Written by: McCartney
Recorded: May 1968
Released: 28 October 1996
Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar
Available on:
Anthology 3
Paul McCartney recorded a demo of Junk at George Harrison's house in Esher, Surrey, towards the end of May 1968. The Beatles recorded demos of at least 26 songs, many of which subsequently appeared on the White Album.
Junk was one of many songs written by The Beatles in Rishikesh, India, where they studied meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
The Kinfauns demos – named after Harrison's bungalow – were widely bootlegged from the 1970s. Unofficial copies of the Junk recording last 2'38", and feature a guitar introduction and harmony vocals unavailable elsewhere. When the recording surfaced in 1996 on Anthology 3, it lasted just 2'25".
The song was never recorded in the studio for the White Album, perhaps due to McCartney's prolific songwriting upon his return from India. A very rough version, lasting just 16 seconds and sung in mock French, was busked on 9 January 1969 during the Get Back sessions in Twickenham Film Studios.
Junk did eventually surface in 1970, on McCartney's self-titled debut solo album. Lasting just 1'57", it was a four-track home recording, made in late 1969 or early 1970, with McCartney playing all instruments. It was later transferred to eight-track at Morgan Studios, London, where further overdubs were added.
An instrumental version with additional Mellotron string effects, titled Singalong Junk, also featured on the McCartney album.
A gorgeous little melody. I’m partial, though, to “Singalong Junk,” the instrumental only version with Mellotron from Paul’s first solo album.
Yeah, I am hip with your jive. I prefer the singalong version. I can play this song on my guitar. Learned it from some dude on Youtube. Played it during a live gig, all these girls gathered ’round. Ah, it was nice! “Oh, he’s playing the song from “Jerry McGuire”! They would exclaim.
I think the article transposes the running times, Anthology 3 is 2’25” not 2’38”. For those who enjoy it, Macca also plays Junk on his Unplugged CD.
Thanks Bill – I’ve corrected the piece. There’s also another article on Junk in the Paul McCartney section.
Achingly beautiful melody, crap lyrics. …And the world became painfully aware that Lennon’s contribution to McCartney’s lyrics was much greater than previously thought. If only…
Totally agree on the melody, completely disagree on the lyrics. I think they’re fantastic. The best lyrics stray from the mark but still hit home.
But what is the mark? I don’t think even PM knew!
Maybe the reason why its called junk. I am also at awe why Paul would just leave this beautiful melody to waste. Lyrics is really the strength of John though. Music, Paul’s
Man, my english is really poor, but I can’t bear to see a lot of people underappreciated this lyric. I hope you understand my english.
I don’t get it, why people always said bad things about Junk lyric.
If you know what the lyric means, it is perfect lyric for its melody. the lyric tell a story about a broken hearted guy that used to always together with his lover, but eventually they should broken up. And this guy remembering their times thanks to the things they used to belong.
Bicycles for two, Sleeping bag for two, Something old and new, Memories for you and me.
and the reff is this guy just had a daydream thinking because of the nostalgic feeling. or maybe he just throw up their things, trying to move on. doing a “sentimental jamboree” for his “broken hearted jubilee”
I like the words even though I have no idea what the hell they mean! Great song. I wish the Beatles had done a version proper.
t I enjoy so much this song even I can’t understand the words, someday we’ll know what they mean hahhaha
They’re not tricky. The junkyard holds all the crap we buy. Macca is writing a neat little song that questions consumerism. What you buy in the shop today is junk tomorrow.
Does Macca do the guitar and vocals for this recording or were George or John involved? I’m assuming its Paul considering it was only a demo and considering the state of the band as this was recorded.
It was recorded at George’s house with Paul and George only. The balls of it is done by Paul with extra guitar and ad lib harmonisation done by George.
I think the lyrics are just about a junk shop/yard.
“Buy buy”, says the sign in the shop window,
“Why why?” Says the junk in the yard
And then a pleasing list of junk items found in said yard.
I think this song is about unrestrained consumerism/materialism and it’s aftermath of regret and emptiness. People buy too much stuff in materialistic fits, and although the objects may bring short-term joy, they quickly become clutter strewn all over the place. People succumb to marketing and pretty store displays (buy, buy says the sign in the shop window), and then quickly wonder why (why, why says the junk in the yard) they just had to have those items.
I don’t know about the materialism angle of this song as I interpret the lyrics more literally: the dissolution of a couple’s relationship/ marriage. Starting with the wedding (something old and new), moving onto “candle sticks, building bricks, bicycles and sleeping bags for two”-“memories for you and me”. Until it becomes “sentimental jamboree”and “broken hearted jubilee”. And then finally the “junk” of a failed marriage ending up in the yard…or store. “Buy, buy says the sign in the shop window” (or bye bye) and “why, why….says the “junk” in the yard” or the couple themselves.
Then again, I could be completely wrong!
A beautiful McCartney song. Great lyric.
Junk….how apt
The melody line to this is just so pretty. I think it should have made the line up for “the white album”
I agree with Outatime about the sweetness of the lyrics,
kind of a sad, nostalgic song.
Stuff from the past being left behind, forgotten…o
I like this song. The lyrics are immature, but I’m sure the group would have come up with better ones had they completed the song. Like the 2014 Canadian Olympic team could have won gold twice with two different rosters, The Beatles in this era could have put up two double white albums, both of them grade a winners.
I agree, montion. George Martin encouraged McCartney to write great lyrics that would live up to the beautiful melody of “Yesterday” and he delivered. I believe that if the lyrics to “Junk” were of that high quality this song would be a classic in the same vein, covered by many. Still a beautiful tune – I prefer “Singalong Junk.”
While probably not the intended interpretation of the song, I’ve always thought it to be about a man who is heartbroken. Among the junk are bicycles for two showing that his world was built around his lover and much of it has turned to junk. The broken heart’s jubilee us a reference to not having a lover. The buy and why part us him crying out in loneliness. Take me and my junk, essentially. The why is the response or his musing on what he did wrong.
Perhaps George was taught the counter melody / harmonies here, but it sounds like he’s is coming up with them on the spot. If so, Macca must’ve liked the ideas, because he kept them for the final version.
A lovely McCartney song. As someone else said sad and nostalgic.
Finally I have realized that it’s a song made for thinking, It hasn’t got a especially meaning , everyone has done his interpretation. Simply, a beautiful song
Good guitar playing lesson with this one. Based around a D chord, it is a proof of what George Harrison said about this chord. For those not so skilled guitar players (such as myself; that is why I play bass) this is one you should try to start getting into more difficult songs.
I wonder if this is, in part, a meditation on losing John.
I think Junk is a word for heroin. The song IMO is about Lennon. Calling him a broken hearted Jew…
Beatles lyrics were often auto biographical.
Paul in those days was breaking relationship with Jane Asher,
so maybe the song is a nostalgic memory about their past