The Hidden Voice in The Last Beatles Song | I Want You (She's So Heavy)

I Want You (She's So Heavy) is one of the Beatles' rare hidden gems: an often overlooked song that features some of the finest musicianship of their entire career. Produced over an 8 month period in 1969 and finally released on the iconic Abbey Road album, I Want You is a layered masterpiece. But there's an anomaly hidden in its many layers that you might not have a noticed before. And as a warning, once you hear it...you can't unhear this.
Check out my other videos:
Why Is This Beatles Song So Messy? • Why Is This Beatles So...
The Hidden F-Bomb in 'Hey Jude'
• The Beatles' Hidden F-...
Special thanks to Lance Osborne of The Fab Four Archivist: / fabfourarchivist
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Sources:
What Goes On - The Beatles Anomalies List: wgo.signal11.or...
Recording the Beatles: www.curvebender...
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: amzn.to/2JnWEox
#YCUT #TheBeatles #Music

[@georgyorgy2]

I’ve always heard these “ghost” vocals and assumed it was just their style. They did this all the time. I didn’t know about there being two different versions of the song, though. Very cool.

[@arturhours]

he also talks about that in one of his other videos i’m pretty sure edit: here kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3TFpKGkgNGEfqc

[@angelainamarie9656]

It's the guide vocal bleeding through the drums. One assumes they overdubbed the lead vocals.

[@president-electfreddy-krue3866]

when I listened to this, as a kid, I always thought it was spontaneous. Of course, most kids believe that songs are just played in their current state. Now, as adults, we realize that additions are constantly made in the studio. The Beatles learned to utilize this feature. So, when we're listening to a song which had been planned for months, recorded in 45 takes, and fragmented, it all sounds like a spontaneous recording.

[@Slammy555]

I'd heard it as well, I thought they were saying something like "yeah" matching the guitar key, like the guitar takes over the note.

[@joncousins4097]

I imagine that most of us have heard this 'hidden' voice for decades (for me since 1969 ~;-) - but this is an interesting video none-the-less.

[@lillyanne7277]

"No one would dare yell at a Beatle during recording" except Yoko.

[@lillyanne7277]

@@CB-xr1eg no need to be rude. Well alas I have been told I dont have a brain sometimes.🖕

[@JamesSkates05]

@@lillyanne7277if you didn't have a brain you wouldn't be alive so that isn't possible

[@duffbaker9554]

As well as nick some of George's biscuits and then sit on his amplifier. George was reportedly miffed.

[@djskullboy2871]

ibanez gsr 200 Ringo got yelled at one time

[@markb20]

Someone should have yelled at Yoko: "Get the hell out of the studio- this is for members of the band only!"

[@bloomingfieldhd3708]

I love the fact that Ringo came up with the idea to add some Conga Drums on 4/20/69, absolute legend.

[@tonym994]

I'm sure, being ahead of their time, the Fab4 smoked some reefer on 4/20/69.

[@FABCASTLE]

Ringo is SO overlooked 😭

[@russyJ20]

@@FABCASTLE Most the time overcooked

[@johnrogers9481]

@@FABCASTLE huh…overlooked by whom.???

[@MrThedonhead]

​@@FABCASTLE bloody hell for a drummer he's not overlooked! Probably most famous drummer ever FGS!

[@johngerson7335]

It's McCartney vocalizing his bass-line.

[@fasuto8656]

Yeah

[@Nerkin610]

The vocal ID isn’t that identifiable, but this sounds very probable. I can hear that. Paul always had a habit to sing whatever part he was focusing on.

[@MrRichiekaye]

That's it!

[@dougdrazga4461]

This is common. Jazz pianists vocalize their solos all the time. Perhaps Paul didn't expect that track to be used for the final, and he was still working it out?

[@johngerson7335]

@@dougdrazga4461 Could be, but I suspect that he's just diggin' on the emphasis of that particular bass riff.

[@cookiemonster3147]

In the nineties my classmates laughed at me because i was 'still' listening to the Beatles. I still listen to it in 2020 and will continue to do so.

[@jasonburden4889]

In the nineties when I was in high school my friend approach me and asked me if I heard Norwegian wood and it amazes me that he was into the Beatles and we were listening to Nirvana and Pearl jam and Alice in chains

[@ventonthorn3455]

When I was 14 or 15 KISS were the biggest thing in the world, every other kid at school was all into them. Me, I was busy listening to all The Beatles I could get my hands on.

[@TheAndreseao]

I bet your classmates listen to Niki Minaj or some bullsh*t music

[@ahard-daysnight6659]

@@TheAndreseao i dont think they listened to niiki minaj in the nineties

[@jimroscovius]

I grew up walking around and around the living room, pretending to play a guitar, and singing to Nowhere Man on a reel-to-reel tape. I was six years old when that song was released.

[@inkadinkadoodle]

I Want You is a such a beast that not even its own creators could find it a fitting end. All The Beatles could do to stop it was just...stop it. And it was BRILLIANT!

[@brandonbrandon2822]

It was John's idea to cut the tape. Paul hated it as with the white noise.

[@KathleenMcCormickLCSWMPH]

Yes, that abrupt stop is fantastic!

[@brandonbrandon2822]

@@KathleenMcCormickLCSWMPH wrong

[@KathleenMcCormickLCSWMPH]

@@brandonbrandon2822 it may be wrong for you but it’s right for me….

