“ Rocky Raccoon ” is a Beatles song from their self-titled double album (also known as “White Album”). The song was written in early 1968 mainly by Paul McCartney , inspired by playing together with John Lennon and Donovan during the band’s stay in Rishikesh (India) [1] and is a comic story about a cuckold husband who wants to take revenge on his rival [2] .
| Rocky raccoon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executor | The beatles | |||
| Album | The beatles | |||
| Date of issue | November 22, 1968 | |||
| Date Recorded | August 15, 1968 | |||
| Genre | folk rock | |||
| Song language | English | |||
| Duration | 3:33 | |||
| Label | Apple records | |||
| Author | Lennon - McCartney | |||
| Composer | ||||
| Producer | George Martin | |||
| Track List for The Beatles | ||||
| ||||
Content
Song History
The song is a folk ballad [3] and is named after the main character (despite the fact that the name originally appeared in the text Rocky Sassoon , McCartney decided to change it to Rocky Raccoon , because it seemed to him that it would sound “more like cowboys " [1] [2] .
In an interview with Mojo Magazine (in October 2008), McCartney admitted that the song is a shepherd , saying: "I, in general, ridiculed a folk artist." John Lennon attributed this song to McCartney, saying: “Would I deal with all this bullshit with the Gideon Bible and other nonsense?” [4] (the lyrics contain the lines “ Rock Raccoon checked into his room only to find Gideon's bible ”, which is a reference to the activities of the Gideons International Society for the Distribution of the Bible in Public Places).
"Rocky Raccoon" was the last Beatles song in which John Lennon played the harmonica.
Former 13th Floor Elevators drummer Danny Thomas claimed that the song "Rocky Racoon" is a kind of Beatles response to the songs of this group [5] .
Record Song
The group recorded the song on August 15, 1968. In total, 9 tracks were recorded with a basic rhythm, McCartney vocals and Lennon bass part. To the ninth version, additional drums, harmonica part, harmonium, echo, as well as George Martin’s solo on the honky tonk piano to give the song the style of the Wild West (honky tonk is a special kind of piano without felt on it, were added) hammers and a little upset).
The eighth take of the song was later released as part of the Anthology 3 album. It has a slightly different text (Minnesota is mentioned instead of Dakota) and a more deliberate western accent by McCartney; in addition, instead of saying “stinking of gin,” McCartney mistakenly said “sminking of gin,” then he laughed and exclaimed “Sminking ?!”
- In the recording participated: [6]
- Paul McCartney - vocals, acoustic guitar
- John Lennon - Earmuffs, Harmonica , Harmonium , Six -String Fender Bass VI Bass
- George Harrison - Echo
- Ringo Starr - drums
- George Martin - Honky Tonk Piano
Cover versions
The song was repeatedly sung by various performers, such as Jack Johnson , Phish , James Blunt , Lina Horn (along with Gabor Szabo ), Crowded House , etc.
Cultural Influence
One of Marvel’s comic book characters is an anthropomorphic raccoon named Rocket Raccoon (first appearance is the seventh edition of the Marvel Preview comic book, summer 1976). The connection of this character with the Beatles song is shown in the 271st edition of the Incredible Hulk comic (May 1982), entitled “There was a boy called Rocket Raccoon somewhere in the black hole of Sirius Major (the Beatles song begins with the words“ somewhere in the Black Hills of Dakota there lived a young guy named Rocku Raccoon "). In this issue, the Hulk helps Jet Raccoon stop the villain trying to steal the " Gideon Bible " (which is also a reference to the lyrics) [7] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 McCartney Interview: Promoting The White Album 11/20/1968 . beatlesinterviews.org (November 20, 1968). Date of treatment July 9, 2012. Archived on October 7, 2012.
- ↑ 1 2 The Beatles Bible: “Rocky Raccoon” . The Beatles Bible. Date of treatment July 9, 2012. Archived on October 7, 2012.
- ↑ King, Simon. Rocky sings on hidden truth . The Australian . theaustralian.com.au (June 30, 2011). Date of treatment July 9, 2012. Archived on October 7, 2012.
- ↑ Sheff, 2000 , p. 189.
- ↑ Danny Thomas Interview - 13th Floor Elevators . texaspsychedelicrock.com (January 29, 2009). Date of treatment July 9, 2012. Archived on October 7, 2012.
- ↑ MacDonald, 2005 , p. 308.
- ↑ The unlikely journey of "Guardians of the galaxy" star Rocket Racoon . comicbookresources.com (February 19, 2014). Date of treatment August 1, 2016.
Literature
- MacDonald, Ian. Brain Flip: The Beatles and the Sixties = Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties. - 2nd ed. - London: Pimlico, 2005 .-- 554 p. - ISBN 1-844-13828-3 .
- Sheff, David. All we say: Last big interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono = All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. - New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000. - P. 229. - ISBN 0-312-25464-4 .
Links
- The Beatles Bible: “Rocky Raccoon” . The Beatles Bible. Date of treatment July 9, 2012. Archived on October 7, 2012.
- Lyrics for "Rocky Raccoon" . metrolyrics.com. Date of treatment March 28, 2015.
- Alan W. Pollack. Notes on the song "Rocky Raccoon" . Date of treatment July 9, 2012. Archived on October 7, 2012.
- Video with the sound of the studio version of the song (Retrieved July 9, 2012)