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Lovely Rita
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
Paul McCartney:
Vocals, piano, bass guitar
John Lennon: Vocals, mouth percussion, acoustic guitar
George Harrison: Vocals, electric slide guitar, acoustic
guitar
Ringo Starr: Drums
All: Comb and toilet paper
George Martin: Piano
Recorded
February 23, 24 and March 7, 21 1967.
Available on:
Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Lovely
Rita was inspired by the American phrase "meter maid,"
which Paul first heard in early 1967. The song was partly
written on Paul's father Jim's piano.
It is
possible that Lovely Rita is based on a true story.
Traffic
Warden Meta Davies said in Steve Turner's book A
Hard Day's Write that she had booked a certain P McCartney
in Garden Road, St John's Wood, London, after she spotted
that the time on the meter had expired. She had just put
the ticket on his windscreen when he came along. Paul looked
at the ticket and noticed her unusual name from the signature.
They chatted for a few minutes, before he asked if he could
use her name in a song.
In the
studio, McCartney told engineer Geoff Emerick that he wanted
the backing vocal arrangement to emulate the Beach Boys.
In addition, Paul, John, George and ringo all played on
comb and toilet paper on this song!
George
Martin added a piano solo which was recorded at slow speed
in order to make it sound faster when it was played back.
Davy Jones
of the Monkees was also present during one evening when
Lovely Rita was recorded.
Lovely Rita
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
Lovely Rita
meter maid
nothing can come between us
When it gets dark I tow your heart away
Standing
by a parking meter
when I caught a glimpse of Rita
Filling in a ticket in her little white book
In a cap she looked much older
And the bag across her shoulder
Made her look a little like a military man
Lovely
Rita meter maid
may I inquire discreetly
When are you free to take some tea with me
Took her
out and tried to win her
had a laugh and over dinner
Told her I would really like to see her again
Got the bill and Rita paid it
Took her home and nearly made it
Sitting on a sofa with a sister or two
Lovely
Rita meter maid
where would I be without you
give us a wink and make me think of you
Lovely
meter maid
Rita meter maid
oh, Lovely Rita meter, meter maid
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