[@jessejamesainger3263]

@@brandonbrandon2822 No you are wrong. The only other thing they could have done is fade out slowly but the quick cut off followed by Here Comes The Sun is perfect. A fade out with the static/white noise wouldn't have sounded right.

[@DSRQ1]

John on rhythm guitar, Paul on bass guitar, George on lead guitar, Ringo on drums, and Yoko on everyone's nerves.

[@jaydenwhitlen1489]

John plays lead on this song

[@BennyRietveld]

Too funny!

[@frankfacts6207]

Yeah, Yoko made it a lousy record

[@johnk-ht4yj]

John & George both played & recorded multi- rythym tracks ( arpeggios & heavy ascending/descending riff) I suspect George plays lead guitar on the intro only, the solo in the middle is all John.

[@CoBro491]

That's cute.

[@TheKicklukassen]

“The neighbors were complaining about the noise the band was making”.imagine having the balls to complain to the beatles about their music being “noise”.

[@duffbaker9554]

Back then rock fans were still in the minority as the many of the old guard were only middle-aged (as well as approaching middle-age).

[@emptee6581]

I love The Beatles as much as the next fan, but a lot of their songs really are just noise.

[@shootfirst2097]

If you're disturbing the peace, you're disturbing the peace. It doesn't matter if it's Bach or Mozart.

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Nothing about having balls, have you ever been in a recording session, I have as a roadie for a band, it gets a bit much after 6 hours and somebody wanting to sleep so they can go to work the next day has a valid reason for complaining about a city studio making noise till dawn.

[@HunterMann]

I’m surprised that the studio wasn’t better soundproofed, which they needed to keep outside noise from being hear inside. Also, I really don’t think most bands play at loud “corvette” volume while recording. It would distort the recording and make the VU meters spike excessively. Abbey Road, still a gem of a record. Bravo!

[@DavidJackson]

I've always loved this song. For me, nothing beats John or Paul in their scream/singing voice.

[@zoleroid7027]

"You'll never be able to unhear it" I'll forget about the ghost vocal 10 minutes from now

[@jennifursun3303]

I never could hear it

[@davemalcolm1688]

I never heard it to begin with, being half deaf might be why, not sure.

[@TriWaZe]

Lol. The scream in Love Rollercoaster by the Ohio Players is something you can never unhear. Its just creepy.

[@johnhouse9983]

Just checkin' to see if you've forgotten about that 'ghost' vocal "MAGOG BROMINE CHAMBER" google that , it's really something you won't forget in a hurry.

[@gratefulbear2183]

stuart houselander I’ll never forget how shitty that album was. I sat there waiting for any tiny bit of redeeming audio and I never found it. What a waste of time

[@Stelios78910]

The best Beatles KZbinr out there.

[@YouCantUnhearThis]

Wow, that's high praise. Thanks for watching!

[@joshbooyens3448]

SteliosSeven no

[@tarotsushima3332]

What about Hollyhobs? He's also really good at Beatles video essays.

[@YouCantUnhearThis]

I'm a big fan of Hollynobs! Fab Four Archivist is another excellent Beatles channel worth checking out: kzbin.info/door/xWFyPG8Qgj-1BVqC_r6rLg

[@MikeyLikey95]

@@YouCantUnhearThis Definitely deserved though. I really appreciate your dedication and detective work through such subtle parts of the song. And the videos are always such high quality. Keep up the great work!

[@tomperkins6389]

In college we had a party and I, a budding recording engineer, was in charge of music and I had a tape recorder. At one point in the evening's playlist I looped the end of "She's so Heavy" so it lasted about 20 minutes. It became such a part of the background that when it eventually came to its natural end it was like the air was sucked out of the room. People nearly fell over.

[@gaylealleluia8392]

Wow! I wish I was there! We’re y’all stoned!? Lol.

[@deanl0]

@@gaylealleluia8392 The Beatles were, that's for sure.

[@cynthiaberenguer2188]

The isolated three vocals ....really shows again and again their power as interpreters. Ringo's drumming... outstanding.

[@miguelmaturino86]

What do you mean interpreter?

[@cynthiaberenguer2188]

Sorry!!! I ment performers as well as composers, etc. They were so complete as musicians!

[@jakelangley624]

@@cynthiaberenguer2188 you can edit comments by the way

[@rickb2432]

Ringo has perfect timing. The heart of the instrumentals.

[@franklee9814]

It's Paul's voice scat singing his bass line. That's all it is, no biggie. Oh brother.

[@aliceborealis]

Nobody said it was anything more than that.

[@welhynole4082]

Haha it does sound exactly like that

[@KCNYC]

I think the original poster finally got some decent gear to listen on. Stuff like this all over many records, just get some HiFi gear, good pressings, and critical ears.

[@kylebookout1789]

Its the Beatles. Its never not a big deal. Haha.

[@traviswolpert5873]

Wish I would’ve seen this before I started damn. Respect

[@beatleboy7577]

This is one of my favorite songs to listen to when I'm depressed. I just love the almost foreboding last half of the song. The build up of music and noise is just mesmerizing.

[@DeflatingAtheism]

Imagine a bunch of people at a swanky mid-century cocktail party, clinking glasses around a bean-shaped pool, and in the back of the minds of every one of them, they know the specter of nuclear annihilation hangs over them.

[@wyattstevens8574]

And at the end- an abrupt stop!

[@stepitup5409]

These guys were so good that fifty years later we are watching a video about a background voice. They were like no other and there will never be another like them.

[@doublefeature]

literally my moms favorite thing to say about the beatles; 'they were like no other band and there will never be another like them.'

