Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11 May 1967
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Keith Grant
Released: 7 July 1967 (UK), 17 July 1967 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, clavioline, piano
Paul McCartney: vocals, piano, bass
George Harrison: vocals, guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine, maracas
Eddie Kramer: vibraphone
Mick Jagger: vocals
Available on:
Magical Mystery Tour
Yellow Submarine Songtrack
A combination of two unfinished Lennon-McCartney song fragments, Baby You're A Rich Man was recorded in a single day and issued as the b-side to All You Need Is Love.
The first song recorded specifically for The Beatles' animated film Yellow Submarine, Baby You're A Rich Man segued together Lennon's falsetto verses and McCartney's bouncy, chanting chorus.
That's a combination of two separate pieces, Paul's and mine, put together and forced into one song. One half was all mine. [Sings] 'How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people, now that you know who you are, da da da da.' Then Paul comes in with [sings] 'Baby, you're a rich man,' which was a lick he had around.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
Lennon's section was originally titled One Of The Beautiful People. It was possibly inspired by the 14-Hour Technicolour Dream, a 'happening' which took place on 29 April 1967, shortly before the song was recorded. John Lennon attended the event, which was headlined by Pink Floyd.
Paul McCartney's chorus, meanwhile, mostly centres on a single note. Its lyrics, like Lennon's verses, contain sufficient psychedelic nonsense to suit the times.
The lyrics are thought to relate, at least in part, to The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein. Indeed, it has been claimed that Lennon sang "Baby you're a rich fag Jew" in the studio.
Although originally intended for the Yellow Submarine soundtrack, Baby You're A Rich Man was included on the All You Need Is Love single, which was rush-released following The Beatles' appearance on the Our World satellite link-up.
On 7 August 1967 George Harrison visited San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. Accompanied by his wife Pattie, Neil Aspinall and Derek Taylor, he strummed a few bars of the song on an acoustic guitar for the assembled beautiful people in Golden Gate Park.
In the studio
This curiously sparse recording was completed in a single session on 11 May 1967. It took place at Olympic Sound Studios, in Barnes, London, between 9pm and 3am the following morning.
Baby You're A Rich Man was the first Beatles song recorded and mixed entirely away from Abbey Road. According to studio manager Keith Grant, who also engineered the session, The Beatles were unaccustomed to working to such a fast pace in 1967.
I do a lot of orchestral work and you naturally push people along. The Beatles said that this was the fastest record they'd ever made. They were used to a much more leisurely pace. We started the session at about 9pm and it was finished and mixed by 3am, vocals and everything. They kept on playing, version after version, then we spooled back to the one they liked and overdubbed the vocals.
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mark Lewisohn
Lennon played a clavioline, a three-octave monophonic keyboard which was sped up to give an oboe-like effect. He also played piano, and sang lead and backing vocals, along with McCartney and Harrison.
McCartney also played bass and piano, Harrison contributed lead guitar, and Ringo performed percussion. Eddie Kramer, an engineer on the session, reportedly also played a vibraphone.
Mick Jagger was present at the session, and one of the tape boxes noted his name alongside The Beatles', suggesting he also sang backing vocals during the later choruses.
how could it be released in july if it was recorded in september? unless the dates are switched.
That was my mistake – thanks for pointing it out. The article said put the recording date as “11 May September 1967”. This was a cut-and-paste error, and should have just been 11 May.
Baby you’re a rich man has one of THE coolest intros ever with the percussion, then piano, then bass and I guess that clavioline.
Yes i wish there was a whole song of the intro.
Maybe a DJ can do a mix with it..
I most certainly agree!
I thought this was one of the songs that Rolling Stone genius Brian Jones played on along with You know my name, (look up the number.)
Yes …. every story I have ever heard about this song mentions that Brian Jones plays on this track.
Brian Jones a genius ? You’ve got to be kidding. First off “ You know my name etc. “ was the worst piece of crap the Beatles ever put to tape. The horn played by Jones is a joke musically. You’re confusing someone that knew a few chords on the guitar, to a Beatle ! I’m sure Brian was a nice man and all, but a musician of any caliber ,he was not. When people call Brian a multi instrumentalist ,it’s a joke. Rather like saying I picked up and instrument and was fooling around with,now I’m a multitask musician. It’s absurd …
I don’t think he was even a nice man!
BYARM,…Originally on Side B’ of the “All You Need Is Love 45. When this song came out I was so amazed by the sound being produced, it was beautiful,… and yes they all deserved all that was given them monitarily! The best group in the world should not have to think about money!
Do you have any type of source that indicates John seriously does say “Baby, you’re a rich fag Jew”?
