Comments on: Honey Pie

By: Mr. Kite

Mr. Kite — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 19:07:02 +0000

The lyric “She was a Working Girl”, did Paul mean that in the sense of a prostitute, or did he mean that she was a working-class girl ?

By: Andy Sayer

Andy Sayer — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 14:21:38 +0000

I suspect often when the people suggest it is George or John on bass when Paul is on piano this isn’t the case – apart from Let it Be sessions they weren’t recording “live” so on a lot of tracks it’s likely Paul overdubbed bass and George and John aren’t on the track at all.

By: Hjnintendofan

Hjnintendofan — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 02:50:24 +0000

Beatlesebooks.com said that Paul is also playing guitar on the track, in particular the opening lick. I still have a strong superstition that Paul isn’t and it just John but he could be playing that opening lick.

By: dgw28

dgw28 — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 21:50:34 +0000

My Dad loved a lot of Paul’s songs. Dad played the piano accordion and we would ‘do’ these covers with me on guitar.
Honey Pie and When I’m 64 were his favorites. So really happy memories whenever I hear these tracks.

By: Pecky

Pecky — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 23:06:29 +0000

Picked up a ukulele 3 months ago. Having fun with the old 20’s tunes, everyone knows them, good sing along stuff. Woke up with Honey Pie in my head yesterday, got the changes down now, great fun uku tune, flows. no doubt Macas gotta be worlds No:1 popular song writer.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 17:15:54 +0000

Hello dear Beatles fans.
Jazz appears to make fans uncomfortable… and yet “skiffle” was super popular in Liverpool. Jazz is a part of this, too.
Yes, the Beatles primarily played in a rock style, but clearly enjoyed jazz.
Paul even recently released a jazz-themed album, I believe.
I love “Honey Pie” and only wish they had done more of this.
Ringo would be a great jazz drummer.
Yes, humour… indeed, is a key part of the appeal for me.
Humour is essential for mental health and rock often lacks it. Jazz employs humour to great effect and I recommend a greater dose for Beatles fans, Charlie Parker, Miles, Dizzy and Ellington, of course.
There’s only so much you can do with Rock.
So the genius of “St Pepper” and “Mystery Tour” and “White album” is the burst of jazz and humour… as well as “World Music”… the 5 minute Indian music break on “Pepper” comes to mind…, also cool, that slip into the 1967 output, the best of all, and the best of 1968, though slightly less brilliant, in my view.
Though not quite as scintilating, “Honey Pie” continues the brilliance of “Pepper” and “Mustery Tour”. As such, it cannot be overlooked!
Cheers.

By: rollingpeople

rollingpeople — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 07:11:30 +0000

The mono version is by far superior, with few more notes in the solo that really makes it even more vaudeville. I agree the rhythm guitar sound like John’s Casino, however I was never sure who played the solo. The woodwind arrangement is excellent, really elevates the song to another level.

By: Willem

Willem — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 18:00:53 +0000

Sorry guys, but it’s the one really dull and fusty track on the White Album together with Good Night.
But it’s still my favorite album ever.

By: Graham Paterson

Graham Paterson — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 09:27:44 +0000

Just to add. Paul McCartney had a great fondness for music hall. His Dad was in a band and this obviously is a reflection of this. Just as “When I’m Sixty Four” was on “Sgt Pepper” and “You Gave Me The Answer” on the Wings album “Venus and Mars”. “Honey Pie”, just adds another twist to the great variety of song styles you get on the”White Album”.There is a brilliant tongue and cheek element to a number of the songs on this double album. Ringo’s “Don’t Pass Me By”, John’s “Glass Onion”, George’s “Savoy Truffle”, Paul’s “Oblidi Oblida”. This aspect to The Beatles compositions was evident right from the beginning to the very end i.e. “Her Majesty” off “Abbey Road”.

By: Graham Paterson

Graham Paterson — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 08:52:26 +0000

I love this song. A great Paul McCartney song. Straight out of McCartney’s best songs.

By: Pablo Castro

Pablo Castro — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 03:52:47 +0000

More than that, it´s nothing simple to write a tune in another style that is , at the same time, credible and original, not a pastiche or an tongue-in-cheek imitation. That´s why music never should be analysed only by the “quality of the lyrics” , even because its lyrics are great, in that style. The apropriate introduction is splendid, resuming the theme of the song, just like Tin Pan Alley´s tradition. Whoever writes songs understands how difficult it is to write this kind of “silly love song”.

By: Pablo Castro

Pablo Castro — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 03:47:50 +0000

Definetely that was Martha My Dear.

By: Holsety

Holsety — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 01:31:33 +0000

I’ve also read that they were recording ‘Martha My Dear’ in that photo, though it said ‘Honey Pie’ in the book.

By: Holsety

Holsety — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 01:29:46 +0000

I just wanted to share that there’s a photo in Linda’s book about her photography of the Beatles recording “Honey Pie”; Paul is singing and playing piano, George is on electric guitar, and the session musicians are in the back. No John or Ringo in the picture. Just wondering if maybe George did the rhythm guitar or if there was an overdub later?

By: Paulus

Paulus — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:24:42 +0000

Very likely it’s his casino, it was virtually the only guitar he played on the white album (except for the acoustics)

By: James

James — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 17:03:48 +0000

This song is genius! Paul has amanaged to encapsulate all of the beauty and fun of the 20s vaudeville american music into 1 song out of nowhere in an album totally unrelated to this feel of this song. This song is a gem, its a 1 off and is a real joy to listen to and deserves far more respect.

By: Garret

Garret — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 09:15:24 +0000

I think any hatred toward this song as one of Paul’s silly songs is misdirected. Individually, yes, it is “fruity”, but taken in the overall context of the White Album it adds to the diverse musical landscape that the Beatles created that sets them apart from all other groups. It’s quite enjoyable.

By: Lukey Boy

Lukey Boy — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 21:13:36 +0000

I prefer this to When I’m Sixty-Four

By: robert

robert — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:45:28 +0000

Hi Joe, an ukulele I can imagine and almost hear in this song. Notice Paul’ extreme high voice at 1:50 but I can’t recover a guitarsolo in it (white album) do you?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:43:59 +0000

Any idea what guitar John’s playing for that solo?