[@jaydoeseverything4310]

Same in the Queen comment section lol

[@natinthehat7700]

Jay Does Everything queen were their own iconic band, the Beatles were more iconic than Queen, though (in my opinion), since the Beatles paved the way for bands like Queen. Queen are still great though.

[@jaydoeseverything4310]

@@natinthehat7700 i was talking about the people in the queen community they say that too their unique

[@thatmarchingarrow]

@Japanese Flying Squirrel Still a far cry from modern boybands, or even the Monkees. The Beatles had their own story, they formed independently, and then adopted that whole image with the suits and everything in the early 60s, the haircuts a bit earlier than that. They wrote their own songs and they found each other and decided to get together and play some music. The Beatles were not the result of a record label looking to make money getting random good-looking musicians and giving them songs to perform as a band all of a sudden. The only thing even remotely manufactured about them was Brian Epstein suggesting they wear those famous suits so associated with their early 60s period now. But the thing is pretty much every successful band ever has had a look, a certain style. There is always some sort of cohesion visually between the members. The Beatles weren't the first or the last to do that, and if that makes them manufactured, practically every successful band ever is manufactured.

[@ewetoo]

There's always something so _alive_ about Beatles recordings and this one is no exception, it has such intense emotion in the foreground and the very background itself is tensely listening with the perfect metaphor of it breaking down into white noise and mingling with the foreground, ultimately collapsing together into incoherence and suddenly cutting off.

[@drunkass77]

It sounds like Paul McCartney. It seems like there's lots of beatles songs with him adding little funny vocals in the background.

[@michaelshultz2540]

matt p ya it's the bob wills influence in him.😎 Ahh Haaaa...

[@jeremyb5468]

Not Paul he been put the band 4 years by Abby road billy took the acting role of paul.

[@freddieboi4818]

JeremyB billy is fake. Paul’s alive and still is

[@johnrogers9481]

Michael Schultz. So you mean the older country singer Bob Wills.? I would never think Bob Wills would influence Paul.?? I knew his son BW Jr. in the 80's in California. Carrying on singing like his father Wills Sr.

[@sunsetpalms1923]

It sounds like someone is yelling "More Cowbell!"

[@jackattack2421]

Holy crap it actually does..

[@CanIgetSubswithnovideos-os1ms]

Haha

[@beautifulblueskies1]

HAHAHAHA

[@johnhouse9983]

Yeah, .. I gotta fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell

[@steviesteve8462]

No, it's "Paul is dead!"

[@butcharmstrong9645]

I am 69 yrs old now and was a Beatles fan when I was 9 yrs old, so that's 60 yrs a fan! I had this album too and had all their albums and loved them all. Even my dear sainted mother who would have been 100 yrs old in February 2022 loved them!

[@johnbaxter9875]

My mom (born in 1929) loved them too. She also liked led zeppelin, van Halen, queen, Ozzy Osbourne, and a long list of others . She could tell you her favorite song of probably 30 or more rock bands. Tell you some of the members of them. She took me to see van Halen in 1982, went in and watched the show. Her favorite queen song was "tie your mother down". The beatles had too many good ones for her to pick just one. RIP mom. Sure do miss that girl.

[@niknayme3754]

If you play I Want You backwards at 78rpm, just before John's scream, you'll clearly hear Ringo shouting 'why are you listening to the tune backwards, you f***king muppet!' No, I'm just joking....

[@bananasstuff3344]

You never know

[@PoisonPickle01]

I dunno sounds pretty legit

[@chuckoles6689]

that was funny.

[@SEA-U2]

😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@piratexander]

@Kwenz Landah pal, do you think you are his friend?

[@joshuawatt7993]

Sounds like Paul to me.

[@chrisdonaldson8902]

Paul (excited cause they're rockin' their butts off !! )

[@dawsonherrin2272]

Joshua Watt I agree it does sound more like Paul then John and I don’t think George would do that it doesn’t just seem like his doing and if it was heard from the drums then it would be much louder if it was Ringo doing it

[@blaws6684]

Paul adlib off mic

[@franktreppiedi2208]

Sounds like he might be directing them. Cause that's what he did!

[@lemonink3685]

Joshua Watt yeah

[@dtchinacat3973]

I think it's Paul: he's always doing his "Woo Woos and all?

[@mrlarvux]

Yes. Listen to the Something vocals isolated and you'll hear him singing along with the guitar solo.

[@lukebilling8846]

It’s definitely paul singing the bass line

[@larus10]

I freaking love these anomalies and imperfections throughout their collection. Kudos to them for leaving this stuff in and giving the music its character. No frills, no gimmicks, just genius songwriting and performance. It doesn't take away in the least- in fact it adds to it! More bands should do this

[@Reddison]

I rewatch this video so much because She’s so Heavy is my favourite Beatles song. The Trident recording is one of the best pieces of art produced.

[@dixiechatty958]

John's scream here is one of the greatest screams in rock and roll. I never see it mentioned on any lists on that subject. Pity...

[@johntiggleman4686]

Right up there with the scream on The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."

[@djmoch1001]

It's a very primal scream, isn't it?

[@YouCantUnhearThis]

@@djmoch1001 It was a preview of what was to come a year later on his Plastic Ono Band solo LP!

[@100dikembe]

His performance on "Mother" is rock screaming at its finest. From the heart.

[@dixiechatty958]

Not to mention "Well Well Well"

[@theneonchimpchannel9095]

Yeah, I'd say it was Paul working out his bassline.