I’ve listened to this song many times, and every time I’ve heard that line, I’ve never thought he says that. John definitely and positively says simply “Baby you’re a rich man, too”.
I feel this is a case where people are looking way too much into a lyric.
You can hear it just as the song is fading… John’s voice rises up and says “Baby you’re a rich Fag Jew” as the other vocals (Paul etc) sing the proper chorus. A little hard to distinguish because it’s somewhat muffled but I hear it for sure…
Yeah, I have heard this story before but never came across any compelling source suggesting this is true. I don’t hear it myself–every “too” is clearly “too” with that t sound at the start.
Let me offer my opinion as an “earwitness”: I bought the original mono single on the day it was released in 1967. I definitely heard “rich fag Jew” in the fadeout. It sounded like John speak-singing it. It was clear and audible. I heard it the first time I played it. There were no rumors flying around about the new Beatles single containing something controversial.Having said that, I will also say that the line was muddled on subsequent vinyl releases (MMT, YS). The consonants didn’t pop out of my speakers like they did on the single. On the 2009 CD remaster, its virtually non-existent. My theory: First, I believe the song was a tribute to Brian Epstein, for reasons I’ll post at another time. Given John’s other jibes at Brian for his sexual orientation and Jewish heritage, the tag at the end was John’s way of saying: “Brian, in case you haven’t figured it out, this song is for you.” The song was released in July, 1967. Brian died 6 weeks later. What was a private, inside joke in July might be considered in bad taste in August. Perhaps John or Sir George chose to “hide” it on subsequent remixes. NOTE: The first stereo mix clocks in 9 seconds shorter than the original mono.
Ithink you’re misunderstanding; he said it in the studio..doesn’t mean it was recorded for the song.
Totally agree. It’s people making up wordplay. Fact is when Brian died ,Lennon felt it more deeply than Paul . One must remember the Beatles were not stupid. They were all well aware they would not have happened if not for Brian . Brian was the first part of the equation,George Martin the other. Everything that happened shouldn’t have happened. The odds were overwhelmingly against this band . I just saw an interview with Mark Lewison addressing this idea. It’s beyond profound . A zillion to one that this little band would ever make it were the odds . Thank God for something otherworldly happening . The Beatles history is something you couldn’t make up.
The following is from “John Lennon: The Life” by Philip Norman:
…The B-side to “All You Need Is Love” was a hippie-debunking Lennon song called “Baby You’re a Rich man,” ostensibly mocking the Beautiful People but providing a coded double dig at Brian. In practice sessions (some say on the finished track also), John sang its chorus of “Baby, you’re a rich man, too,” as “you’re a rich fag Jew.” (page 503)
Philip Norman should provide proper documentation or quit indulging in heresay (“some say on the finished track also”).
Anyone know how the word bitch wound up on the end of the recording & who said it?
This song was recently used on David Fincher’s The Social Network.
Superb movie that fits perfectly with this underrated masterpiece.
[quote]…he [Harrison] performed the song on an acoustic guitar for the assembled beautiful people in a local park.[/quote]
That would be Golden Gate Park. It’s a bit more than a local park. Larger than New York’s Central Park.
Fair point – I’ve never been there! I’ve amended the article.
I believe it was actually Buena Vista Park, a smaller park uphill and south of Haight St.
all comments have been about john’s part, which is almost the whole song, except for the single line, “baby you’re a rich man.” paul seems to be addressing a female (“baby”), i’m guessing a beautiful one. a rich man is a powerful man. my feeling is, as it was back then, that paul’s remarking on the power of beautiful women. like when morrison says “sidewalk crouches at her feet.”
Man, you dumb asses read so much crap and pontification into what this lyric means or what that means. In the 50’s-60’s and even now, hipsters commonly addressed both men or women as “baby”. Not every Beatle song is a serious masterpiece composition. This one is a lark about the joys of being young, wealthy, popular, famous, and part of the elite psychedelic in-crowd, a club you can’t join because you’re not one of the ‘beautiful people”. Most of you probably weren’t even alive then. Songwriters never cease to be amazed at the meaning-of-life interpretations fans and critics read into simple pop songs. Given John’s caustic sense of humor if he did sing the “rich fag jew’ line during the development of the song they all knew it was a throw away line that would be discarded. The EMI censors would never let that slide. Remember the following year Paul was immediately forced to wipe the words “Hey Jude” of their Apple store front window because the London public thought it was a Nazi-esque anti-Semitic slur not knowing it was just a song title.
Thank you. You can only read so much into a song. People seem bothered by just having to listen to the finished product. Gotta dig and be busy….
All well and good, I agree wholeheartedly BUT…’rich fag jew’ is there plain as day for all to hear on Yellow Submarine Songtrack. The throwaway line that found its way back!
