Carry That Weight: Introduction

“Carry That Weight” is a Beatles’ song that comes from the Abbey Road album.

In Detail

Release Date: September 26, 1969
Recorded: July 2, 3, 4, 30, 31; August 15, 1969
Genre: Symphonic rock
Track Duration: 1:36
Record Label: Apple Records
Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald

Performers And Instruments

Paul McCartney: lead vocal, piano, rhythm guitar, chorus vocal
George Harrison: bass guitar, lead guitar, chorus vocal
Ringo Starr: drums, timpani, chorus vocals
John Lennon: chorus vocal

Production And Instruments

George Martin: producer and arranger for the following:
Orchestra (Uncredited): twelve violins, four violas, four cellos, double bass, four horns, three trumpets, trombone, bass trombone

Where To Find The Track “Carry That Weight”

You can still buy the song if you get the following album:

Abbey Road (1969)

Carry That Weight: The Song

Written by Paul McCartney but credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership, “Carry That Weight” is the penultimate song of Abbey Road’s B-side medley. They recorded it together with “Golden Slumbers” as one.

While The Beatles recorded the “White Album,” cracks were beginning to show within the band. The discord was around for quite a while before they broke up and then there was the business side of things that got in the way.

“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 forever! That’s what I meant.”
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles

On April 10, 1970, The Beatles officially disbanded, but the wrangling went on for many years after.

Recording Studio

All the band members sing in harmony on this track, which is unusual in itself. However, Paul McCartney does a song solo in the middle bridge. After the brass section begins, we hear the beginning of “You Never Give Me Your Money,” McCartney sings alone here, but with different lyrics.

The Beatles began recording “Golden Slumbers” and “Carry That Weight” on July 2, 1969, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios, London, during the 3.00pm–9.30pm session. There were 15 takes that day, and Paul McCartney also recorded “Her Majesty” beforehand. John Lennon didn’t take part in these early sessions because he was in the hospital recovering from a road traffic accident in Scotland.

Out of the 15 takes, take 13 was the one suitable for the master rhythm track. Over the next few days, overdubbing took place with guitar pieces and vocals. However, it wasn’t until the 30th of July that John Lennon’s vocals were ready. The song was complete on August 15, with the inclusion of the orchestral piece.

Take A Listen

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