Album This song officially appears on the Abbey Road LP.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1969
Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1969, when Paul McCartney was 27 years old)
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Being Ringo: A Beatle’s All-Starr Life
Apr 15, 2015 • From RollingStone
Dec 06, 2017 • From Triple J / ABC.net.au
From Wikipedia:
“Carry That Weight” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it is the seventh and penultimate song in the album’s climactic side-two medley. It features unison vocals in the chorus from all four Beatles, a rarity in their songs. It is preceded by “Golden Slumbers” and segues into “The End“.
The middle bridge, featuring brass instruments, electric guitar and vocals, and reprises the beginning of “You Never Give Me Your Money“, but with different lyrics. The ending also reprises the arpeggiated guitar motif from the end of that track, which is itself reminiscent of the figure featured prominently in the George Harrison–written track “Here Comes the Sun“, which opens side two of Abbey Road.
Interpretation
Music critic Ian MacDonald interpreted the lyric as an acknowledgement by the group that nothing they would do as individual artists would equal what they had achieved together, and they would always carry the weight of their Beatle past. McCartney said the song was about the Beatles’ business difficulties and the atmosphere at Apple at the time. In the film Imagine: John Lennon, Lennon says that McCartney was “singing about all of us”.
Recording
The Beatles began recording “Golden Slumbers”/”Carry That Weight” as one piece on 2 July 1969. McCartney, Harrison and Ringo Starr recorded 15 takes of the two songs while Lennon was in a hospital recovering from a car accident in Scotland.
The rhythm tracks featured McCartney on piano, Harrison on bass guitar and Starr on drums. The best were takes 13 and 15, which were edited together on 3 July. That day and the next, McCartney overdubbed his lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Harrison added lead guitar, and all three sang the chorus.
On 30 July, they added more vocals, including Lennon, who had rejoined the sessions on 9 July. More vocals, timpani and drums were overdubbed on 31 July. The orchestra that marked 30 musicians altogether was recorded on 15 August. […]
It’s like a story. A bit like ‘Act Naturally’, where a tag line keeps coming up, you know, ‘So and so and so and so,’ but all he said was ‘Act naturally’. It’s like your troubles, but it was like a comedy when I first heard it. There was a verse about a drunkard who got drunk, got in trouble with the wife, and, ‘I woke up the next morning with a weight upon my head and found it was my head.’ It’s like the normal kind of trouble that everyone has. It’s one of those songs where you’ve got everything and you’ve got everything going great but, you know, ‘This morning, one of my eggs broke.’ It’s just so trivial. ‘My bright shoes are a bit tight.’
Paul McCartney – From “The Beatles: Off the Record” by Keith Badman
I’m generally quite upbeat but at certain times things get to me so much that I just can’t be upbeat any more and that was one of the times. We were taking so much acid and doing so much drugs and all this Klein shit was going on and getting crazier and crazier and crazier. Carry that weight a long time: like for ever! That’s what I meant.
Paul McCartney – From “Many Years From Now” by Barry Miles, 1997
There was what my Aunty Jin would have called a bad atmosphere “Oh, I can feel the atmosphere in this house, love.” It wasn’t difficult, she wouldn’t have liked it there. It was “heavy”. “Heavy” was a very operative word at that time “Heavy, man” but now it actually felt heavy. That’s what “Carry That Weight” was about: not the light, rather easy-going heaviness, albeit witty and sometimes cruel, but with an edge you could exist within and which always had a place for you to be. In this heaviness there was no place to be. It was serious, paranoid heaviness and it was just very uncomfortable.
Paul McCartney – From “Many Years From Now” by Barry Miles, 1997
The whole period [of the business problems at Apple Record] weighted on me to such an extent that I even began to think it was all tied in with the idea of original sin. Even though my mum had christened me as a Catholic, we weren’t brought up Catholic, so I didn’t buy into the concept of original sin on a day-to-day basis. It’s really very depressing to think that you were born a loser.
The idea of carrying a weight may have been influenced by The Band’s song ‘The Weight’, which had appeared on Music From Big Pink in Juy 1968.