[@Sblatus]

As a beatle fan for life and bored to hell with the same facts all over again everywhere I find this pretty refreshing and interesting! Good job!

[@aaronzlanders]

One thing you didn't mention was how the song relates to the very next track "Here Comes the Sun." Although on vinyl the space between the two tracks required an album flip on other media it is such an amazing change of gears to go from the tape cut on "I Want You" to the gentle beginnings of "Here Comes the Sun." I think it is especially effective on the digital format.

[@EJ160E]

Aaron Landers I always liken that abrupt cut to: walking/driving through a blinding winter blizzard, the lashing snow impairing all senses-then all of a sudden winter ends and springs breaks forth with warmth as the sunlight peaks over the horizon and the first buds and blades of grass bloom...

[@ksasidhar2980]

Aaron Landers man, It always rises up so fast that after it ends I would not wanna hear any other song

[@TippiGordon]

Right on. That transition is sublimely jarring.

[@michael.valenti]

@@EJ160E that was great, nicely said

[@henridic]

@@EJ160E I have a version of Abbey Road that I purchase at Roma many years ago, and I Want You didn't stop cut abrupt. It shunt down very slowly !!! Turning back from Roma to France, all my friends were crazy about having a different version of them and I'm proud to have this unusual version ! (sorry for my bad Englis)

[@ratbride]

I ALWAYS HEARD IT AND THOUGHT MY DAD WAS CALLING ME DOWNSTAIRS GAHAHAH

[@submodernaudio]

yep! same.

[@ervbefelnareik7604]

I always hear a telephone in Revolution 1

[@1sttvbn]

moronkink Me too....🤣

[@amb3cog]

Seems like the better your HiFi, and the greater the frequency range it plays. The more this happens. There's a lot of stuff on old recordings like this just waiting to surprise you late at night after you've smoked some ganga, and make you freak out a little. 😊 There's a couple of Etta James songs where there's loud background noises, and it sounds like someone is upstairs in my home making noise, but I live in a single story condo. So at first it had me thinking an animal got into our attic, or something like that. Definitely felt a little stupid after figuring it all out. 😂✌️

[@nachotube7012]

Ha!! Same thing happened to me EVERY time I listened to Panic In Detroit by Bowie. I swear someone yells “Bob”. Sounded exactly like my dad calling from downstairs.

[@LV75RDM]

It sounded like Ringo exclaiming "That's what I'm talking about!" after John's yells

[@lillydee5978]

I always heard it, and thought it was Paul. In many Beatle songs they do call outs to each other, this is just one of many.

[@johnodonnell5840]

Me too. As I began listening to the Beatles, Wings was already a phenomenon. Paul seems to do that throughout both band's life. And those "call outs" do seem very frequent with the Beatles. BTW, nice name, or moniker; Lilly Dee.

[@lillydee5978]

@@johnodonnell5840 Thanks. None of these "you can't unhear it moments" are new to me, always heard them and it is mainly Paul doing it.

[@connorross6921]

Same

[@MarcelTrindade]

Man, your channel is like X-files for people who love Beatles.

[@WobblesandBean]

Right?? And I. Am. HERE for it. 💜

[@Spacedancer747]

“I want you” is top five Beatles songs for me. In fact, it’s one of the great recordings in history. It bleeds, it screams, it growls. The guitar lines are iconic. Paul’s bass playing is slick & sexy. The vocals are well, you get the idea. I can NOT stop it once it starts. I’ve probably listened to it 500 times over the last 50 years. Both to listen and to study. The final riff line could go on forever, & I imagine it does. I’ve imagined seeing it live & the final section goes on for 45 minutes, over & over, tearing at your brain as guitars burn and new ones are brought up to burned as well. It’s harder than anything Zeppelin recorded because it’s purely raw. Zeppelin actually played monster but their recordings are clean & crisp. I love em btw. This song, including John’s scream, is utterly primal, as if all the frustrations of their entire careers were being released. The white noise is was a revelation at the time. I imagined them playing, and the camera pulls back and they’re in the middle of a withering blizzard and they just sink into the screaming wind. It’s mayhem encroaching on the music. Like electronic rage slowly drowning out the Beatles… and of course, when it cuts off, we ALL jumped out of our chairs to see why the record player broke. The ultimate WTF moment. I literally then thought I’d gotten a bad copy of the record. I had to check with a friend to realize he’d gotten a bad copy too!! What a rip it was!

[@cauxzieruffhausen9547]

I can only say that I am now of an age when nearly everything the Beatles ever did makes me sob with painful nostalgia. Abbey Road was and remains brilliant.

[@carolmaccarolynraea..3153]

Having been a fan since the beginning I wish everyone too young to be there could experience the kick ass thrill of waiting for the next Beatle album to come out, the evolution of their sound was kinda mind blowing. The wonderful thing is we evolved right along with them, they were the pied pipers of my generation. Then there was the individual music they all continued to make. Then No more John, no more George. Still have Paul &Ringo thankfully

[@Mina-cy4dq]

Waited with baited breath. Finding them years later is admirable, but being there from the beginning is such a life enriching experience that stays with you til your last breath. Another milestone just passed. FEB. 7, 1964 and FEB. 9. Arrived in America and very first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Another one coming up August 19, 1965 AND '66. '65, Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX. '66, Midsouth Coliseum Memphis, TN, face to face at their press conference. John autographed his 1st book and George shook hands with me, his effort, not mine. Yeah, being there from the beginning is the best way!

