Album This song officially appears on the Abbey Road LP.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1969
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
2020 • From paulmccartney.com
From Wikipedia:
“Sun King” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. Written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it is the second song of the album’s climactic medley. Like other tracks on the album (notably “Because“) the song features lush multi-tracked vocal harmonies, provided by Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
Background
The working title was “Here Comes the Sun King”, but was shortened to “Sun King” to avoid confusion with Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun“. The song slowly fades in from the harbour sounds at the end of “You Never Give Me Your Money“. At the end of the song, the music stops abruptly and a drum fill by Ringo Starr leads into the next track, “Mean Mr. Mustard“.
A faux mixing of Romance languages occurs in the last three lines of the song. In 1969, Lennon was interviewed about these lyrics and said, “We just started joking, you know, singing ‘cuando para mucho.’ So we just made up… Paul knew a few Spanish words from school, you know. So we just strung any Spanish words that sounded vaguely like something. And of course we got ‘chicka ferdy’ in. That’s a Liverpool expression. Just like sort – it doesn’t mean anything to me but (childish taunting) ‘na-na, na-na-na!’“
In an interview in 1987, Harrison said that the recording was inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross”. “At the time, ‘Albatross’ (by Fleetwood Mac) was out, with all the reverb on guitar. So we said, ‘Let’s be Fleetwood Mac doing Albatross, just to get going.’ It never really sounded like Fleetwood Mac… but that was the point of origin.“
Musical structure
The song is in the key of C and the chorus (“Here comes the Sun King”) involves a I (C)–Imaj7 (Cmaj7 chord)–v7 (Gm7 chord)–VI7 (A7 chord) progression against a C–B–B♭–A vocal harmony. An interesting feature (according to Pedler) is the substitution of the Gm7 chord for the C7 dominant chord at the word “Sun”. This represents an example of the jazz rule that allows a dominant (V) seventh chord (here C7) to be replaced by a minor chord a fifth above (here Gm7). The synchronous B♭ vocal harmonises with the ♭3 (B♭ note) of the Gm7 chord. The coda beginning “Cuando para mucho”, which is an exact copy of the instrumental intro, is initially sung to a ii (F♯m7 chord), which moves to V–I (B6 to E6 chords) on “cora-zon”, then alternates back to ii (F♯m7) on “Mundo paparazzi” and “Cuesto obrigato” before again V–I (B6–E6) on “para-sol” and “carou-sel”.
The song is also notable for the vocally constructed ii-on-V ‘slash’ polychord (Dm7/G; also written G11) arising in the “Ahh” transition to verse (“Here comes …” and I (C) chord) while the bass makes the standard V (G note)–I (C note) move. The frequent use of added sixth chords in the song accentuate its dreamlike feel. The song also has an example of major 9th harmony in the Cmaj9 chord on “Here comes the Sun King”; here, above the tonic C major triad, both B (seventh) and D (ninth) combine in the vocals “to form a suitably lush fanfare for the monarch himself.”
“Gnik Nus”
A portion of the vocals was included as a reversed a cappella in the track titled “Gnik Nus” for the 2006 album Love. An instrumental section of “Sun King” was also used at the end of the track “Octopus’s Garden” on the compilation. […]
We just started joking, singing ‘Quando para mucho’. So, we just made it up. Paul knew a few Spanish words from school, you know, so, we just strung any Spanish words that sounded vaguely like something. And, of course, we got ‘Chicka ferdy’ in. That’s a Liverpool expression, just sort of, it doesn’t mean anything to me, but ‘Na, na, na, na, na.’ The one we missed, we should have had, was ‘Paranoia’. We forgot all about it. We used to call ourselves ‘Los Paranoias’. ‘Cake and eat it,’ is a nice line too. They have something similar in Spanish. ‘Sun King’ was just half a song I had that I never finished, and it was one way of getting rid of it. The medley went, and we wanted a change of atmosphere, so, ‘Here comes the Sun King,’ and ‘Here he comes,’ and ‘Everybody’s happy.’
John Lennon – From “The Beatles: Off the Record” by Keith Badman, 2008
There was a thing in Liverpool that us kids used to do, which was instead of saying ‘f-off’, we would say ‘chicka ferdy!’. It actually exists in the lyrics of The Beatles song ‘Sun King’. In that song we just kind of made up things, and we were all in on the joke. We were thinking that nobody would know what it meant, and most people would think, ‘Oh, it must be Spanish,’ or something. But, we got a little seditious word in there!
Paul McCartney – Interview with paulmccartney.com, 2020
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
[a] stereo 14 Aug 1969. crossfaded 14,21 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.[Sun King / Mean Mr Mustard] were recorded straight through. The first crossfade joined this to the following item, Polythene Pam / She Came in through the Bathroom Window. The second joined that combined tape to You Never Give Me Your Money.
