Gimme Some Truth

Song facts

From Wikipedia:

“Gimme Some Truth” (originally spelled “Give Me Some Truth”) is a protest song written and performed by John Lennon. It was first released on his 1971 album Imagine. “Gimme Some Truth” contains various political references emerging from the time it was written, during the latter years of the Vietnam War. Co-produced by Phil Spector, the recording includes a slide guitar solo played by George Harrison, Lennon’s former bandmate in the Beatles. […]

Origins

Work on the song began as early as January 1969 during the Beatles’ Get Back sessions, which would eventually evolve into Let It Be. Bootleg recordings of the group performing songs that would eventually go onto the members’ solo recordings feature a few performances of “Gimme Some Truth”. A recording of the Beatles performing the song was officially released in 2021, appearing on the “Let It Be: 50th Anniversary Edition” reissue, and in “The Beatles: Get Back” documentary. […]

Side Two starts with ‘Gimme Some Truth’ which is one I started a year or two back – probably in India. We wrote a lot there. It was an old lick that I had around a long time but I again changed the lyrics. I like the track because it sounds good but it didn’t get much attention, so it’s a personal track that I like the sound of. The guitars are good and the voice sounds nice and, you know, and it says whatever it says. George does a sharp solo with his steel finger (he’s not too proud of it, but I like it).

John Lennon – From “Imagine. The Ultimate Collection – Super Deluxe Box Set.”

I was meeting with Paul [McCartney] and I said to him, “You know that John Lennon song ‘Gimme Some Truth’?”. He says, “Uh, the one on the Imagine album? Yeah, I know that one”. “Did you know that you actually co-wrote that with John?” He says, “What are you talking about?”

I showed him this footage from the Get Back sessions where Paul and John are working on ‘Gimme Some Truth’. Paul’s come up with that ‘money for rope’ thing which John loves. Paul looked at me and said, ‘I have no memory of that. I had no idea I was involved with that song’.

Then he says, “It’s a great song. I’ve always loved that song so if I get some credit for it, great”.

He had no idea he’d written some of ‘Gimme Some Truth’. I don’t want to take anything away from John but ‘Gimme Some Truth’ is clearly a Lennon/McCartney song. There were other songs that Paul took credit on on his albums that they’d worked on together too so it’s not a credit thing but it’s interesting to see.

Peter Jackson – About Paul McCartney’s contribution to “Gimme Some Truth” – From ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ Reminded Paul McCartney He Co-Wrote a John Lennon Solo Song (cheatsheet.com), November 17, 2021

Last updated on December 12, 2021