Let Me Roll It
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| “Let Me Roll It” | |||||
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| Single by Paul McCartney and Wings from the album Band on the Run |
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| A-side | "Jet" | ||||
| Released | February 15, 1974 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Recorded | September-October 1973 Lagos, Nigeria |
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| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 4:47 | ||||
| Label | Apple Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | Paul McCartney | ||||
| Producer | Paul McCartney | ||||
| Paul McCartney and Wings singles chronology | |||||
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"Let Me Roll It" is the fifth track on the Paul McCartney & Wings album Band on the Run. Though never released as a single, it is considered by many to be one of the most memorable tracks on the album, often being a part of Paul McCartney's performance when he tours. This song is thought by many listeners to be an imitation of John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band music style, in response to "How Do You Sleep?", Lennon's song aimed at McCartney in retaliation for the songs on Ram, many of which he believed were aimed at him. The main guitar lick is similar to Lennon's single "Cold Turkey", with Lennon's lick starting on a more aggressive 2nd beat and McCartney's on the more passive 8th beat of a 4 triplet measure.
"Let Me Roll It" is however perceived as a peacemaking attempt, as it is a rather friendly parody/imitation and the lyrics do not contain any malicious attacks. The war in music and the press between Lennon and McCartney stopped after the song's release. This lends plausibility to the claims saying that Lennon actually liked this spoof on his own style.
McCartney himself has never at any time claimed the song was intended as a response to Lennon. The fact is, by the time this song was released the so-called "war in music" between Lennon and McCartney was long over.
The song's lyric, when taken literally, describes the narrator's inability to properly articulate his feelings. He pledges instead to show how he feels, likening his heart to a wheel and asking his subject to, "let me roll it to you" (as a kind of peace offering). Also, knowing Paul's penchant for marijuana, the lyrics may refer to rolling a joint.
"Let Me Roll It" was covered by Brendan Benson, and also by The Grapes of Wrath.
