I Will
“I Will” is a Beatles’ song from their 1968 “White Album.” However, the track also appears on their “Anthology 3” album from 1996 as well.
In Detail
- Release Date: November 22, 1968
- Recorded: September 16 and 17, 1968
- Genre: Folk pop
- Track Duration: 1:46
- Record Label: Apple Records
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Ken Scott
Performers And Instruments**
- Paul McCartney: lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitars and “vocal bass”
- John Lennon: percussion and maracas
- Ringo Starr: bongos and cymbals
**George Harrison obviously took no part in this recording.
Where To Find “I Will”
You can still buy this track on the following albums***:
***If you only require the original version of this song, get the White Album.
I Will: Background
Paul McCartney started writing “I Will” while he and the band were in Rishikesh, India. They were studying transcendental meditation at the Ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in February 1968. Like some other Beatles’ songs, which started in India, McCartney finished the song on his return to England. In fact, the song wasn’t even complete when recording began.
“I was doing a song, I Will, that I had as a melody for quite a long time, but I didn’t have any lyrics to it. I remember sitting around with Donovan and maybe a couple of other people. We were just sitting around one evening after our day of meditation, and I played him this one, and he liked it, and we were trying to write some words.
We kicked around a few lyrics, something about the moon, but they weren’t very satisfactory, and I thought the melody was better than the words, so I didn’t use them. I kept searching for better words, and I wrote my own set in the end—very simple words, straight love-song words really. I think they’re quite effective.
It’s still one of my favourite melodies that I’ve written. You just occasionally get lucky with a melody, and it becomes rather complete, and I think this is one of them; quite a complete tune.”
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
Donovan couldn’t remember helping with the lyrics but said that he possibly did with the “shape of the chords.”
Recording Studio
The Beatles began recording “I Will” on September 16, 1968, in Studio Two at the EMI Studios, London, during the 7.00 p.m.–3.00 a.m. session. They recorded 67 takes that day, with take 65 being the master rhythm track. Overdubbing began on September 17 with backing vocals, bass, a new acoustic guitar piece, etc.
During this recording marathon, there were numerous ad-libs which have become commercially available. For example, on take 35, they went off on a tangent by singing the medley “Step Inside Love” with “Los Paranoias” which is available on the 1996 album “Anthology 3.”
During take 29, Paul McCartney sings “won’t” in place of “will.” Then John Lennon replies, “Yes, you will.” At which point, McCartney has a laugh. This take is also commercially available due to the release of the 2018 “White Album” extended box set.
Take 19 sees an improvised tune, “Can you take me back?” which is also due for release in 2018 (full version). There has always been a 28-second segment from this on the “White Album” at the end of “Cry Baby Cry.”
The main version of “I Will” sits between “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” and “Julia” on the 1968 double album “The Beatles,” aka the “White Album.”
Take A Listen
Finally, let us know how this song makes you feel.
