When I'm Sixty-Four
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| "When I'm Sixty-Four" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Song by The Beatles | ||
| from the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | ||
| Released | 1967-06-01 | |
| Recorded | Abbey Road:1966-12-06 - 1966-12-21 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 2:37 | |
| Label | Parlophone, Capitol, EMI | |
| Writer(s) | Lennon/McCartney | |
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |
| Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band track listing | ||
| Within You Without You (8) |
"When I'm Sixty-Four" (9) |
Lovely Rita (10) |
"When I'm Sixty-Four" is a love song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney (but co-credited to John Lennon) and released in 1967 on their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It is sung by a young man to his love, and is about his plans of growing old together with her.
Contents |
[edit] Lyrics and structure
The song prominently features a clarinet trio (two B♭ soprano clarinets and a bass clarinet), unusual in most music genres, but particularly in the context of rock and roll. Supporting instruments include the piano, (plucked) cello, chimes, and electric guitar.
Although it involves themes of aging, it was one of the first songs McCartney wrote, dating back from his days with the Quarrymen. Though the song is thought to have been written solely by McCartney, it is acknowledged that Lennon provided at least the grandchildren's names — "Vera, Chuck and Dave".
[edit] Cover versions
- In 1976, Keith Moon recorded a version for the evanescent musical documentary All This and World War II.
- In the 1978 film, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Frankie Howard and Sandy Farina sing the song.
- It was featured in an Allstate Insurance commercial with Julian Lennon singing.
- It was used as the theme song for the movie version of John Irving's novel The World According to Garp
- During the 1980s, an instrumental version opened each episode of the BBC feedback programme Points Of View.
- Cherie Blair sang a vocal rendition of it whilst being broadcasted on TV, as husband and Prime Minister Tony Blair smiled and sang along.
[edit] Miscellaneous
- Paul McCartney turned 64 years of age on June 18, 2006. Ironically, he separated from his wife, Heather Mills McCartney just one month before his 64th birthday.
- The song accompanies the "Sea of Time" sequence in the film Yellow Submarine.
- The song was parodied by The Rutles as "Back in '64" on the album Archaeology.
- When I'm 64 (using the numerals instead of spelling out the numbers) is also the name of a BBC television series starring Paul Freeman and Alun Armstrong as two older men who surprise themselves by falling in love with each other.
- The song's beat was sampled in the Beastie Boys track "The Sounds of Science" on their 1989 album Paul's Boutique.
- As Paul McCartney turned 64 on June 18, 2006, a special website tribute involving indie French pop bands was launched. Called When I'm 64, it features many different renditions of this famous song.
- The song is in the key of C sharp major. The Beatles actually recorded the song in C major but the master take was sped up by one semitone at the insistance of McCartney. Mark Lewisohn speculates that McCartney suggested this change in order to make his voice to sound more youthful than his 24 years of age (at the time of recording in December 1966).
- Instrumentation:
John Lennon - lead guitar, background vocal Paul McCartney - lead vocal, bass guitar, piano, background vocal George Harrison - background vocal Ringo Starr - drums Session musicians - bass clarinet, two clarinets
[edit] Media links
- "When I'm Sixty-Four" (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Opening chords of song
- Problems playing the files? See media help.