Beautiful verses by John!!! The chorus by Paul is perfectly catchy, especially the part where they say “nothing to do”. I just love that part!!!
Recently I’ve been struck by the piano chords in the intro and verses, especially the way they are played in varying rhythms. Does anyone know who played that part, John or Paul?
Lennon in later years regretted his early years of hitting women. The same violent streak played out in his barbed sense of humor. Wonder if he ever regretted the “rich fag Jew” joke?
its a rumor that john might of had sex with brian. also being gay was super tabboo and john did it in jest. like how at his concerts he used to mock the mentally handicap. it was the times. i think had he been alive today he might think differently.
Total shift of theme here…just want to clear the air …
Bloomingdales’ imprint on their paper shopping bags says “Big Brown Bag“…and has, for years. Every time I see someone carrying a BBB, I smile…ohh how the Beatles have re-engineered our cultural genetic fabric!
I never understood who this song was for. It seems highly personal on a certain level – aimed at someone they new very well. Otherwise, taken at face value, it doesn’t make much sense. “Paul is Dead” types see this as reference to the “new Paul” as being welcomed into the world of fame and fortune. Anyway, the song is heavily controlled by Lennon with the backwards sounding intro and dominating questioniing lyrics. Interesting… but not one of my favorites.
Maybe Brian J was just there, I also heard he played on it but that was because everyone thought the the clavioline was an oboe. He may have added percussion cause he was great with percussion. Also they might have gotten Mick mixed up with Brian
Great song. I was 14. I remember this kid telling us about it. He said, ‘it’s about queers.’ He said, ‘A Baby is a queer.’ Oh how we sniggered. How times have changed too. Thank Gawd!
I just LOVE the simplicity of this song. Just the intro and sparse instruments and multi-rhythms are very unique in Beatle World. Stop thinking. Listen to those beautiful voices. Kick back and enjoy!
As for the rich fag jew part, really? You must not know John Lennon at all.
Forgive me if I am wrong but I believe that when Brian Epstein wrote his “Cellar Full of Noise” he solicited his Beatles for suggestions for a title. And John is alleged to have offered “A Cellar Full of Boys” and (incredibly) “Queer Jew.” both of which hurt Brian greatly.
oh john was relentless. and your right about both accounts
I think you are confusing Celler Full of Boys with the Monty Python satire The Rutles, produced by George Harrison.
The book title in All You Need Is Cash was A Cellarful of Goys, a reference to Judaism not homosexuality.
Here’s a technical thing to try and figure out…. There is this really weird moaning noise throughout this song that sounds maybe like George’s lead guitar part? Can anyone verify what it might be? It starts in unison with the recall in the 2nd verse “often enough to know” at exactly 1:00. Again at 1:10 with “Nothing that doesn’t show.” Also its really prominent during that Chorus right after there (where it sounds like its moaning). It almost sounds like someone is moaning but is probably really a guitar. I’m skeptical that its Georges lead guitar part, because you can definitely hear (George Gtr.) in the chorus doing its G power chord shuffle and accented stabs. Does anyone have any information on this? I would be super grateful !
It sounds like a guitar overdub to me…
Finally! Someone mentioning the guitar work! I’ve often thought the main/”rhythm” guitar was amazing, nice and choppy and different from anything before or after, except maaayyybeee Old Brown Shoe.
Get out your speakers and a stereo version, turn the channel with piano and drums completely off, then using the equalizer, crank up the midrange and completely drop the bass and treble ends, and listen to George at his best! Just fiddling around, not going over it incessantly like “I’m Only Sleeping”.
I always thought the part you’re referring to was an overdubbed slide, but it has been often reported that George didn’t consider playing slide until Delaney Bramlett asked him to try it out.
ok so i haven’t the time to read all the comments and i’m sure some one gave mention of it already but, the line he keeps all his money in a big brown bag is a nod to the touring years, when brian was give off the books money in a brown paper bag.
I forgot about the brown bag money. You are correct. “Baby, you’re a rich man, too.” Who else are rich men? Yup, deservedly so.
Lazy lyric in the chorus. They should have spent a bit more time on this one.
At the time that this song was written and recorded, there was a huge hit musical in London’s West End: “Fiddler on the Roof.” The star of that show, Chaim Topol, had a top-20 hit that spring with his song from the show “If I Were a Rich Man.”
Could the Beatles song be an answer to “If I Were A Rich Man”?