Paul McCartney – From “The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” book (2021)
The business problems at Apple Records […] really were horrible. The business meetings were just soul-destroying. We’d sit around in an office, and it was a place you just didn’t want to be, with people you didn’t want to be with. There’s a great picture that Linda took of Allen Klein, in which he’s got a hammer like Maxwell’s silver hammer. It’s very symbolic. And that’s why we have the little nod and a wink in the middle section to “You Never Give Me Your Money”, in the lines “I never give you my pillow / I only send you my invitations”
Paul McCartney – From “The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” book (2021)
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
[a] stereo 18 Aug 1969. crossfaded 19 Aug 1969.
UK: Apple PCS 7088 Abbey Road 1969.
US: Apple SO-383 Abbey Road 1969.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46446 2 Abbey Road 1987.The 2d generation was an edit of two takes.
The crossfade joins this to the following song, The End; the join is in the guitar work after the last “carry that weight a long time”.
Once there was a way to get back homeward,
Once there was a way to get back home,
Sleep little darling, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Golden slumbers fill your eyes,
Smiles awake when you rise,
Sleep little darling, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Once there was a way to get back homeward.
Once there was a way to get back home,
Sleep little darling, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight a long time.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight a long time.
I never give you my pillow,
I only send you my invitations.
And in the middle of the celebrations
I break down.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight a long time.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight a long time.
Oh yeah, alright,
Are you gonna be in my dreams tonight.
Love you, love you, love you, love you.
Love you, love you, love you, love you.
And in the end the love you take
Is equal to the love you make.
You never give me your money
You only give me your funny paper
And in the middle of negotiations
You break down
I never give you my number
I only give you my situation
And in the middle of investigation
I break down
Out of college, money spent
See no future, pay no rent
All the money's gone, nowhere to go
Any jobber got the sack
Monday morning turning back
Yellow lorry slow nowhere to go
But oh, that magic
Feeling, nowhere to go
Oh, that magic feeling
Nowhere to go
I never give you my pillow
I only send you my invitation
And in the middle of the celebrations
I break down
Boy, you gotta carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
Boy, you gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
You never give me your money
You only give me your funny paper
And in the middle of negotiations
You break down
LP • Released in 1969
1:37 • Studio version • A • Stereo
Paul McCartney : Harmony vocal, Lead vocal, Piano, Rhythm guitar Ringo Starr : Chorus vocal, Drums, Timpani George Harrison : Bass, Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Unknown musician(s) : Four cellos, Four horns, Four violas, One bass trombone, One double-bass, One trombone, Three trumpets, Twelve violins
Session Recording: Jul 02, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Overdubs: 3, 4, 30, 31 Jul, 15 Aug 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: Aug 18, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Tripping the Live Fantastic: Highlights!
Official live • Released in 1990
6:42 • Live • L1 • Medley with "Golden Slumbers / The End"
Performed by : Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney • Robbie McIntosh • Hamish Stuart • Paul Wickens • Chris Whitten Paul McCartney : Producer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Matt Butler : Assistant engineer Peter Henderson : Producer Bob Clearmountain : Mixing engineer, Producer Jeff Cohen : Recording engineer Geoff Foster : Assistant engineer Scott Hull : Assistant engineer George Cowan : Assistant engineer Paul Rushbrook : Assistant engineer
Concert From the concert in Toronto, Canada on Dec 07, 1989
Official live • Released in 1990
6:42 • Live • L1 • Medley with "Golden Slumbers / The End"
Performed by : Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney • Robbie McIntosh • Hamish Stuart • Paul Wickens • Chris Whitten Paul McCartney : Producer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Matt Butler : Assistant engineer Peter Henderson : Producer Bob Clearmountain : Mixing engineer, Producer Jeff Cohen : Recording engineer Geoff Foster : Assistant engineer Scott Hull : Assistant engineer George Cowan : Assistant engineer Paul Rushbrook : Assistant engineer
Concert From the concert in Toronto, Canada on Dec 07, 1989
Official live • Released in 2002
3:06 • Live • L2 • Medley with "You Never Give Me Your Money"
