- Album This song officially appears on the Red Rose Speedway LP.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1971 (Paul McCartney was 29 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
May-August 1970
Mar 06, 1972
Mixing "Big Barn Bed", "When The Night"
Jan 09, 1973
"James Paul McCartney" sessions
February - March 1973
Related articles
Paul and Linda McCartney go and live in Scotland for a few months
April 10 to August 1970
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Big Barn Bed” is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings from the band’s 1973 album, Red Rose Speedway. The songwriting credits are attributed to Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney.
Background
Like the Red Rose Speedway tracks “Get On the Right Thing” and “Little Lamb Dragonfly“, “Big Barn Bed” was a leftover from the McCartneys’ solo career. The song dates back to 1971, when a snippet of the track, intended to be the coda to the “Ram On” reprise, was heard during the recording of the McCartneys’ album Ram. However, during the recording sessions for Red Rose Speedway, the song was recorded by the band for the new album. “Big Barn Bed” was originally intended to be the opening track of the double-LP version of Red Rose Speedway, but although the final album was cut down to a single disc, the song remained the album’s opener.
A live version of “Big Barn Bed” was also included as the opening track in the James Paul McCartney television special. While the song was being performed, a description of each member of Wings was presented.
Critical opinion
Rolling Stone critic Lenny Kaye described the track as “captur[ing] McCartney’s current approach as well as any“, saying, “Neither verse nor chorus are anything much, but the song draws you slowly in with the same steady roll of traction demonstrated by that odd union of records which score heavily in the discotheque markets, reaching its peak with the endless repetitions of the chorus line in the end.” AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine includes “Big Barn Bed” among “the greatest songs” on Red Rose Speedway, but labels the track “slight“.
“Big Barn Bed” was performed during some soundchecks on the “Out There” tour in 2013.
Last updated on May 13, 2018
Lyrics
Who's that coming round that corner
Who's that coming round that bend
Who's that coming round that corner, Will it
Will it be my friend
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Who you gonna weep on?
Who you gonna sleep on?
Who you gonna creep on next?
Weeping on a willow
Sleeping on a pillow
Leaping armadillo, yes.
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Will it, will it be my friend
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Who you gonna weep on?
Who you gonna sleep on?
Who you gonna creep on next?
Weeping on a willow
Sleeping on a pillow
Leaping armadillo, yes.
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed
Keep on sleeping in a big barn bed etc
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1973
3:49 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals
- Henry McCullough :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums
- John Kurlander :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ault :
- Recording assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 06, 1972
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 09, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1993
3:49 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals
- Henry McCullough :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums
- John Kurlander :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Phil Ault :
- Recording assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 06, 1972
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 09, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2016
3:51 • Studio version • A2016 • 2016 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals
- Henry McCullough :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums
- John Kurlander :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Phil Ault :
- Recording assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 06, 1972
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 09, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Red Rose Speedway - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2018
3:50 • Studio version • A2018 • 2018 Remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals
- Henry McCullough :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums
- John Kurlander :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Steve Orchard :
- Remastering
- Phil Ault :
- Recording assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 06, 1972
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 09, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Red Rose Speedway - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2018
3:50 • Studio version • A2018
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals
- Henry McCullough :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums
- John Kurlander :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Steve Orchard :
- Remastering
- Phil Ault :
- Recording assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 06, 1972
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 09, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Red Rose Speedway - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2018
3:48 • Studio version • B • Rough Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals
- Henry McCullough :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums
- Glyn Johns :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Phil Ault :
- Recording assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 06, 1972
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- March 1972
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
Official album • Released in 2018
4:28 • Live • L1
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney • Denny Laine • Henry McCullough • Denny Seiwell
- Paul McCartney :
- Producer
- John Kurlander :
- Recording engineer assistant
- Alan Parsons :
- Recording engineer
- Alex Wharton :
- Mastering
- Steve Orchard :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Hancock :
- Technical assistance during recording
Concert From the concert in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom on Jul 10, 1973
Red Rose Speedway (50th Anniversary)
LP • Released in 2023
3:49 • Studio version • A2023 • 2023 half-speed mastering
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals
- Henry McCullough :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums
- John Kurlander :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ault :
- Recording assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 06, 1972
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 09, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Unofficial live
3:58 • Live
Concert From the concert in Sheffield, United Kingdom on Jul 04, 1973
Unofficial live
3:51 • Live
Concert From the concert in Cardiff, United Kingdom on May 13, 1973
Live in Leeds University 73/5/19
Unofficial live
4:04 • Live
Concert From the concert in Leeds, United Kingdom on May 19, 1973
Green's Playhouse - Glasgow Scotland - May 24, 1973
Unofficial live
4:04 • Live
Concert From the concert in Glasgow, United Kingdom on May 24, 1973
Live performances
“Big Barn Bed” has been played in 14 concerts and 9 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Big Barn Bed has been played
Newcastle upon Tyne • City Hall • United Kingdom
Jul 10, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
Sheffield • City Hall • United Kingdom
Jul 04, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
London • Hammersmith Odeon • United Kingdom
May 27, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
London • Hammersmith Odeon • United Kingdom
May 26, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
Glasgow • Green's Playhouse • United Kingdom
May 24, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
Going further
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989
With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.
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