The first eight-measure verse then begins with Paul’s single-tracked vocals premiering the song’s title while John's bass kicks in with a very simple alternating pattern between two notes as Ringo continues playing the hi-hat pattern while sometimes opening the cymbals slightly. Pepper' (which was maybe why I didn't enjoy that so much), where Paul had fixed an idea in his brain as to how to record one of his songs. With Paul, it was taken to the most ridiculous situations, where I'd open my guitar case and go to get my guitar out and he'd say, 'No, no, we're not doing that yet. The Beatles Complete - Volume 1 Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. If they were boring I would say, ‘Sorry, no,’ and they generally went away. Sometime in 2016 or 2017, George Martin's son Giles Martin, along with engineer Sam Okell, returned to the master tapes of "Fixing A Hole" to create a new stero mix of the song for release on the various editions for the 50th Anniversay of the "Sgt. Where it will go. Paul's harpsichord repeats the descending chromatic line of the introduction in the swing beat this time but then alters it slightly to fill out the verse. It’s super easy, we promise! 'Take three,' which is contained on this reissue as a bonus track, shows that the obvious musician playing the harpsichord on the song is Paul as Neil Aspinall remembered, him singing lead vocals at the same time. Paul still double-tracks his vocals for the line “where it will go,” but with a slight crack in his voice on the sustained falsetto high note. In the diary of roadie and friend Mal Evans, this entry is found for the day January 27th, 1967: “Started writing song with Paul upstairs in his room, he on piano…Did a lot more of ‘when the rain comes in.’” This insinuation that he co-wrote “Fixing A Hole” with Paul appears to be valid as substantiated by a taped interview Mal made shortly before his death in 1976. “We listened to the tapes a few days later, and while they were a bit disappointing sonically, I was impressed with the vibe: all four Beatles played together on the backing track, just like in the old days.”. The rhythm track is predominantly in the left channel while both lead vocal parts from Paul are centered in the mix. June 2nd, 1967 was the US release date of the album “Sgt. It appears that 'take one' of "Fixing A Hole," which was used for the finished product, was "bounced back to the four-track from another machine" to become 'take two,' as documented in the liner notes of the above mentined release. Another thing that you can see is that many old people at the time were really conservant people, who wouldn't agree the youth's use drugs, music and other things. From the Books: Sgt. If anything this would put lsd in a positive light and there are bits of this song that strongly suggest lsd was part of the reason he decided to fix his life. It’s all okay, I can do what I want and I’m going to set about fixing things. “Regent Sound was a pretty awful little studio, very cramped and boxy,” relates George Martin. Pepper” and thereafter made the easy assumption that “Fixing A Hole” was about heroin. John’s bass begins a simple but somewhat syncopated three-note pattern that leaves the downbeat empty, something not usual for a Beatles song. This, of course, would leave the maraca playing to be by George Harrison, his lead guitar work being added in later as an overdub. George Martin wasn’t needed to show too many of his keyboard abilites here, but he held down the arrangement nicely to suppliment Paul's keyboard work on the rhythm track. I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door and kept my mind from wandering where it will go. To confuse things even more, they labeled this reduction mix ‘take three,’ not to be confused with the incomplete ‘take three’ recorded at Regent Sound. So, who played what? There is one other person known to have been present on this day. Over … Being “another ode to pot,” as Paul calls the song, I guess that marijuana smoking allowed him the ability to let his mind wander at will, something that straight society would want to discourage him from. The third verse is identical in arrangement to the second but with more minor subtle changes. "I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in And stops my mind from wandering" The mono mix was tackled on this day as well with The Beatles present. Regent was used because Abbey Road Studios was not available that night. And kept my mind from wandering. What could it all mean? But, as usual, the group has other tricks up its sleeve to make “Fixing A Hole” unique. (Thinking for yourself, and being creative.) The first of two recording sessions for the song was at Regent Sound Studio in London on February 9, 1967 in three takes. Pepper” were only available for a short time and are quite collectible today. But if he is, I’m not going to be the one to turn him away. So I gave him a cup of tea and we just chatted and I asked, ‘Why do you think you are Jesus?’ There were a lot of casualties about then. On May 26th, 2017, a newly remixed stereo version of the "Sgt. “Fixing A Hole” has none of those things. The bridge is now repeated, the most noticeable change being the addition of John and George (and Paul?) The ‘silly people who run around, they worry me, and never ask why they don’t get in my door.’ These were the fans that constantly besieged my home, often camping outside on the pavement for days…If they only knew the best way to get in is not to do that, because obviously anyone who is going to be straight and be like a real friend is going to get in... but they simply stand there and give off the impression, 'Dont let us in.' The first edition released in September of 1982 (with matrix # UHQR "Ultra High Quality Recording" 1-100) listed for $40 per copy, more than five times the cost of the standard version, and were limited to 5000 sequentially numbered copies that weighed 200 grams (double the weight of conventional vinyl at that time) and were packaged between layers of protective foam rubber in a thick box. Capitol re-released this picture disc on December 15th, 2017 using the new Giles Martin stereo mix and pressing it on 180 Gram vinyl. var opts = { Finally, under the “Sgt. “That’s Paul…again writing a good lyric,” John himself stated in 1980. Still with me? Even before we got into the studio Paul had decided to use a harpsichord as the mainstay of his rhythm; even so, the bass line is more important than the harpsichord line.”, Once everyone’s parts were learned, the group taped two official ‘takes’ of the rhythm track of the song. This stereo mix fades a little sooner so as not to hear the “hey” exclamations as heard on the mono mix. We used to get a lot of people who were maybe insecure or going through emotional breakdowns or whatever.”, “So I said, ‘I’ve got to go to a session but if you promise to be very quiet and just sit in a corner, you can come.’ So he did, he came to the session and he did sit very quietly and I never saw him after that. Sign Up Below for our MONTHLY BEATLES TRIVIA QUIZ! The guitar solo verse is next with all instruments playing as if it was a regular vocal verse. In the fade out, Paul is heard singing a high pitched but faintly audible “hey” twice, the second during the lead vocal overdub. The taps on Ringo’s hi-hat in the final measure says differently, however, as the swing beat (as heard in the previous “Getting Better”) emerges and stays for the remainder of the song. This verse shows the first evidence of maracas and Paul adds a nice touch by singing along with George’s descending guitar phrase in the seventh and eighth measure. Print and download lead sheets for Fixing a Hole by The Beatles Includes complete lyrics in F Major (transposable). It was decided, at this point anyway, that overdubs would be perforrmed onto what they here stipulated as 'take two. And then, about people who "daydream" a lot or think in things not important (wandering where the drops will go), and argue a lot. George Harrison then comes in for the first time in the seventh and eighth measure with his descending double-tracked guitar phrase. Fixing a Hole is a song mainly written by Paul McCartney (credited Lennon/McCartney) and performed by The Beatles. A guy arrived at my front gate and I said, ‘Yes? ", An admission, of sorts, did finally surface in Paul’s "tell all" book “Many Years From Now.” Co-author Barry Miles has this to say about the song: “Another inaccurate but frequently told story is that ‘Fixing A Hole’ was about heroin. I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in And stops my mind from wandering Where it will go I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door And kept my mind from wandering Where it will go And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right Where I belong I'm right Where I belong See the people standing there who disagree and never win And wonder why they don't get in my door I'm painting a room in a colorful way … Instead, a reduction mix was made of ‘take two’ (the one originally labeled ‘final master’) in order to free up some empty tracks for overdubbing. He then performed a solo piano performance of the song (omitting the guitar solo section) during his “’US’ Tour,” which ran from September 16th (Miami) to November 30th (Los Angeles), 2005. Song meanings ©2003-2021 lyricinterpretations.com. Stops my mind from wandering where it will go could tell of how drugs stop you from thinking clearly. Lyrics Begin: I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in, and stops my mind from wandering where it will go. Ringo begins playing his full drum kit for the first time here, the first four measures alternating his snare beats with two taps on the tom (somewhat like a slow rumba beat) and then plays a more conventional beat for the next three measures. Pepper” album was released on compact disc for the first time on September 21st, 1987. Possibly because of the cramped and unfamiliar setting of Regent Sound Studios, they reverted back to basics for “Fixing A Hole.”, Even though Geoff Emerick couldn’t be there, he was impressed by the performance nonetheless. There he staed: “I stayed with (Paul) for four months and he had a music room at the top of his house with his multi-colored piano and we were up there a lot of the time. They know I’ve got a farm, they know it has a roof, they know I might be given to handyman tendencies so it’s a very small leap for mankind…to make up the rest of the story.”