I contend the original lyric was “keep all your money in a big brown bag, inside the Louvre, what a thing to do”, (referring to Musee du Louvre, famous art museum in Paris)
My belief in the Louvre as the original lyric is based on recalling my sophomore year 1971 high school (suburban Chicago) French teacher, Mademoiselle Garde’s, enthusiastic telling the story of the original lyric as the Louvre and why it was changed due to a request from the Louvre management and Epstein wishing to avoid any legal hassle with using the name in the song. She absolutely convinced the class that Louvre, not zoo was the original lyric. She took a whole week out of her lesson plan to discuss the Beatles, England and France including the Louvre and how at the time, beautiful, hip, famous, fashionable, jet setting people from all over the world started hanging out there, smoking pot, dropping acid and having sex right in the Louvre. She had been in France studying in the ‘60’s and had visited the Louvre many times.
In the late 50’s and 60’s, the Louvre was the “thing to do” in the artist, musician and beatnik culture (The band name Beatles is linked to beatnik or variations).
The Louvre has many famous paintings as everyone knows but it was also exhibiting many modern art paintings, photography and sculptures that challenged preconceived ideas about what constituted art. More and more artists and hipsters of the day began hanging out there and initially Louvre management, wishing to provide a creativity positive atmosphere, condoned the new type of art appreciation with Laissez Faire chill.
The traditional “average” tourists with families however became outraged and complained about the open depravity they witnessed in the Louvre. The sexual revolution, freedom from the staid norms of the ‘50’s and the generation gap were on full display. The Anti-Vietnam War sentiment had been a hot topic in France due to Vietnam having been a French colony and a general atmosphere of tension was evident among French public. Because of the complaints and fearing the loss of tourism revenue the adverse publicity was threatening, security was beefed up and closed circuit cameras were installed. The Louvre which had been open and inviting, became a much more tightly controlled, less tolerant, security minded space. The security changes to the Louvre were publicized by the management and it was promoted as a very safe, secure place.
So what does the money in a big brown bag have to do with the Louvre? Ringo had an idiosyncratic preference for being paid in cash in a undistinguished brown bag. But his friends wondered where he would keep it safe. The Louvre was better than a British bank. Ringo was paranoid about British banks and where to put his cash and avoid taxes. The Paris based Louvre was that place to keep it hidden from the highly taxing British government. So Louvre, the hang out for beautiful people also became the place to keep Ringo’s bag of cash. The song is primarily a message to Epstein, a nerd as a youngster, who loved hanging with this crowd of beautiful people.
Why would Ringo put his bag of money in the zoo? It doesn’t make sense unless you understand that the Louvre management objected to the lyric and Epstein wishing to avoid legal hassle asked the Beatles to change it. The Louvre was happy to avoid publicity and association with the negative public image of the beatniks. Ringo volunteered the word Zoo, it substituted well in the lyric, was used and assumed to be the original verse ever since.
My belief is that you were brainwashed by your French teacher all those years ago.
Good grief. Someone has WAY too much time on their hands.
The word is clearly “zoo”. It’s a gag line – jokey. SMH….
Can anybody fill me in on specifically when the vibraphone plays and what the vibraphone plays? Everything I’ve read suggests it’s there but I can’t find it
I’ve always enjoyed “Baby, You’re a Rich Man”, even if some music commentators dismiss it as a throwaway Beatles tune.. I think it’s the vibe of the whole thing. That intro sounds like a gypsy-hippie caravan churning about with beautiful people riding it like an Indian elephant… Think ‘The Fool’ and the like. It may be simplistic in the chorus, but the song hooked me the instant I heard it. It definitely was of the times. And it made you feel like you were invited to a special Beatles party where all the groovy and hip people were in attendance. If this was recorded by any other group, people would be calling it a psychedelic masterpiece, but since it is in the Beatles canon, it’s overshadowed by all their other stellar work.
Hear hear Ron! Agree completely. It is all vibe all the time ?
To Paul D —
I too strive to hear a vibraphone clearly in the song, It’s sure not in your face, but it may be there in a few places — I think it’s usually the damped, unsustained setting so it’s like a marimba in places because I hear that type of dry percussive sound with actual tones/ pitches here and there. Otherwise in the sustained setting, I think it maybe simply doubling the piano on some of the triads and probably is playing with the piano the 5-3-1 of the tonic triad right before every chorus.
I really like Paul’s bass playing on this. Cool rhythm and choice to stay on the G during the C chord in the verse. Also nice Bb-B-C riff on the big brown bag part. The whole album is great and I think it would be more highly regarded if it wasn’t so overshadowed by SGT Pepper.
Either George is playing through a Leslie cabinet, or they have one of the acoustic pianos going through one…does anyone hear this?
That big brown bag inside the zoo referred to the several thousand tabs of Owsley acid, Blue Cheer and White Lightning, that John kept stashed in the bushes around Regent’s Park Zoo, near Paul’s house in St Johns Wood