TheBeatlesOnline

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Paul McCartney: Vocals, bass guitar, drums (?), handclaps, 'vocal percussion'
John Lennon: Vocals, piano, handclaps, 'vocal percussion'
George Harrison: Vocals, acoustic guitar, handclaps, 'vocal percussion'
Ringo Starr: Drums, bongos, percussion, handclaps, 'vocal percussion'

James Gray: Saxophone
Rex Morris: Saxophone
Cyril Reuben: Saxophone
Jimmy Scott: Bongos

Recorded 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 15 July 1968.

Available on:
The Beatles (The White Album)
The Beatles 1967-1970(The Blue Album)
Anthology 3

Paul's reggea-flirt Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da was a tribue to Jamaican ska music, and early takes of the song, which now are available on Anthology 3, had a more caribbean sound than the version that was used on the record. Paul got the idea to the song title from the Nigerian musician Jimmy Scott, whose band was called Obla Di Obla Da Band. "Ob la di ob la da, life goes on, bra," Jimmy used to say. Jimmy also played bongos on the first day the Beatles recorded this song.

It took 42 hours to complete the recording of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, mosty because of Paul's perfectionism. John Lennon was apparently sick of the song when he turned up in the studio on Monday July 8. Allegedly under the influence of drugs, he sat down by the piano and smashed the keys at twice the speed of how they had done it before. Interestingly, this was the version the Beatles ended up using on the record.

Listen on the record for John shouting "arm" and George shouting "leg" after Paul's first "Desmon lets the children lend a hand," then for George's "foot" after "Molly lets the children lend a hand."

It's possible that Paul played the drums during an unreleased recording of the song on July 9, but Ringo played both drums and bongos on the version that made it to the record.

Paul loved Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, and wanted the song to be released as a single. John didn't approve of this, and it was instead Scottish group Marmalade who took the song to number 1 in the UK.

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da,
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on

Desmond take a trolley to the jewelers store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring, (rin-ring)
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing (sin-sing)

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on

Yeah, In a couple of years they
have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
of Desmond and Molly Jones

Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on

Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
And if you want some fun
take Ob-la-di-bla-da