case. It's in fact Paul's own mother he sings about. One night Paul had a dream that his mother Mary, who had died when he was just 14, came to him. He later said this had given him strength in his "darkest hour."

It's worth noting that John Lennon plays bass guitar on Let It Be, instead of Paul. George Harrison plays the electric guitar solo, as he did on many other Beatles songs. The harmonized backing vocals were performed by Paul and George Harrison.

Let It Be was released as a single in the US on March 11 1970. It stayed at number one in the charts for two weeks. In the UK it was released on March 6 1970. It topped the charts for two weeks also there.

Let It Be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer
Let it be
For though they may be parted there is
still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer
Let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
yeah, there will be an answer
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be

And when the night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow
Let it be
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
There will be an answer
Let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
There will be an answer
Let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be