I’ll Follow The Sun
Written by:
Paul McCartney (100%)(credited as Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded:
October 18, 1964 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed:
October 21 and November 4, 1964
Length:
1:46
Takes:
8
Musicians:
John Lennon: harmony vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar (1964 Gibson J160E)Paul McCartney: lead vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar (1964 Epiphone FT-79 “Texan”)George Harrison: lead guitar (1962 Gretsch 6122 “Country Gentleman”)Ringo Starr: percussion
Available on:
(CDs in bold)
Beatles For Sale, (UK: Parlophone PMC 1240, PCS 3062;
Parlophone CDP 7 46438 2
)
Beatles For Sale (EP), (UK: Parlophone GEP 8931)
Beatles ’65, (US: Capitol (S)T 2228,
Capitol CDP 7243 8 66874 2 5
)
History:
Written by Paul during the Quarrymen days — specifically, 1959, at Paul’s family home in Forthlin Road, Allerton, Liverpool — this is the oldest song written by a Beatle to be recorded during the band’s lifetime. However, the original version, recorded in April 1960 by John, Paul, George, and Stu Sutcliffe in Paul’s bathroom, has a much different feel; it’s more of a rockabilly number, very Buddy Hollyish, and with an entirely different bridge. Dug up and retooled on the spot when the band was desperate for material to round out Beatles For Sale, this rather uptempo ballad became more wistful and folky.
The words are surprisingly advanced for having been composed at the age of sixteen: they describe a romantic who doesn’t need to hold on to the moment but feels sure the world will take care of him no matter what happens. The new bridge expands on this theme, replacing the original’s words “Well, don’t leave me alone, I need you / Now hurry, and follow me, my dear” with “And now the time has come, and, my love, I must go / And though I lose a friend, in the end you will know.” This immediacy seems to be in direct contradiction to the singer’s vague threats in the verse that he will one day leave her.
“I’ll Follow The Sun” was recorded at the Beatles’ sixth session for Beatles For Sale, just after the completion of “I Feel Fine” and just before the one-take cover of “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby.” The group collapsed in laughter during many of the first seven takes; take eight, the only one to feature an added electric guitar, was the one eventually used.
The rather odd percussive sound on the final take is Ringo, slapping his knees for rhythm as suggested by Paul.
Known live versions:
December 10, 1965 (Hammersmith Odeon Cinema, London)
BBC radio versions:
1 (for the BBC radio program Top Gear)
Trivia:
This song was never played in the Beatles’ repertoire, even in its earlier, more rocking form, as it was considered too weak to stand up onstage next to the band’s other material. However, Paul must have thought it would work somewhere, eventually: Pete Best has remembered Paul picking out the song on piano in-between sets at the Kaiserkeller during their Hamburg tenure.
The version found on the original Beatles ’65 US LP is not in true mono, but rather reprocessed for stereo. There was a good bit of reverb added in the process.
Covered by:
Chet Atkins, Judy Collins, Floyd Cramer, David Lanz, James Moody, Fred Travers, Jorge Rico
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