cclii. BEATLES, THE
from The Ballad of John and Yoko/Old Brown Shoe (single).
A lot of people think this is a post-Beatles song -- but it was recorded on April 14, 1969, and released as a Beatles single in late May/early June.
The ballad is the story of how the couple tried so hard to get married.
First they wanted to have the ceremony on a cross-channel ferry. They went to Southampton only to discover that Yoko couldn't go because she wasn't English.
Paris was similarly complicated. They called Peter Brown, who proposed Gilbraltar. They married there on March 20, 1969.
Peter Brown called to say
You can make it okay
You can get married in Gibraltar, near Spain
They flew back to Paris, had dinner with Salvador Dalí, and then on to Amsterdam, where they held their famous seven-day bed-in for peace at the Hilton, Room 902.
They returned to London on April 1st, and John immediately brought the song to Paul.
Paul immediately reacted to the lyrics about Christ and crucifixion:
"Jesus Christ, you're kidding, aren't you? Someone really is going to get upset about it."
Paul helped John finish the final verse and they immediately got Geoff Emerick to reserve Abbey Road on the 14th.
George was away, recording chants with Raha Krishna monks, and Ringo was filming The Magic Christian.
Eleven takes, and it was in the can.
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