[@pixywings]

Yeah if I ever get access to a time machine I am totally going to one of the first Beatles concerts. LOL

[@Mina-cy4dq]

For as long as it lasted, I'm glad they all got to have a life after "The Beatles". I'm still 16 in my heart when I hear their music. At least someone will remember me 3-4 generations after I'm gone, when they hear a Beatles song. 🥲

[@cynthiaforsythe8989]

I particularly remember the surprise of the Rubber Soul cover as I unwrapped the album as a Christmas present 1965. It was so different! But not as shocking as seeing the Sgt Pepper cover for the first time.

[@thrutheveil74]

What stands out for me on this song is how after every break the band comes in with a different feel. To me that kind of stuff is the genius of the Beatles.

[@12voltvids]

Without question this was the greatest track the Beatles ever recorded.

[@rolandoproambiente5989]

I agree!

[@em7dim9]

It is.

[@swirlingfudge]

It's with question

[@mr.dr.prof.patrick7284]

@@swirlingfudge i agree… there’s many questions

[@TheHylianBatman]

1:14 Never in my LIFE have I actually been glad to hear "Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey". I had always heard it was someone scared and confused in the studio, saying "What was that about?!". I've always wished we could hear the version of this song without the cut; a whole 'nother minute of that punching guitar riff would just make it perfect. Now that I know there's a guitar solo buried (or perhaps removed entirely) in the mix, I can't help but want to hear that, too. I need to become friends with Giles Martin, I think...

[@julianuary]

The isolated tracks are available online, if you know where to look. And on the new boxset there's an outtake that goes past the cut at the end.

[@thomascars1]

TheHylianBatman *AAAAAAAAAAA* KANSAS CITY

[@TheHylianBatman]

@@julianuary Will have to look into that! Thanks! I've actually listened to the isolated tracks. Guess I didn't listen hard enough.

[@TheHylianBatman]

@@thomascars1 TAKE MY BABY BACK HOME

[@jeremylatta9038]

“No one would dare shout at a Beatle during a recording session.” Norman Smith has entered the chat

[@roddydykes7053]

Jeremy Latta how about that battle axe Yoko Ono

[@crxmdx9199]

Without a doubt my FAVORITE song on this album! Their talent was on full display, one final time. It just shows how in sync they were, each adding his ingredient to the song made it such a masterpiece! To me, the last two minutes or so sounds like you're in a rainstorm, hurricane or a tornado, so chaotic, destructive, then...silence. It's the end. BRILLIANT!

[@jasonshinhenglee680]

You Can't Unhear This is like CGP Grey or Lemmino; he doesn't upload often, but when he does you best believe the video is going to *rock.* (Let's get him to 100k guys!)

[@amwitty_]

Your channel has quickly become a must watch for me

[@m0L3ify]

The way this song was produced is such chilling symbolism...

[@chipgaasche4933]

How so?

[@m0L3ify]

@@chipgaasche4933 Static fades in, competing with the music and then the sound suddenly stops. It's like musical symbolism for the end of the band, and it was the last song they worked on together. It just feels eerie, even though I'm sure it was a psychological representation of what they were going through at the time, expressed through their art. It just feels meaningful, knowing the background of the song. Really profound.

[@chipgaasche4933]

@@m0L3ify I see. I think you're reading too much into it..but I can see what you mean.

[@garymclaughlin9559]

@@m0L3ify I'm sure it represents just what you say; the abrupt end of the Beatles. Not sure that it is chilling, eerie or particularly profound, but hey I think it's a great work too.

[@annakermode6646]

I have always sensed something powerful in this song, it literally does hypnotise you. I love everything about it.

[@alanlivesinoz]

Loved this song from the day I bought this wonderful album way back when - my highlight was the change of beat @ 2:25 into the solo - very cool! Plus one of the greatest song outro's ever......always had to be played LOUD!! What a song - what an album - what a joy it gave and still gives me to hear it to this day. Our generation was blessed to have had these guys as a huge part of our musical lives.

[@Thomas-dz4eg]

The guitar solo has been my ringtone for years lol.

[@sukijosephine6720]

This will always be my favourite Beatles song💘

[@MaxGretinski]

I agree with the hypothesis that the "ghost" vocal is Paul mouthing his bass line. He might have done so thinking that he was going to record a new bass part afterward, or maybe he was just mouthing his part while he was playing, and they left his mic on in the mix. Doesn't matter, because it adds to the layering effect of the song -- which is its major impact. It's why the heavy feel works. It's why the white noise fits. So many beautiful layers. As for the abrupt ending, it fit so perfectly in part because of what happened on the other side. Side One has a "trick" ending, since it ends unexpectedly. Side two does the opposite: the album is over, and then there is an extra track (that wasn't on the track listing). Brilliant serendipity, and "Her Majesty" has an opposite feel to "I Want You": light, acoustic, and empty instead of heavy, electric, and overloading in its fullness.

[@RawDepth]

As a studio engineer, I can tell you that I've often heard unwanted sound leaking from loud headphones and being picked up by sensitive condenser mics. Sometimes throw-away "scratch" tracks are made which contain different information than production tracks, such as tempo clicks and rough guitar and vocal recordings used for reference. Occasionally that bleed noise remains if the take is great and the band is on a strict time budget. I can hear background talking on GFR's I'm Your Captain too.

