She Came In Through The Bathroom Window: Introduction

“She Came In Through The Bathroom Window” is a Beatles’ song on side 2 of their Abbey Road album. This is the long medley side, and this is the fifth song in. Indeed, Paul McCartney, who wrote the song, claims it is about the “Apple scruffs.”

Those were the hardcore Beatles’ fans who would loiter around the studios as well as the homes of The Beatles, looking for some sort of interaction with them. Then, when one of these broke into his home, he wrote the song.

In addition to recording this song about weirdos, they recorded Polythene Pam at the same time. So, those two songs join together on the Abbey Road medley.

In Detail

Release Date: September 26, 1969
Recorded: July 25th–30th, 1969
Studio: EMI Studios, London
Genre: Rock
Track Duration: 1:57
Record Label: Apple Records
Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald

Performers And Instruments

Paul McCartney: lead and harmony vocals; also the bass guitar
John Lennon: 12-string acoustic guitar, also the backing vocals
George Harrison: lead guitar, also the backing vocals
Ringo Starr: drums

Uncredited: tambourine, maracas, as well as “whipcrack” percussion (whip)

Where To Find “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window”

You can still buy this song on the following albums:

**Obviously, the original recording is on the Abbey Road album.

She Came In Through The Bathroom Window: Background

The obvious inspiration for the song came after a break-in at Paul McCartney’s home in Cavendish Avenue, London.

“We were bored; he was out and so we decided to pay him a visit. We found a ladder in his garden and stuck it up at the bathroom window, which he’d left slightly open. I was the one who climbed up and got in.”
Diane Ashley
A Hard Day’s Write, Steve Turner

Ashley then allowed other scruffs into McCartney’s house and together they stole clothes, photographs, etc.

Margo Bird, who was another Apple Scruff but also a friend of Paul McCartney and later became an employee at Apple Corp., says:

“There were really two groups of Apple Scruffs: those who would break in and those who would just wait outside with cameras and autograph books. I used to take Paul’s dog for a walk and got to know him quite well…

I knew there was one picture he particularly wanted back—a colour-tinted picture of him in a Thirties frame. I knew who had taken this and got it back for him.”
Margo Bird
A Hard Day’s Write, Steve Turner

Recording Studio

The Beatles began recording “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window” on July 25, 1969. Being part of the Abbey Road medley, this song followed Polythene Pam and they recorded both songs together over 39 takes. Then on July 28th, the overdubbing of vocals, guitar, percussion, piano, etc. Finalized on July 30th, they added additional guitar and percussion instrumentation.

There is another version of the song commercially available on the “Anthology 3” album from 1996. This slower, ethereal version comes from January 1969, while recording in the Get Back/Let It Be sessions.

Take A Listen

Nowadays, the scruff would have the label “stalkers.” Although the band might have enjoyed the attention in their early days, it couldn’t have been much fun over such a long period. So, listen to the song and leave us your thoughts below.