Paul McCartney : Executive producerPerformed by : Paul McCartney • Rusty Anderson • Abe Laboriel Jr. • Paul Wickens • Brian Ray David Kahne : Producer Michael Brauer : Recording engineer Ricardo Chavarria : Assistant engineer
Concert From the concert in Tampa, USA on May 15, 2002
Official live • Released in 2003
3:06 • Live • L2 • Medley with "You Never Give Me Your Money"
Paul McCartney : Executive producerPerformed by : Paul McCartney • Rusty Anderson • Abe Laboriel Jr. • Paul Wickens • Brian Ray David Kahne : Producer Michael Brauer : Recording engineer Ricardo Chavarria : Assistant engineer
Concert From the concert in Tampa, USA on May 15, 2002
Abbey Road (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
1:37 • Studio version • A2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
Paul McCartney : Harmony vocal, Lead vocal, Piano, Rhythm guitar Ringo Starr : Chorus vocal, Drums, Timpani George Harrison : Bass, Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator Unknown musician(s) : Bass trombone, Cellos, Double bass, Horns, Trombone, Trumpets, Violas, Violins
Session Recording: Jul 02, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Overdubs: 3, 4, 30, 31 Jul, 15 Aug 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: Aug 18, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2019
1:37 • Studio version • B • Stereo • 2019 Stereo Mix
Paul McCartney : Harmony vocal, Lead vocal, Piano, Rhythm guitar Ringo Starr : Chorus vocal, Drums, Timpani George Harrison : Bass, Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Giles Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Sam Okell : Mix engineer Unknown musician(s) : Bass trombone, Cellos, Double bass, Horns, Trombone, Trumpets, Violas, Violins
Session Recording: Jul 02, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Overdubs: 3, 4, 30, 31 Jul, 15 Aug 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: Aug 18, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2019
3:21 • Alternate take • C • Takes 1-3 - Medley with "Golden Slumbers"
Paul McCartney : Piano, Vocals Ringo Starr : Drums George Harrison : Bass George Martin : Producer Giles Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Engineer Sam Okell : Mix engineer
Session Recording: Jul 02, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2019
Alternate take • D • From the original mix of "The Long One"
Paul McCartney : Piano, Vocals Ringo Starr : Drums George Harrison : Bass George Martin : Producer Giles Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Engineer
Session Recording: Jul 02, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Overdubs: Jul 03, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Overdubs: Jul 04, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: Jul 30, 1969
Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2019
3:17 • Alternate take • E • Take 17 - Instrumental - Strings & Brass only - Medley with "Golden Slumbers"
Unknown musician(s) : Four cellos, Four horns, Four violas, One bass trombone, One double-bass, One trombone, Three trumpets, Twelve violins
Session Recording: Aug 15, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Unofficial live
4:35 • Live • Medley with "The End"
Concert From the concert in Hamburg, Germany on Oct 03, 1989
On The Run - Bologna, Italy - November 26, 2011
Unofficial live
0:00 • Live
Concert From the concert in Bologna, Italy on Nov 26, 2011
“Carry That Weight” has been played in 460 concerts and 4 soundchecks.
Buenos Aires • River Plate Stadium • Argentina
Oct 06, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Buenos Aires • River Plate Stadium • Argentina
Oct 05, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Montevideo • Estadio Centenario • Uruguay
Oct 01, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Curitiba • Estádio Couto Pereira • Brazil
Dec 13, 2023 • Part of Got Back Tour
São Paulo • Allianz Parque • Brazil
Dec 10, 2023 • Part of Got Back Tour
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
"Carry That Weight" is one of the songs featured in the book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present," published in 2021. The book explores Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, his time with the Beatles, Wings, and his solo career. It pairs the lyrics of 154 of his songs with his first-person commentary on the circumstances of their creation, the inspirations behind them, and his current thoughts on them.
Solid State: The Story of "Abbey Road" and the End of the Beatles
Acclaimed Beatles historian Kenneth Womack offers the most definitive account yet of the writing, recording, mixing, and reception of Abbey Road. In February 1969, the Beatles began working on what became their final album together. Abbey Road introduced a number of new techniques and technologies to the Beatles' sound, and included "Come Together," "Something," and "Here Comes the Sun," which all emerged as classics.
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