| "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Who from the album The Who Sell Out | |
| Released | December 15, 1967 |
| Recorded | October 1967. De Lane Lea Studios, London |
| Genre | Pop, Rock |
| Length | 2:04 |
| Label | Track Records |
| Composer | Pete Townshend |
| Producer | Kit Lambert |
"Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" is a song written by Pete Townshend and first released on The Who's 1967 album The Who Sell Out, and subsequently on several Who compilation albums. The song has a Latin-influenced melody and ambiguous lyrics that have been subject to a variety of interpretations. The song has been released in several different versions, sometimes under the title "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hands." It has also been covered by a number of other artists, including The Nils, Petra Haden, Opal Butterfly and Chris Richards.[1][2][3]
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Unlike many Who songs from the 1960s, "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" is a song that up to a point fits the typical pop song convention of praising a pretty girl.[4] However, although the song states that Mary Anne is pretty, indeed "the prettiest in the land," the song does not provide any description of her appearance.[4] Rather, the song focuses on Mary Anne's hand tremor.[4][5][6] The reason Mary Anne's hands are always moving is not explicitly stated.[4][5] One possibility is that Mary Anne has some affliction.[5] Alternatively, the song has been interpreted as a song about masturbation, which author Chris Charlesworth would describe as The Who's "second great song about masturbation" after the band's 1967 single "Pictures of Lily."[5][7] Rock authors Steve Grantley and Alan Parker suggested that the reason for the shaky hands can be inferred from the lines "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hands / What they've done to a man, those shaky hands."[6] Rolling Stone Magazine praised the "barely-beneath-the-surface humor of the lyric."[8]
"Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" has an attractive flamenco-influenced melody, described by Allmusic's Mark Deming as "charming" and "a tune you couldn't forget even if you tried."[4] Author John Atkins describes the song as being a "delightful pop song in the Everly Brothers mold."[7] Charlesworth suggested that regardless of the lyrics, the song "would have been a winner on melody alone."[5] Instrumentation on the version of the song on The Who Sell Out includes Latin-style acoustic guitar playing from Townshend and drum breaks by Keith Moon.[4][5][8] Grantley and Parker describe the vocals as a cross between The Mamas and the Papas and Simon and Garfunkel.[6] This version was recorded at De Lane Lea Studios in London in late October 1967.[6]
An alternative version was recorded at Mirasound Studios in New York using electric guitar rather than acoustic guitar.[5][6] This version also features an organ solo from Al Kooper.[5][6] Grantley and Parker describe this version as having a "gentle atmosphere."[6] On this version, lead vocalist Roger Daltry employs a tremolo effect on the word "shaky," giving that word a "shaky" feel.[5] A mono mix of the electric version of the song was used as the B-side of the "I Can See for Miles" single in the US.[5][7] A stereo mix of this version was also included on the 1998 remastered version of the Odds and Sods album.[6][9]
"Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" was also used as the b-side of the "Magic Bus" single in Norway.[10] It has also been included on several compilation albums. The acoustic version was included on the 1968 compilation album Direct Hits.[5][11] The electric version was included on the 1985 compilation album Who's Missing.[5][12] It was also included on the 1994 compilation album Rarities Volume I & Volume II.[13] The acoustic version was also included on the box set Thirty Years of Maximum R&B.[5][14] A live version, recorded on November 27, 2000 was released on the 2003 live album Live at the Royal Albert Hall.[15]
The Nils covered "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" on their 1996 album Green Fields in Daylight.[16] Petra Haden covered the song on her 2005 album Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out.[17] Opal Butterfly covered the song on the multi-artist compilation album What's the Rush, Time Machine Man? Psychedelic Jumble, Vol. 1[18] Chris Richards covered the song on the Who tribute album Who's Not Forgotten: FDR's Tribute to the Who.[19]