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- Album This song officially appears on the Let It Be (Limited Edition) LP.
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Dig a Pony” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, originally released on their 1970 album Let It Be. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The recording is from the concert on the rooftop of Apple Studios in Savile Row, London, performed by the Beatles on 30 January 1969.
Composition
Most of “Dig a Pony” is in the key of A Major, with the introduction being performed in 3/4 time. It was originally called “All I Want Is You”. Lennon said the song was “a piece of garbage”, though he expressed similar scorn for many of his songs. It was written for his soon-to-be wife Yoko Ono, and featured a multitude of strange, seemingly nonsense phrases which were strung together in what Lennon refers to as a Bob Dylan style of lyric.
Early American pressings of Let It Be mistitled this song as “I Dig a Pony.”
Recording
The song was one of the songs on Let It Be recorded at the rooftop concert, with an assistant holding up Lennon’s lyrics for him as a cue. It begins with a false start, with Ringo Starr yelling “Hold it!” to halt the other band members because he was putting out his cigarette and had both of his drum sticks in his right hand. On the recording, the sound of someone blowing his nose right after Starr’s interjection can be heard, which Mark Lewisohn attributes to Lennon. On an earlier, studio take of the song, recorded on 22 January 1969 and released on the Anthology 3 compilation in 1996, the first verse and the end of the song start off with Paul McCartney singing “All I want is…” This phrase appeared in every performance of the song but was cut from the final version by Phil Spector, and subsequently cut from the Let It Be… Naked version, which also omits the false start. […]
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
[a] stereo 23 Mar 1970. edited.
UK: Apple PXS 1 and PCS 7096 Let It Be 1970.
US: Apple AR 34001 Let It Be 1970.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46447 2 Let It Be 1987.The edit removed the line “All I want is you” at the beginning and end, for reasons unknown. (This song is called “I Dig a Pony” on US albums.)
Last updated on October 7, 2021
Lyrics
I dig a pony
Well, you can celebrate anything you want
Yes, you can celebrate anything you want
Oh!
I do a road hog
Well, you can penetrate any place you go
Yes, you can penetrate any place you go
I told you so
All I want is you
Everything has got to be just like you want it to
Because
I pick a moon dog
Well, you can radiate everything you are
Yes, you can radiate everything you are
Oh now!
I roll a stoney
Well, you can imitate everyone you know
Yes, you can imitate everyone you know
I told you so
All I want is you
Everything has got to be just like you want it to
Because
Oh now!
I feel the wind blow
Well, you can indicate everything you see
Yes, you can indicate anything you see
Oh now!
I, load a lorry
Well, you can syndicate any boat you row
Yeah, you can syndicate any boat you row
I told you so
All I want is you
Everything has got to be just like you want it to
Because
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1970
3:55 • Studio version • A • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocal
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Lead vocal, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Phil Spector :
- Producer
- Peter Bown :
- Engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Billy Preston :
- Electric piano
Concert From "The rooftop concert" in London, United Kingdom on Jan 30, 1969
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 23, 1970
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1970
3:55 • Studio version • A • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocal
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Lead vocal, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Phil Spector :
- Producer
- Peter Bown :
- Engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Billy Preston :
- Electric piano
Concert From "The rooftop concert" in London, United Kingdom on Jan 30, 1969
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 23, 1970
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1996
4:18 • Outtake • B • Stereo • Also taped this day in Savile Row were several run-throughs of a new John Lennon song, Dig A Pony, one of which is presented here. The "all I want is" backing vocals at the start and end were always an integral part of the song but were mixed out during production of the album Let It Be. The performance is clearly an improvement over previous ones, according to the conversation at the end of the song, with John citing the name "Ricky and the Red Streaks", suggested by Paul around this time as a possible on-the-road pseudonym for the Beatles.
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jan 22, 1969
- Studio :
- Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London
Official album • Released in 2003
3:38 • Studio version • C • A remix of the original album version from the rooftop concert on 30 January 1969; framing dialogue and false start removed; error in second verse (the "because" in Lennon's vocal track) digitally corrected.
