- Album This song officially appears on the Wings At The Speed Of Sound Official album.
- Timeline This song has been officially released in 1976
- Sessions This song has been recorded during the following sessions
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Let ‘Em In” is a song by Wings from their 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and reached the top 3 in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. It was a #2 hit in the UK, and in the US it was a number 3 pop hit and number 1 easy listening hit. In Canada, the song was #3 for three weeks on the pop chart and #1 for three weeks on the MOR chart of RPM magazine. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies. […] The song is noted for the sound of a doorbell, chiming the first eight notes from the Big Ben tune, before the rhythm begins. Phil and Don Everly, both brothers from the Everly Brothers, are named on the group of seven people who are to be admitted into the house. (“PHIL AND DON”) Martin Luther is also mentioned as well. The others include Sister Susie, Brother John, Brother Michael, Uncle Ernie, and Auntie Gin. The song is noted for the false fade out, which, however, becomes loud for the last two notes of the song as it ends. The song makes use of the piano, drums, brass, including a trombone solo, and wind instruments, featuring flutes, plus backup vocals from Linda and the other members of the group Wings.
The song was released worldwide as a 7″ single, except in France where it was released as 12″ single (the first ever McCartney 12″) with both sides labeled “Special Disco Mix“. In fact these were just normal album versions of the songs.
Paul McCartney “shouted out” to several of his relatives and friends in this song: his aunt (“Auntie Gin”) and brother (“Brother Michael”), the Everly Brothers (“Phil and Don”), Keith Moon (“Uncle Ernie”) and Linda’s brother (“Brother John”). His reference to “Sister Suzie” was a reference to Linda, who once recorded a song under the name “Suzie And The Red Stripes.”
Last updated on December 10, 2017
Lyrics
Someone knocking at the door
Somebody ringing the bell
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebody's ringing the bell
Do me a favour
Open the door
And let 'em in
Oh yeah
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebody's ringing the bell
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebody's ringing the bell
Do me a favour
Open the door
And let 'em in
Let ‘em in
Sister Suzy, Brother John
Martin Luther, Phil and Don
Brother Michael, Auntie Gin
Open the door and let 'em in
Oh yeah
Sister Suzy, Brother John
Martin Luther, Phil and Don
Uncle Ernie, Auntie Gin
Open the door and let 'em in
Yeah, yeah
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebody's ringing the bell
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebody's ringing the bell
Do me a favour
Open the door
And let 'em in
Oh yeah, yeah, let ‘em in now
Sister Suzy, Brother John
Martin Luther, Phil and Don
Uncle Ernie, Uncle Ian
Open the door and let 'em in
Yeah, yeah
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebody's ringing the bell
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebody's ringing the bell
Do me a favour
Open the door
And let 'em in
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1976
5:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine:
- Backing vocals, Military drum (?)
- Jimmy McCulloch:
- Bass
- Howie Casey:
- Flutes, Horns
- Joe English:
- Drums
- Thaddeus Richard:
- Flutes, Horns
- Mark Vigars:
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Henderson:
- Engineer
- Steve Howard:
- Flutes, Horns
- Tony Dorsey:
- Flutes, Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 03, 1976
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official live • Released in 1976
4:09 • Live • L1
- Paul McCartney:
- Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Keyboard, Vocals
- Denny Laine:
- Drum, Vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch:
- Bass, Vocals
- Howie Casey:
- Flute, Saxophone
- Joe English:
- Drums, Vocals
- Thaddeus Richard:
- Flute
- Mark Vigars:
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Phil McDonald:
- Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording
- Steve Howard:
- Trumpet
- Tony Dorsey:
- Trombone
- Jack Maxson:
- Recording engineer
- Tom Walsh:
- Assistant recording engineer
Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Jun 23, 1976
Official live • Released in 2003
5:23 • Live
- Paul McCartney:
- Executive producer
- Performed by:
- Paul McCartney • Rusty Anderson • Abe Laboriel Jr. • Paul Wickens • Brian Ray
- David Kahne:
- Producer
- Michael Brauer:
- Engineer
- Ricardo Chavarria:
- Assistant engineer
Concert From the concert in Osaka, Japan on Nov 17, 2002
Wings Over America - Archive Collection
Official live • Released in 2013
4:09 • Live • L1.2013 • 2013 remaster
- Paul McCartney:
- Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Keyboard, Vocals
- Denny Laine:
- Drum, Vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch:
- Bass, Vocals
- Howie Casey:
- Flute, Saxophone
- Joe English:
- Drums, Vocals
- Thaddeus Richard:
- Flute
- Mark Vigars:
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Phil McDonald:
- Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording
- Steve Howard:
- Trumpet
- Tony Dorsey:
- Trombone
- Jack Maxson:
- Recording engineer
- Tom Walsh:
- Assistant recording engineer
- Guy Massey:
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke:
- Remastering
- Simon Gibson:
- Remastering
Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Jun 23, 1976
Bootlegs
Stockholm Globe Arena, May 4, 2003
Unofficial live
5:43 • Live
Concert From the concert in Stockholm, Sweden on May 04, 2003
Videos
Concert • Jun 10, 1976 in Seattle
Concert • Jul 28, 2010 in Charlotte
Concert • Aug 19, 2010 in Pittsburgh
Live performances
“Let 'Em In” has been played in 190 concerts and 52 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where “Let 'Em In” has been played
Jun 14, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Jun 11, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Jun 08, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Jun 06, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Fort Wayne • Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Jun 03, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
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The opening chord always strikes me as a little flat - it's preceded by Westminster chimes. The last night there was a show about Westminster & they explained that due to a crack in the largest bell in the Big Ben tower, the 'hour chime' there is flat. Just wondering if this is coincidence or if Paul is basing that opening chord on the Big Ben flat note?
Thanks Paul for this insightful comment - I think it will be hard to validate this assumption, but that's a tempting one ! Thanks again
Actually no. "Brother John" refers to his wife Linda's brother John and not John Lennon. At least that's what it says on wikipedia and I belive it to be accurate in this case since I don't think Paul had "made up" with John Lennon at that point.
Thanks Mike - you're right ! Fixing it !