Here comes the sun king
Here comes the sun king
Everybody's laughing
Everybody's happy
Here comes the sun king
Quando paramucho mi amore de felice carazón
Mundo paparazzi mi amore chica ferdi para sol
Questo obrigado tanto mucho que canite carousel
LP • Released in 1969
2:26 • Studio version • A • Stereo
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmonium, Harmony vocals, Piano, Tape loops Ringo Starr : Bongos, Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Guitar, Maracas, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Lowrey organ, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Jul 24, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 25, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 29, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Jul 30, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2003
DDSI.2.52 • 0:17 • Studio version • B • From the "Fly On The Wall" bonus disc
Performed by : Paul McCartney • Ringo Starr • John Lennon • George Harrison Kevin Howlett : Producer Brian Thompson : Engineer
SessionRecording : Jan 02, 1969 • Studio : Twickenham Film Studios • London • UK
SessionMixing : 2002 or 2003 ? • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road Studios • London • UK
Official album • Released in 2006
0:55 • Studio version • C • As suggested in its title, the track contains the vocal arrangement of "Sun King" played in reverse.
George Martin : Producer Giles Martin : Producer Paul Hicks : Remix engineer Sam Okell : Remix engineer assistant Chris Bolster : Remix engineer assistant Mirek Stiles : Remix engineer assistant
SessionMixing : Circa 2004-2006 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Abbey Road (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:26 • Studio version • A2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmonium, Harmony vocals, Piano, Tape loops Ringo Starr : Bongos, Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Guitar, Maracas, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Lowrey organ, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator
SessionRecording : Jul 24, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 25, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 29, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Jul 30, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Abbey Road (Picture Disc - Limited Edition - 2019)
LP • Released in 2019
2:26 • Studio version • D • Stereo • 2019 Stereo Mix
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmonium, Harmony vocals, Piano, Tape loops Ringo Starr : Bongos, Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Guitar, Maracas, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Lowrey organ, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Giles Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Sam Okell : Mix engineer
SessionRecording : Jul 24, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 25, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 29, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Circa 2019 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road Studios • London • UK
Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2019
2:26 • Studio version • D • Stereo • 2019 Stereo Mix
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmonium, Harmony vocals, Piano, Tape loops Ringo Starr : Bongos, Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Guitar, Maracas, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Lowrey organ, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Giles Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Sam Okell : Mix engineer
SessionRecording : Jul 24, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 25, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 29, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Circa 2019 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road Studios • London • UK
Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2019
3:14 • Alternate take • E • Take 20
Paul McCartney : Bass Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Rhythm guitar, Vocals George Harrison : Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Engineer Giles Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Engineer Sam Okell : Mix engineer
SessionRecording : Jul 24, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2019
2:26 • Alternate take • F • Stereo • From the original mix of "The Long One"
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmonium, Harmony vocals, Piano, Tape loops Ringo Starr : Bongos, Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Guitar, Maracas, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Lowrey organ, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Jul 24, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 25, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 29, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Jul 30, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
Official album • Released in 2019
2:26 • Studio version • G • Dolby Atmos • 2019 Dolby Atmos Mix
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmonium, Harmony vocals, Piano, Tape loops Ringo Starr : Bongos, Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Guitar, Maracas, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Lowrey organ, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Jul 24, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 25, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jul 29, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Circa 2019 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road Studios • London • UK
A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 2nd, 1969
Bootleg • Released in 2004
2:20 • Rehearsal • Jan.02 - D1-29 - Sun King 2.18 - No McCartney involvement as he arrived later during the day
Performed by : John Lennon
SessionRecording : Jan 02, 1969 • Studio : Twickenham Film Studios, London, UK
A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 2nd, 1969
Bootleg • Released in 2004
5:00 • Rehearsal • Medley with "Don't Let Me Down"
SessionRecording : Jan 02, 1969 • Studio : Twickenham Film Studios, London, UK
A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 2nd, 1969
Bootleg • Released in 2004
0:29 • Rehearsal • Jan.02 - D1-35 - Sun King 2.24
SessionRecording : Jan 02, 1969 • Studio : Twickenham Film Studios, London, UK
A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 3rd 1969 - 1 & 2
Bootleg • Released in 2004
0:19 • Rehearsal • Jan.03 - D1-56 - Sun King 3.55
SessionRecording : Jan 03, 1969 • Studio : Twickenham Film Studios, London, UK
A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 3rd 1969 - 1 & 2
Bootleg • Released in 2004
0:47 • Rehearsal • Jan.03 - D2-30 - Sun King 3.82
SessionRecording : Jan 03, 1969 • Studio : Twickenham Film Studios, London, UK
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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