And Your Bird Can Sing

Originally Posted by Wavertree

One of my favourite Beatles songs. The high point of Revolver — in fact, I think that it should have been the album’s first track (sorry, “Taxman” fans).

I do wish it were just a wee bit faster, though.

I would say that had "Taxman" not been chosen as the kick-off for "Revolver", then "AYBCS" would have been an excellent second choice.

I'm not sure where the track falls on the UK vinyl LP, but it kicks-off side two of "Yesterday and Today". So, to me, it's always been the kick-off for at least one side of an album (LP).

Originally Posted by 62hofner

I'm not sure where the track falls on the UK vinyl LP, but it kicks-off side two of "Yesterday and Today". So, to me, it's always been the kick-off for at least one side of an album (LP).

FYI, “And Your Bird Can Sing” appears on the UK Revolver album as the second song on side two, just after “Got to Get You into My Life” and just before “For No One.”

Wouldn't that be after "Good Day Sunshine"? I mean, "Got To Get You Into My Life" is only before "Tomorrow Never Knows"...

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Wouldn't that be after "Good Day Sunshine"? I mean, "Got To Get You Into My Life" is only before "Tomorrow Never Knows"...

Oops! Your right, D.H. “And Your Bird Can Sing” does indeed follow “Good Day, Sunshine.”

I guess my memory isn’t that good after all.

Originally Posted by pattiboyd's slave

Wow, what a great song, And Your Bird Can Sing, I love the way it jumps out at you at the start with that whirling dervish guitar rhythm, like being on a merry-go-round. And the vocals and harmonies are so strong, so suspended in the air going over our heads and then coming back down to permeate our hearts to give us joy for several minutes. It has an uplifting quality, but there also seems to be an underlying cynical ring to it that is typical John and his working class lyrics. This is a damn good song all the way around, I wish young song writers would take a clue from this tune and bless the world with something original, lasting and, and...

I could not agree with you more!!! Arhg...and maybe new bands will learn not to make each of ther songs sound the same, (and like other bands songs)!!!!

But no...this song just totally rocks, its my favourite track on Revolver, which is saying ALOT because Revolver is just such an awesome Album!


Also the giggle version is equally as amazing! "You may be....BE awoken I"LL be round"

I just love the chord progression starting with the "When your prized possessions.." bit starts; I've got to admit, when I play this part myself, my poor fingers get twisted.
That take on Anthology 2 is just funny! When I first heard it, I was laughing more than they were!

Originally Posted by MacLen Walrus

That take on Anthology 2 is just funny! When I first heard it, I was laughing more than they were!

I know the feeling! When I first heard it I was like 6 or 7, and I thought it was the greatest thing in the world!

"And Your Bird Can Sing" is a minor classic. I really love the complex lead guitar arrangements and it sounds exactly what it is, a bright, breezy mid-60s tune with vaguely philosophical lyrics. You get the impression that it was a fun recording session and that's even before your hear the Anthology take.

Originally Posted by 62hofner

"And Your Bird Can Sing" has always been one of my favorite songs...

I read (or heard?) somewhere that Paul actualy played the guitar on that. I don't want to believe that one. I like to think that Georgey got to take the credit for that. Paul played a killer bassline in the song, so give George his rightful place as guitarist, d*mmit!

It's a strangely arranged song. It just blasts off right into those dual guitar leads... verse 1... guitar lick... verse 2.... cool descending part... guitar solo.... 2nd cool descending part... verse 3 which sports those awesome hamonies that someone else mentioned above... and then it takes you out with the return of the opening guitar lead/solo.... and then fades with those faint bass "bu-dum-bu-dum-bu-dum-bu-dum"s and the stray open 2nd string guitar note.

I like the droning rhythm guitar on the song, too. Sounds like Jonh used the same tremelo effect on his guitar that he did on "Paperback Writer".

Something happy for you: PAUL and GEORGE played guitar an AYBCS.

I've always thought my session book was wrong about George being the only guitarist on this song; some of the guitar just sounds like Paul's lead style, a`la Taxman.

John seemed to think he hadn't made any strides with the lyrics and it was meaningless psychedelia. I think that he was too hard on himself, the lyrics are all right but it's the sound that makes this a memorable one.

