She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
"She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it is the fifth song of the album's climactic medley, immediately following "Polythene Pam".
| "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" | |
|---|---|
Cover of the song's sheet music | |
| Song by the Beatles | |
| from the album Abbey Road | |
| Released | 26 September 1969 |
| Recorded | 25–30 July 1969 |
| Studio | EMI, London |
| Genre | Rock[1] |
| Length | 1:57 |
| Label | Apple |
| Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney |
| Producer(s) | George Martin |
| Audio sample | |
"She Came In Through the Bathroom Window"
| |
Origin edit
McCartney said the song was inspired by one of the fans who hung around outside McCartney's St John's Wood home, and who had broken in, later revealed to be Diane Ashley. She said:
We were bored, he was out and so we decided to pay him a visit. We found a ladder in his garden and stuck it up at the bathroom window which he'd left slightly open. I was the one who climbed up and got in.
She then opened the front door to let the others inside. In addition to clothes, the fans also stole a number of photographs.
Margo Bird remembers being good friends with McCartney – she would often take his dog for walks – and later got a job at Apple Corps. She says that she was asked to retrieve a photograph of McCartney's father, Jim, which she did.[2]
Recording edit
The rhythm track was recorded by the Beatles for this and "Polythene Pam" as one piece on 25 July 1969. After take 39, they added lead vocals, and re-recorded the drums and bass parts. On 28 July they added more vocals, guitar, percussion and piano. The song was completed two days later with additional guitar and percussion.[3] "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" segues abruptly after "Polythene Pam", the song on the preceding track, without pause. At the very beginning of the song, in anticipation of the change of tempo, John Lennon gives out a laugh and then shouts "Oh, look out!"[4]
A slower version of this song, recorded in late January 1969 during the Get Back sessions, appears on the 1996 compilation Anthology 3, while an in-progress version is featured on the 2021 Let It Be 50th Anniversary Edition.[5]
Personnel edit
According to Walter Everett,[6] except where noted:
- Paul McCartney – lead and harmony vocals, bass guitar
- John Lennon – 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- George Harrison – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Ringo Starr – drums
- uncredited – tambourine, maracas, "whipcrack" percussion[7]
Notable cover versions edit
- Joe Cocker's cover of this song reached number 30 on the Billboard top 40 in 1970.[8]
- Ike and Tina Turner released a cover of this song as a European single in 1972 (from their album "Feel Good"). A live version is available on their 1973 album "The World of Ike & Tina".
Notes edit
- ^ Richie Unterberger. "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window – The Beatles – Listen, Appearances, Song Review – AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ Turner 2005, p. 198.
- ^ The Beatles Bible 2008.
- ^ Riley 2002, p. 330.
- ^ Winn, John C. (2009). That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966–1970. New York: Three Rivers Press. p. 250. ISBN 978-0-307-45239-9.
- ^ Everett, Walter (1999). The Beatles as Musicians: Revolver Through the Anthology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 266–67. ISBN 0-19-512941-5.
- ^ Winn, John C. (2009). That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966–1970. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press. p. 310. ISBN 978-0-307-45239-9.
- ^ SuperSeventies.com 2010.
References edit
- Brewer, Jon (producer/director) (2006). The Classic Artists Series: The Moody Blues. DVD UK Ltd.
- "Joe Cocker – In His Own Words". SuperSeventies.com. 2010.
- Riley, Tim (2002). Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81120-0.
- "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window". The Beatles Bible. 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
- Turner, Steve (2005). A Hard Day's Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song (3rd ed.). New York: Harper Paperbacks. ISBN 0-06-084409-4.
External links edit
- Alan W. Pollack's Notes on "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window"