Big Barn Bed (song)

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

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1973

Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1971 (Paul McCartney was 29 years old)

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