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocal
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Lead vocal, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Billy Preston :
- Electric piano
- Paul Hicks :
- Mixing engineer, Producer
- Guy Massey :
- Mixing engineer, Producer
- Steve Rooke :
- Mastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Mixing engineer, Producer
Concert From "The rooftop concert" in London, United Kingdom on Jan 30, 1969
Let It Be (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
3:55 • Studio version • A2009 • Stereo • 2009 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocal
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Lead vocal, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Phil Spector :
- Producer
- Peter Bown :
- Engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Billy Preston :
- Electric piano
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Sam Okell :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
Concert From "The rooftop concert" in London, United Kingdom on Jan 30, 1969
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 23, 1970
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2016
4:18 • Outtake • B2016 • Stereo • Also taped this day in Savile Row were several run-throughs of a new John Lennon song, Dig A Pony, one of which is presented here. The "all I want is" backing vocals at the start and end were always an integral part of the song but were mixed out during production of the album Let It Be. The performance is clearly an improvement over previous ones, according to the conversation at the end of the song, with John citing the name "Ricky and the Red Streaks", suggested by Paul around this time as a possible on-the-road pseudonym for the Beatles.
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jan 22, 1969
- Studio :
- Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London
Let It Be (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2021
3:55 • Studio version • A2021 • Stereo • 2021 mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocal
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Lead vocal, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Phil Spector :
- Producer
- Peter Bown :
- Engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Billy Preston :
- Electric piano
Concert From "The rooftop concert" in London, United Kingdom on Jan 30, 1969
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 23, 1970
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road
Let It Be (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2021
4:01 • Studio version • D • Take 14. January 28, 1969 (EMI Tape E90502-8T and NAGRA Roll 533), is the last take of this song recorded on that day. John comments towards the end “I think the other one was much better… let’s do ‘Get Back’”. Glyn Johns used a different take for the LP ‘Get Back’, recorded on January 22, 1969. The LP ‘Let it Be’ and ‘Let it Be… Naked’ use the performance of the Rooftop Concert, recorded on January 30, 1969.
- Session Recording:
- Jan 28, 1969
- Studio :
- Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London
Let It Be (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2021
2:53 • Studio version • E • 1969 Glyn Johns Mix. In reality, the 1970 mix. January 22, 1969 (EMI Tape E90492-8T and NAGRA Roll 424 A). The only difference between the three Glyn Johns mixes from 1969 and 1970 for this song is a “glitch” on the original tape that is heard right at the beginning when the tape started recording; for the 1970 mix Glyn “fixed” it so that it was no longer noticeable and is the mix used in this official release. The original 1969 mix with the “glitch” (on any of Jones’ three 1969 compilations) will remain available only on bootlegs. Apple may have relied on the bootleg disc entitled “Get Back – Glyn John’s Mix # 1 [DESS UK Stereo LP v1 PCS 7080]” from ‘Dr. Ebbetts’, which is the only bootleg in circulation that coincidentally uses some mixes from 1970, mistaking them as “1969”. (This same bootleg apparently was also used as a reference for “For You Blue” – see below – with the wrong mix of 1970 instead of 1969).
- Session Recording:
- Jan 22, 1969
- Studio :
- Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London
Let It Be (50th anniversary boxset - SHM - Japanese edition)
Official album • Released in 2021
3:55 • Studio version • A2021 • Stereo • 2021 mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocal
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Lead vocal, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Phil Spector :
- Producer
- Peter Bown :
- Engineer
- Glyn Johns :
- Recording engineer
- Billy Preston :
- Electric piano
Concert From "The rooftop concert" in London, United Kingdom on Jan 30, 1969
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 23, 1970
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 1969
4:09 • Studio version • From Glyn Johns' 2nd "Get Back" compilation
- Session Recording:
- Jan 23, 1969
- Studio :
- Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London
- Session Mixing:
- March - May 1969
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- May 09, 1969
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
Live performances
“Dig A Pony” has been played in 2 concerts.
Latest concerts where Dig A Pony has been played
Jan 30, 1969 • United Kingdom • London • The rooftop of the Apple building, 3 Savile Row
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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