[@DUCKDUCKGOISMUCHBETTER]

Talking about someone talking over the I Am Your Captain song...one of my pet peeves is radio DJs talking over the beginning or ends of songs, or running other songs or advertisements over songs. But this song, for decades, has been the exception to that rule. As far as I'm concerned, after about the eleventy millionth "I am your captain, please don't take my boat away from me", they can talk over, cut off, or otherwise destroy the rest of the record, and hang the band! I've always wanted someone to make a parody of that annoying song, and interrupt the whining captain, and make him walk the plank of his own ship. 😂 In my mind, the parody would be a bunch of rough British sailors, who were mutinying, and talking over top of the captain, and speculating on what to do with him after they steal his ship, lol. And the more he whines and repeats himself about them not taking his ship, the more dire the things they are discussing doing with him. Till eventually they make him walk his own plank. Into a bunch of sharks below. And then, for the ending, they say, "Blimey! Even the bleeding sharks don't want him!. Let's haul him back up, and fire him out the bloody cannon!" Meanwhile, he's STILL repeating that last line a million times, while the highly annoyed sharks flee in terror. And the last thing on the parody is the sailors haul the bastard up out of the midst of the fleeing sharks. And the last thing on the record is the boom of the cannon, and the captain's terrified scream, "YAAAAAAAaaaaaaaah!!!", as he disappears over the oceans horizon, lol. Abrupt song end. There were so many song parodies in the 60s, I'm surprised this song was not given that treatment.

[@RawDepth]

@@DUCKDUCKGOISMUCHBETTER Well, don't beat around the bush. Tell us what you really think of the song. I'll bet that deep down, you really want to hear it again. Now don't you !?! ...with headphones on! Aheeh Matey? 😉😂

[@DUCKDUCKGOISMUCHBETTER]

@@RawDepth Lol! 😂

[@StamfordBridge]

Every little unused variant sounds so amazing. We need them all somehow.

[@David14A]

One of my favorite Beatles songs hands down, one of my favorite songs of all time. Enjoyed this video more than I thought I might too, I’ve never seen any of your stuff before now. Very good, cheers mate!

[@yogurtsniffer86]

this song is crazy i wish it was longer though

[@LukasMusicWayne]

Renan Souza you did not get it...

[@namesareoverratedlol2229]

yogurtsniffer86 good one buddy

[@Mountlougallops]

I agree about the song but damn, that whole album is mesmerizing. And in my opinion it sounds like Paul like he’s just “singing” that bass line*

[@jumpinjojo]

Linda Klann Bass* line.

[@Mountlougallops]

joseph migliore thanks!!

[@CB-xr1eg]

bass* not base*

[@theclashcalling_]

Billy Shepherd's bass line is standalone work of art on its own..just stunning.

[@daveoutdoors4949]

I always really liked this song but it was only within the last couple of years that I began to REALLY LOVE the musicianship in this beauty. It is one of their finest and is under-appreciated in my opinion.

[@wishawweather5421]

Introduced to the Beatles at birth in the early 70's by my father who had nearly all of their music, this song along with "I've got a feeling" are the tracks that took the longest to grow on me. By the time i reached my 40's they had became my favourite two Beatles tracks. I had no idea this one spent so much time in the studio, but the result is music of the highest degree.

[@cmeflywva]

It's Paul not only can you hear his voice but he has a habit of following the melody of songs. A great example of this is the stripped down version of Something. You can't hear it very well in the final but after it was stripped down to only George and Paul's vocals it becomes apparent. Paul does this quite frequently not only with Wings, his solo work, and live.

[@wolferthehawkeye]

Please, don’t leave us for another 3 months. Your work is amazing :( 🙏🏻🎶

[@mdelaubergine8930]

Agree totally that this track shines as one of their best ensemble performances. The musical chemistry of the four of them together when they were really shredding was like nothing else before or after.

[@meadowmoss1847]

I was about 13 years old and hanging out with my best friend and his older brother in their basement when I first heard I Want You/She's So Heavy. It was highly cranked up on a great stereo system, and I was transported into a world of intrigue and awesomeness!!! It remains one of my all time favorite songs!♡ It was very cool to learn about the details of it's creation. Thank you!♡ I've often wondered if with today's recording technology a remake could be made that had all the original complexity and intrigue, but also deeper and more powerful bass sounds.

[@Ghosty6464]

I always thought it was Ringo going "Yeah!" in response to John's scream, as the drums kick in right afterwards.

[@AmericanShia786]

This song, as you presented it, really appears like a treasure chest full of gems, with a few hidden compartments that contain even more gems. There is so much to discover when solitary tracts are explored. It's sort of like archeology.

[@james.black981]

Mate, you could disassemble EVERY Beatles song, AND I WOULD WATCH EVERY SINGLE VIDEO. These are amazing. Hats off to you for making me love my favourite album even more with every new Abbey Road related video. Cheers 👍🇦🇺😎

[@SouthBaySteelers]

Probably my favorite Beatles tune. I started listening to them in 1974, my senior year in high school. Haven’t stopped.

[@penelopeitaca7674]

The Ghost voice was a tool they used frequently to create a mysteriuos atmosphere in many of their songs, explecially in the latest albums. However this analysis is very interessino. Thanks a lot!

[@CB-xr1eg]

explecially* interessino*...what language is that, if I might inquire?

[@jennw6809]

This was the first rock album I ever listened to as a young kid, and this song scared the shit out of me!

[@niggato23]

@Brendan Co-Elliott you never know kid

[@Meladjusted]

Love "I Want You (She's so Heavy)." It gets so dark sounding. It's so unique.

