The Beatles kept up a very prolific recording pace throughout their time together in the ’60s. Even when they gave themselves a little breathing room between records, they pushed the pedal to the metal when they returned to action. For example: the double LP The White Album in 1968.
Videos by American Songwriter
As a result, the group’s songwriters had to keep their ears open for inspiration so they could fill out these records. On “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” which appeared on The White Album, Paul McCartney used the motto of a musician acquaintance as a crucial jumping-off point to writing the song.
Borrowing a Memorable Phrase
The Beatles headed to India in 1968 to study meditation. In between their mantras, however, they had a lot of free time on their hands. And with their minds cleared of distractions, they were able to churn out a boatload of fresh material, which is why they ended up recording a double album when they got back to work.
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was one of those songs they wrote during their stay. Paul McCartney was responsible for writing it. But, as he explained in The Beatles Anthology, the title was donated to him:
“I had a friend called Jimmy Scott who was a Nigerian conga player, who I used to meet in the clubs in London. He had a few expressions, one of which was, ‘Ob la di ob la da, life goes on, bra.’ I used to love this expression. … He sounded like a philosopher to me. He was a great guy anyway and I said to him, ‘I really like that expression and I’m thinking of using it,’ and I sent him a cheque in recognition of that fact later because even though I had written the whole song and he didn’t help me, it was his expression.”
While writing the song might have come easily to McCartney once he had Scott’s phrase in hand, getting it right in the studio was another matter. The band recorded it in several different styles, including one that included Jimmy Scott playing his instrument. They eventually scrapped all that and went for a slightly reggae feel, which was new for the band.
One other fun fact about the recording: The distinctive piano open was played by John Lennon. He was supposedly frustrated by how long it was taking to get the track right, and he channeled those frustrations by banging the keys with abandon.
Behind the Lyrics of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”
The chorus sets us up for what’s going to take place in the verses: Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah / La-la how their life goes on. In other words, we’re often just passengers on the ride on which fate is going to take us.
In the case of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” that ride is a happy one for our protagonists, Desmond and Molly. Their attraction seems instant and their courtship is simple enough: Desmond says to Molly, “Girl, I like your face.”
Next up is the engagement: Desmond takes a trolley to the jeweler’s store / Buys a 20-carat golden ring. The bridge sets up their domestic bliss and expanding family: With a couple of kids running in the yard / Of Desmond and Molly Jones. The final verses find this whole family thriving and the parents even switching roles, with Molly doing the work and Desmond staying at home and pampering himself.
This last twist was a result of Paul McCartney accidentally singing the wrong names, and then deciding to leave the mistake in the finished version. It was an apropos touch to lend “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” a song all about accepting whatever life throws your way and making the very best of it. Just as McCartney accepted his friend’s saying and turned it into a whiz-bang song.
Photo by PA Images via Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.