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Released in 1973

Big Barn Bed

Written by Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney

Last updated on May 13, 2018

Album This song officially appears on the Red Rose Speedway LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1973

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1971, when Paul McCartney was 29 years old)

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related songs

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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.

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

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Big Barn Bed”

Live performances

“Big Barn Bed” has been played in 14 concerts and 9 soundchecks.

Latest concerts where “Big Barn Bed” has been played

See all concerts where “Big Barn Bed” has been played

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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