[@guitarjonn7103]

Can't talk about the roots of metal music without mentioning this song.

[@ChefClary60]

The second one sounds like Paul for sure. And I thought George bought the MOOG? It’s the chord progression in this song that’s so cool starting on Dm and falling to an Amaj. I love playing it. It’s haunting.

[@darrylmoore127]

That is one of my fav.track of John. Love how the bass keeps changing durring the verses ,Paul playing is simply fanastic .. And the run Paul plays durring the outro .He is the reason why i play bass ... .

[@Bill_Woo]

That IS a spectacular lost guitar solo. I love your perspective, across the board. Thank you for the continuing artistic enrichment, including past and future.

[@pamalojo]

When this album was released I couldn’t get enough of it. The very first time I heard the abrupt ending of I Want You, I think my heart stopped for a moment as well. It’s still a great album and I still listen to it. A lot.

[@shyman99]

I've always heard it and always thought it was simply Paul screaming at an opportune time, a la the impromptu contributions you hear in "All You Need Is Love", for example. Nothing more, nothing less.

[@IPlayROBLOX]

How I understand this song/ what this song symbolizes for me is something like this; The lyrics, “I want you” and “She’s so” is correlating to love or relationships that The Beatles did songs about earlier in their career, but overtaken by heavy sounding instruments, symbolizing inevitable death that can sometimes end abruptly. and in this case, the end of The Beatles. Death itself is a heavy topic to discuss. So that’s the vibe i’m getting from this song.

[@fernthman]

I'm not a big fan of the Beatles but, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this song. It's a work of genius., Every element combines to create an incredibly powerful soundscape as the tension increases and the white noise takes over the music. My only complaint is that it's too short. It could go on and on as far a as I'm concerned. I've heard several versions - remixed to ridiculous lengths and it totally works.

[@vivlund]

I had heard this before on the recording, didn’t know what it was, though! Great video that really goes in behind the scenes!!

[@balexsmith7952]

This is, was, and will always be my favorite Beatles song. It synthesizes everything that was great about them perfectly. It only made perfect sense to find out that this was literally their ultimate studio recording. I always just figured the voice referred to was Paul or John shouting just off mic the way they were both fond of doing when the band really started to “cook”.

[@feelthejoy]

It’s Paul. Even when they were at an antagonistic point, getting into a stripped down rock/soul track like this made them bring out the best in each other - by which I mean not the most creative, but absolutely the most excited. Not only does it sound like Paul’s voice, but it’s a completely natural Paul reaction to the intense rocker John that he first met as a teen.

[@peacecrewproducts]

It's McCartney in the background it's no ghost son

[@NobodyNobody310]

The term "ghost vocal" has nothing to do with ghosts🤦‍♂️

[@philnando]

Nah I think it's George

[@SprayJuice]

@@NobodyNobody310 r/whoooosh

[@zq9m3xh8]

@@NobodyNobody310 Unless the vocal is from an actual ghost.

[@wonder6789]

The voice is clearly John shouting uncontrollably during one of the overdubs.

[@fbello18]

Before I knew this song was the very last song they were together in studio, I just cannot hear it anymore - ‘cause it makes me sad, so sad. Actually I never loved that song - it is brilliant for sure - but I think I always suspected there was something wrong: as you say, It was the end of an era. The end of a dream.

[@Bill_Woo]

(sniff)

[@lpedr0l]

Exact. Myself used to never listen to Let It Be and Abbey Road just because the climate were not confortable, it is possible to feel in. But now, I see them as a great goodbye, a great end, the end of an era made with the best they could do.

[@fbello18]

lpedrol - and Abbey Road is fill of clues: “Boy you’re gonna carry that weight, carry that weight a long time” ! “And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make” - could it be a ‘farewell’ more profound ?

[@brianvonnazareth8248]

@@fbello18 The only thing I really don´t like on Abbey Road is that there is that song Maxwells Silver Hammer and sorry to all the fans Oh Darling wich sure is sung great but somehow it lacks of something in my opinion (in difference to why don´t we do it in the road from the white album): One of them should have been replaced by All Things Must Pass by Harrison or Cold Turkey which could have been a great opposite to Come Together if the Beatles had played it (just imagine what rythm, baseline and harmony vocal it could have gotten) and if Paul hadn´t refused it.

[@fbello18]

Brian von Nazareth - I agree with “All Things Must Pass”, for sure it has to be there. Silver Hammer is more a joke than a serius song, but Paul’s perfectionism led this song to a high clean song - wicht I do not dislike it. We can say the same of Oh Darling - only the backing vocals are awesome - his creativity to create all those things - the afterall - brings the song to another level. She Came in... Bathroom Window is one good exemple of this. A simple song just moved to a great hit. But sorry friend, Cold Turkey could never be there or any other Beatles album - you might like, your taste - but it is weak. John was in a bad mood when he did it. I just cannot those freaky screams - you don’t imagine how I hate to hear Yoko’s voice, just to see her face makes me upset !

[@jesuspena8076]

Does anybody else imagine a giant ufo over your head when they hear the ending of this song? 🛸

[@ronwilliams357]

I imagine formations of B-52 bombers on their way to nuclear holocaust.

[@ぐらにゅ-c8f]

Air conditioner in car

[@mistertoad6497]

@@ぐらにゅ-c8f You have no soul! (Just joking)

[@casparuskruger4807]

I have always loved this song. My favourite on this album.

[@leandrosvarvarousis3383]

I actually think that this is the best song of the album!