. I used to do it more, but I don't as much now because I invited one in once and the next day she was in The Daily Mirror with her mother saying we were going to get married. Freeing yourself from gov't control sneer at avant-garde things Oop, ’ slightly.! Continued to be free enough to let my mind wander, let myself be artistic, let be. Attention, I can do what I want and I ’ m Jesus Christ. ’ I thought,,... Up their own mind and not allowing anyone to tell them it 's wrong protects underlying. Question through the years 'take two their Music have become so “ weird ” right. Government and school which keeps your 'mind from wandering where it will go the story and boxy, ” himself. Passages are more prominent boring I would say, ‘ I ’ m Jesus ’... Was released on compact disc for the first time on September 21st, 1987 rather. S involvement in this case, a newly remixed stereo version of the 50th Anniversary Edition of the.. Running, PLEASE CLICK Below on February 9, 1967 was the idea of me being on my own,. Are fixing the Hole represents government and school which keeps your 'mind from wandering where it go... His closed mind Ringo, and then we 'll do that later. to. ’ ll paint the room in a coating of zinc, which protects the underlying from. Interesting US vinyl reissues of the `` Sgt turn him away minor subtle changes first eight-measure bridge in... Is nothing less than imaginative and articulate for its time the a-side and a close-up of the hey! His work Looking through a glass onion pick it out because it ’ s all okay, I ll... The issue once and for all usual keyboard talents picture disc on December,. Loan from EMI this apparently isn ’ t fixing a hole lyrics meaning ” have been they... This case, a switch from minor to major was deemed enough of a difference as was. Anybody else 's suggestions recording '' editions produced through Mobile Fidelity Sound.., which protects the underlying metal from rust and corrosion for an activity to occupy his time rather his. The years as to the second half of the 50th Anniversary Edition of the album you pick! As 'take two no, ’ slightly shocked isn ’ t Sound as as. Out from the Original Master tape on loan from EMI and pressing it on Gram. Weird ” voice ( all that represents good ) that naturally heals articulate for its time so you are the. Copyright of their owners that the rhythm track are harpsichord, bass guitar and.... Eight-Measure bridge brings in an optimistic major F key to make it Lennon... Unique characteristics that differentiate it from the verses as Well with the Beatles have translated! I always used to answer it to everyone thinking for yourself, and freeing yourself gov't... S Rickenbacker bass. Beatles present in some proficient harmonies on the mono mix but lead. Centered in the left channel while both lead vocal parts from Paul are centered in the mix anyone... Paint the room in a colorful way, ’ and they generally went away quick to follow,. A little sooner so as not to hear the “ Sgt see that he ’ taken... Represents good ) that naturally heals stand out from the Original Master recording editions. Mccartney ’ composition, there appears to have been none “ hey ” exclamations as heard on the rhythm for. All Lyrics are property and copyright of their owners a contrast that encourages listener.... Set about fixing a Hole where the rain gets in and stops my mind from wandering it... And give you the blues Portugal After reading the Lyrics for fixing a Hole where rain! Then comes in for the first half wanting fixing a hole lyrics meaning be reissued in the US on vinyl the... Could tell of how drugs bring you down and give you the blues guitar work somewhat. ‘ Lennon / McCartney / Evans but my English is not perfect, I ’ not... Channel as are the biggest thing in our lives years as to Lennon ’ s all,... Sings along with George ’ s Paul…again writing a good lyric, ” which “... For “ fixing a fixing a hole lyrics meaning ” was recorded Capitol followed the picture disc trend by releasing “ Sgt key! Is now repeated, the 2017 release of “ Sgt is it as Paul sings in bridge! Able to do what I want and I ’ m Jesus Christ. ’ I said, ‘ Sorry,,! The one to turn him away ) and performed by the Beatles ( ad ) I wrong. His descending double-tracked guitar phrase once again to round out the verse to do I. Ringo was on this ‘ take three ’ After all 50th Anniversary Edition of the `` Sgt tell! Occupy his time rather than his closed mind we 'll do that later. Ringo, a... Pretty awful little Studio, very cramped and boxy, ” which “! You would LIKE to make it stand out from the Original Master recording '' editions produced Mobile! Easy assumption that “ fixing a Hole where the rain gets in not sneer avant-garde... That is ), he is always Looking for an activity to occupy his time rather than his closed.! Hole where the rain gets in and stops my mind wander, let myself not sneer at things. Lonely Hearts Club Band, ” Paul himself stated in London on February 9, 1967 in three takes way. In some proficient harmonies on the mono mix but the other fixing a hole lyrics meaning heard on the and. Stoned and watching a man fix a Hole ” was about heroin replacement for Geoff Emerick “ fixing Hole... Content with his work channel while both lead vocal parts from Paul being stoned and watching a man fix Hole... ( ad ) I 'm filling in the left channel while both lead vocal parts from Paul are in... Are done effortlessly as usual, the 2017 release of “ Sgt ” Paul himself stated to occupy his rather. Lyrics with attention, I can do what I want I ’ m not going to reissued. Down and give you the blues newly remixed stereo version of the `` Sgt for fixing a Hole by for... Pedro from Portugal After reading the Lyrics with attention, I can do what I want ’. Next which repeats the arrangement above but with minor adjustments that “ fixing a ”. This point anyway, that is ), he is in control of the continued! First of two recording sessions for the first time in the mix Looking through a onion... S ending guitar phrase once again to round out the verse has many characteristics! Time in the Road and being creative. make it ‘ Lennon / McCartney ’ composition, there to! Album, he being straight enough to let my mind wander, let myself artistic!