- Album This song officially appears on the The Beatles (Mono) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Late May 1968
Jul 16, 1968
Recording "Cry Baby Cry", "Helter Skelter"
Jul 18, 1968
First half of 2018 ?
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Cry Baby Cry” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney) from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as “the White Album”). The coda of the song is a short segment referred to as “Can You Take Me Back”, written by Paul McCartney, which was actually an outtake from the “I Will” session.
Composition
Demos indicate that Lennon composed the song in late 1967. The original lyrics were “Cry baby cry, make your mother buy”. Lennon described to biographer Hunter Davies how he got the words from an advertisement. Some of the lyrics of the song are loosely based on the nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence”.
Recording
Engineer Geoff Emerick resigned during the recording of “Cry Baby Cry”, though his departure was precipitated by Lennon and McCartney’s obsessions over the recording of both “Revolution” and “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da“, respectively, and the overall tensions of the sessions. Emerick would not work with the Beatles again until the session for “The Ballad of John and Yoko” nine months later.
After a day-long rehearsal, on 16 July 1968 the basic tracks were laid down for Lennon’s guitar part and his vocal on the introduction, McCartney’s bass, and Starr’s drums, along with Lennon’s piano and George Martin’s harmonium, while all other parts were dubbed in two days later: Lennon’s lead vocal, Lennon/McCartney falsetto backing vocals and tambourines, Martin’s harmonium introduction, sound effects for tea, and Harrison’s guitar, a Gibson Les Paul borrowed from Eric Clapton and soon to be a permanent gift.
“Can You Take Me Back?”
The song is followed on the album by an unrelated and unlisted track, ad libbed and sung by Paul McCartney. Though the song originally had no official name, it has popularly become known as “Can You Take Me Back?” after the primary lyric of the song, and has been officially deemed so on the track listing for the 50th anniversary edition of The Beatles, where an unabridged version of the song is referred to as “Can You Take Me Back? (Take 1)” and included among the bonus tracks. The hidden track is an improvised jam recorded by McCartney during a 16 September 1968 session for “I Will“. […]
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
[a] stereo 15 Oct 1968.
UK: Apple PCS 7068 white album 1968.
US: Apple SWBO 101 white album 1968.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46443 2 white album 1987.[b] mono 15 Oct 1968.
UK: Apple PMC 7068 white album 1968.The US Apple release has a drop in sound level during “by the children” in the last verse, probably a tape problem.
Last updated on September 11, 2021
Lyrics
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
The king of marigold was in the kitchen
Cooking breakfast for the queen
The queen was in the parlor
Playing piano for the children of the king
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
The king was in the garden
Picking flowers for a friend who came to play
The queen was in the playroom
Painting pictures for the children's holiday
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
The Duchess of Kirkcaldy always smiling
And arriving late for tea
The duke was having problems
With a message at the local bird and bee
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
At twelve o'clock a meeting round the table
For a seance in the dark
With voices out of nowhere
Put on specially by the children for a lark
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
So cry baby cry, cry, cry, cry baby
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
So cry baby cry, cry, cry, cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
Can you take me back where I came from?
Can you take me back?
Can you take me back where I came from?
Brother can you take me back?
Can you take me back?
Can you take me where I came from?
Can you take me back?
Variations
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1968
2:44 • Studio version • B • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Piano, Whistling
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Piano, Vocals, Whistling
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Harmonium, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Recording engineer
- Ken Scott :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jul 18, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 17, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 15, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1968
2:44 • Studio version • A • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Piano, Whistling
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Piano, Vocals, Whistling
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Harmonium, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Recording engineer
- Ken Scott :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jul 18, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 17, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 15, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1996
2:47 • Outtake • C • Stereo • Take 1. The basic master of John Lennon's Cry Baby Cry was captured at the end of a mid-evening recording session in Abbey Road on 16 July 1968. Five hours earlier this Anthology selection - Take 1 - was laid down, performed live at the studio, without overdubs. Although never used, it proved that the players were immediately on the right track.
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
The Beatles (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:44 • Studio version • B2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Piano, Whistling
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Piano, Vocals, Whistling
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Harmonium, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Recording engineer
- Ken Scott :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Sean Magee :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jul 18, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 17, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 15, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
The Beatles (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:44 • Studio version • A2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Piano, Whistling
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Piano, Vocals, Whistling
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Harmonium, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Recording engineer
- Ken Scott :
- Recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jul 18, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 17, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 15, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
The Beatles (Mono - 2014 vinyl)
LP • Released in 2014
2:44 • Studio version • B2014 • Mono • 2014 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Piano, Whistling
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Piano, Vocals, Whistling
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Harmonium, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Recording engineer
- Ken Scott :
- Recording engineer
- Sean Magee :
- Remastering
- Steve Berkowitz :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jul 18, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 17, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 15, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2016
2:47 • Outtake • C2016 • Stereo • Take 1. The basic master of John Lennon's Cry Baby Cry was captured at the end of a mid-evening recording session in Abbey Road on 16 July 1968. Five hours earlier this Anthology selection - Take 1 - was laid down, performed live at the studio, without overdubs. Although never used, it proved that the players were immediately on the right track.
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
The Beatles (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2018
2:44 • Studio version • D • Stereo • 2018 stereo mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Piano, Whistling
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Piano, Vocals, Whistling
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Harmonium, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Recording engineer
- Giles Martin :
- Producer
- Ken Scott :
- Recording engineer
- Sam Okell :
- Mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jul 18, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 17, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- First half of 2018 ?
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
The Beatles (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2018
3:02 • Outtake • E • Unnumbered rehearsal
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Lead vocal, Organ
- George Harrison :
- Electric guitar
- Session Recording:
- Jul 15, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
The Beatles (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2018
2:27 • Demo • F • Esher Demo
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Vocals
- Session Recording:
- Late May 1968
- Studio :
- George Harrison's Home, Kinfauns, Esher, Surrey, UK
Bootlegs
Unofficial album
2:46 • Studio version • C • Take 1 Stereo
- Session Recording:
- Jul 16, 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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