Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
May-August 1970
Recording "3 Legs", "Eat At Home"
Oct 16, 1970
"Ram" sessions (Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles)
March-April, 1971
Jun 15, 1971
Jun 16, 1971
Jun 17, 1971
Jun 18, 1971
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
“3 Legs” is the second song of Paul and Linda McCartney’s 1971 album “Ram“. From Beatles Bible:
[…] While John Lennon and, to a lesser extent, George Harrison, were happy to write openly about The Beatles, Apple and their associated troubles, Paul McCartney preferred to couch his objections in metaphors and ambiguities. So, while it is tempting to see 3 Legs simply as an allegory for his transition from Beatle to solo artist and family man, it is far from certain.
Studio engineer Eirik Wangberg said the song was inspired by a picture drawn by the young Heather McCartney. Her father originally titled the song A Dog Is Here, according to his handwritten lyric sheet.
Regardless of his intentions, McCartney would have known that lines such as “When I thought you was my friend/But you let me down/Put my heart around the bend” and “My dog he got three legs/But he can’t run” would be analysed by legions of Beatles-watchers the world over. And he cannot have failed to recognise that the lines would be interpreted as a commentary on his former band.
Perhaps ironically, Lennon professed a liking for the song, listing it as one of the better recordings on Ram. […]
“3 Legs” was one of the last songs in the Ram sessions on which guitarist David Spinozza played. Soon after he was replaced with Hugh McCracken. […]
Two promotional films for Ram songs – 3 Legs and Heart Of The Country – were made in support of Ram. They were produced by McCartney and edited by Ray Benson, who had previously worked on the Magical Mystery Tour film.
The film for 3 Legs consisted of the McCartneys riding horses on their land in the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland. Both clips were screened on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops on 24 June 1971.
I thought it [Ram] was awful! McCartney was better because at least there were some tunes on it, like Junk. I liked the beginning of Ram On, the beginning of Uncle Albert and I liked some of My Dog’s Got Three Legs. I liked the little bit about ‘Hands across the water’, but it just tripped off all the time. I didn’t like that a bit!“
John Lennon
There’s one track, which a cute thing, a blues tune, which I had fun doing. 3 Legs, it’s called. We both played acoustic and sometimes Paul played piano but never played bass while we were there. He overdubbed the bass later. It was a bit weird, because bass, drums, and guitar would have been more comfortable.
Dave Spinoza
In 2001, during the “Wingspan Memorial Day Special“, Paul improvised the song on guitar.
Last updated on April 30, 2022
Lyrics
Well, when I walk when I walk,
Park my horse upon the hill (when I walk the horse upon a hill)
When I walk, walk, walk, walk,
Park my horse upon the hill (when I walk the horse upon a hill)
And I lay me down,
Will my lover love me still?
A doggie is here, (a doggie is here), a doggie is there (a doggie is there)
My dog he got three legs, well he can't run
Well, when I thought, when I thought, when I thought
You was my friend
Well, when I thought, when I thought, when I thought
You was my friend
My dog he got three legs but he can't walk
Your dog he got none.
Your dog he got none.
When I thought,
When I thought you was my friend (when I thought that I could call you my friend)
When I thought, when I thought, when I thought you was my friend
(When I thought I could call you my friend)
But you let me down put my heart around the bend
A fly flies in (a fly flies in), a fly flies out (a fly flies out)
Most flies they got three legs, but mine got one.
Well, when I fly, when I fly, when I fly, when I fly upon the crowd
(When I fly upon the maddening crowd)
When I fly, when I fly, when I fly, when I fly upon the crowd
(When I fly upon the maddening crowd)
You can knock me down - with a feather, but you know it's not allowed
(but you know it's not allowed)
A dog is here, (a dog is here) A dog is there, (a dog is there)
My dog he got three legs but he can't run.
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1971
2:52 • Studio version • B • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Tambourine (?)
- David Spinozza :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Overdubs:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
LP • Released in 1971
2:52 • Studio version • A • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Tambourine (?)
- David Spinozza :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Overdubs:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
LP • Released in 1977
3:42 • Studio version • C • Stereo • Instrumental version
- Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
- Producer
- Richard Hewson :
- Arrangements, Orchestration
- Tony Clark :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Vic Flick :
- Guitar
- Clem Cattini :
- Drums
- Herbie Flowers :
- Bass
- Steve Gray :
- Piano
- Jim Lawless :
- Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jun 15, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 16, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 17, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 18, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1993
2:52 • Studio version • A1993.1 • Stereo • 1993 remaster by Steve Hoffman
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Tambourine (?)
- David Spinozza :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Steve Hoffman :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Oct 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Overdubs:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
2:52 • Studio version • A1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Tambourine (?)
- David Spinozza :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Overdubs:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
CD • Released in 1995
3:42 • Studio version • C1995 • Stereo • Instrumental version. 1995 remaster
- Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
- Producer
- Richard Hewson :
- Arrangements, Orchestration
- Tony Clark :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Vic Flick :
- Guitar
- Clem Cattini :
- Drums
- Herbie Flowers :
- Bass
- Steve Gray :
- Piano
- Jim Lawless :
- Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jun 15, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 16, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 17, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 18, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2012
2:48 • Studio version • A2012 • Stereo • 2012 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Tambourine (?)
- David Spinozza :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Overdubs:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2012
2:50 • Studio version • B2012 • Mono • 2012 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Tambourine (?)
- David Spinozza :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Overdubs:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2012
3:42 • Studio version • C2012 • Thrillington: 2012 remaster
- Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
- Producer
- Richard Hewson :
- Arrangements, Orchestration
- Tony Clark :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Vic Flick :
- Guitar
- Clem Cattini :
- Drums
- Herbie Flowers :
- Bass
- Steve Gray :
- Piano
- Jim Lawless :
- Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jun 15, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 16, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 17, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 18, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Thrillington (Limited Edition - Marbled Black & Red LP)
Official album • Released in 2018
3:42 • Studio version • C2012 • Thrillington: 2012 remaster
- Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
- Producer
- Richard Hewson :
- Arrangements, Orchestration
- Tony Clark :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Vic Flick :
- Guitar
- Clem Cattini :
- Drums
- Herbie Flowers :
- Bass
- Steve Gray :
- Piano
- Jim Lawless :
- Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jun 15, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 16, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 17, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 18, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
2:44 • Studio version • B • Mono • Original mono promo LP, especially made for the American AM stations. All the songs have different mixes
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Tambourine (?)
- David Spinozza :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Overdubs:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Together On Stage: "Adopt-A-Minefield"
Unofficial live • Released in 2001
1:19 • Radio show • D • Acoustic version from 'Wingspan Memorial Day Special' in February 2001
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
1:15 • Live • D • From "Wingspan Memorial Day Special" radio show
Concert From "Wingspan: Memorial Day Weekend Special" in , USA on May 25, 2001
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
1:17 • Radio show • D • Acoustic version from 'Wingspan Memorial Day Special' in February 2001
Ram - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
2:48 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Tambourine (?)
- David Spinozza :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mixing engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Overdubs:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Live performances
“3 Legs” has been played in 1 concerts.
Latest concerts where 3 Legs has been played
Wingspan: Memorial Day Weekend Special
May 25, 2001 • USA • Radio show
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