I’ve always loved the tension and darkness. It adds poignancy after the nonsense of Octopus’s Garden. It’s a great track. And a great video. Well done.

[@bipbipletucha]

Agreed. Or at least it's my favorite

[@wellesradio]

The Stones could never do anything this heavy and dirty.

[@5roundsrapid263]

It’s the most underrated of the album. Something and Here Comes the Sun are tied for my favorite. She’s So Heavy is a close second.

[@davedavey5]

A masterpiece

[@johnbaxter9875]

I read something somewhere, someone saying how the beatles had brought so much change in the 7 years they were releasing music, and how ironic it was that at the end of this song Lennon was adding white noise. In those 7 years recording techniques and technology had made great strides to remove white noise and here he was intentionally adding it back as an essential element of the music.

[@TallAbeLincoln]

This song belongs on a Sludge Metal album. I cannot understate how much I adore this song and seeing this video just makes me love it even more.

[@dcaccavo1]

Paul’s playing in the verses is AMAZING - the runs are cool and outrageous, but check out the second verse. I love this track.

[@davidfusco6600]

My older brother bought Abbey Road as a Christmas present, this was in the fall of 69, I was 11 years old. He was leaving for his freshman year of college in Daytona Beach, he knew that he wouldn’t be home for the holidays, so before leaving, he gave me an early present. This was my first new Beatles album. All of my other Beatle albums were hand me downs. I listened to my new album endlessly! I loved every song, but didn’t know what to think of “She’s So Heavy” over time, I’ve grown to love the song, especially Paul’s Bass playing! Abbey Road is my all time favorite Beatles album!

[@paulcachia3480]

I dig it to, love all the jam sessions along with Preston playing the keyboards and Lennon's singing, the bass playing, lead guitar, the drumming etc. it's just wild and mad song! Yeah....

[@trashfuzzaudio]

Geoff Emerick was Abbey Road's sound engineer, and he was one of the revolutionaries in drum recording (along with Glyn Johns) I think he close-micd, and that was bleed from Ringo's headphones, or someone helping with time in the room.

[@kellywilliams6151]

So many haunting layers to this song. I've listened to it countless times and still appreciate all the textures, like the depth of brush strokes in a Monet. Or perhaps it's just my mind playing tricks on me as the white noise kicks in.

[@billyshears8644]

I forget where I read this, but in some interview or other Paul said that this was him yelling in affirmation of John's amazing scream just before

[@YouCantUnhearThis]

That's another common theory - but it doesn't make sense in isolation, since it happens on the backing track both before AND after the scream! Just goes to show that even a Beatle isn't a fully reliable source on history...

[@jaydenwhitlen1489]

If you listen to the drum track it's clearly Paul scatting to his bass part.

[@vedvod]

"no one would dare shout at a Beatle during a recording" Yoko: hold my bad influences

[@user-wx2ek3uv1i]

"bad influences" LMAO

[@tayloriginals999]

Is there an artist or band in the history of the music world whose music outtakes, different takes and all their recordings are poured over like The Beatles' catalog is? There is always some musician who likes to claim they sold more singles or had more number ones or whatever than The Beatles, but they did it when there was no internet and there was only minimal media coverage in the world, before satellite coverage (All You Need Is Love) and when at least here in America there was three channels and maybe PBS, but I am not sure there was that even. They conquered the music world before it was everywhere and that is saying something! Way before even MTV, The Beatles were everywhere! They are a huge part of the soundtrack of my life! I Want You (She's So Heavy) has always been one of my favorites as well, this clip is terrific! Great stuff!

[@thebreakfastmenu]

I think this is one of the favorite songs of all hardcore Beatles fans

[@remifalasido2903]

How about Because ?

[@thomascars1]

The Breakfast Menu it is my personal favorite beatles song

[@tuel3270]

my favorite has to be no reply

[@Yoshikid666]

@@thomascars1 ????

[@garyhillman4993]

I miss the Beatles still to this very day. I know I’m old but there still the best even now ! N if I think of John n George n watch old films it makes me cry Just watch Paul n John playing hey bulldog or watch them on the roof playing. They were a magical band and it’s so upsetting we never seen them play together after 1970 Then they were all arguing about money n managers etc then the rumours Paul died etc. They were so special all individual and George was a brilliant songwriter too I mean who can think up a title of a song when my guitar gently weeps ! Amazing We are so lucky we lived in the days the Beatles were around cos in 500 years time they ll still be talking and playing the music of 4 young Liverpool lads who became the biggest thing in the world I def believe they were gonna get back together around 78-82 when John n Paul made up There was talk I’m sure it would of happened a few giggs if John wouldn’t of got murdered I remember him so excited to see Paul coming over to New York It will always be part of there mystery and that horrible ex of Paul’s said she has loads of secrets about him. She really is one horrible nasty piece what was Paul doing the Beatles The best

[@KristiLEvans1]

WOW. Those harmonized vocals are amazing.

[@sperl42]

Listening to all this gives me shivers as Abbey Road was one of my very first records I ever had. It was a birthday gift from my aunt who didn't really know what she was buying for me. Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, isn't it?

[@tommyt3684]

My ears must be shot. I can never hear these kinds of things. No big loss.

[@stephendevore]

My ears were NOT shot, and I didn't hear anything like it.

[@cherixbiggs5819]

Agree....who cares! Picking apart songs by the Beatles seems to be an occupation many fans like to do. I just enjoyed the finished product. 🥰