Originally Posted by MacLen Walrus

I've always thought my session book was wrong about George being the only guitarist on this song; some of the guitar just sounds like Paul's lead style, a`la Taxman.

It is wrong:According to this site:
JOHN Epiphone E230TD Casino with a capo on second fret VOCAL
PAUL Epiphone E230TD Casino, Rickenbacker 4001s VOCAL
GEORGE Epiphone E230TD Casino HARMONY VOCAL
RINGO Ludwig kit , Tambourine

Thank you for that link. My book is rather dated, some of it is accurate and some is not. Very informative website!

Why does that site call "poor" the bass line in "She Said She Said"? I always thought it was great!

And I could have sworn that I've read at least two books (or websites) that mention John playing tambourine on "And Your Bird Can Sing".

(???)

Well, a few people on the forum now have noticed inaccuracies on that site. But then, so is my book, here and there.
Oh, Weavertree--good idea! AYBCS would have been a good, rousing start to Revolver! In fact, I think I'll program my CD player that way to see how it sounds!

I like it!! That song always force me to hold my feet from jumping and stamping around!

Originally Posted by 62hofner

"And Your Bird Can Sing" has always been one of my favorite songs...

I read (or heard?) somewhere that Paul actualy played the guitar on that. I don't want to believe that one. I like to think that Georgey got to take the credit for that. Paul played a killer bassline in the song, so give George his rightful place as guitarist, d*mmit!

Lead guitar is George. Paul played only bass, John rhythm guitar.

Originally Posted by 62hofner

Yeah, I prefer the official album version. But having the jangly 12-string version is an added bonus - a nice version.

I'm not sure what they were doing on the Anthology version. It sounds as if they already had the lead vocals nailed down (as you can hear them along-side the "giggle vocals"). Perhaps they were trying out harmonizing the entire lead vocal and not just the incidental harmonies that appear on the final version(???).

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Ah, it's definitely George PLUS someone else. He said it in 1987:

"I think it was Paul and me, or maybe John and me, playing (guitar) in harmony-- quite a complicated little line that goes through the middle-eight."

It's another great song that John dismissed. ("Another horror", he called it).

Source: http://www.geocities.com/~beatleboy1/dba07revol.html

Originally Posted by nigel64

And Your Bird can Sing is one of my favorite Beatle Songs off my Favorite Albums Revolver the only Problem with it its only 2minutes long it could go on longer for me John & George play Lead Guitar on it their awesome on it along with Paul on Bass

Originally Posted by Everywhere Man

John seemed to think he hadn't made any strides with the lyrics and it was meaningless psychedelia. I think that he was too hard on himself, the lyrics are all right but it's the sound that makes this a memorable one.

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Why does that site call "poor" the bass line in "She Said She Said"? I always thought it was great!

And I could have sworn that I've read at least two books (or websites) that mention John playing tambourine on "And Your Bird Can Sing".

(???)

Recorded EMI studios, London, 20 April 1966

Producer George Martin

Engineer Geoff Emerick

John's composition And Your Bird Can Sing appeared on Revolver in re-made form, Take 10 from 26 April. Six days earlier, in two takes, the Beatles recorded a different arrangement of the number, the overdubbing of several vocal tracks on to Take 2 indicating that, for a few days at least, they considered that it had the makings of a master. This recording is released here for the first time. counted-in by John. And someone or something - the tape does not reveal what - was causing them to giggle...

the liner notes on Anthology 2 LP.

Wednesday 20 April

Studio Two: 2.30pm-2.30am. Recording: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (takes 1-2). Mono mixing: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (remixes 1-5, from take 2). P: George Martin. E: Geoff Emerick. 2E: Phil McDonald.

A twelve-hour session producing two takes of one song and four of another - nothing of which was ever released in this form.

This day's two takes of 'And Your Bird Can Sing' captured the strident guitar work of the version which was to end uo on Revolver but that is where the similarity ended. Take on of the song was the rhythm track only, guitars and drums, and it was unrecognisable in this form from the song which finally evolved. Take two, the 'best' for now, had innumerable overdubs, there being at least three Lennon vocals, two McCartney harmony vocals and one from George, plus additional tambourine and bass. The tape also captured hysterical laughter by John and Paul during one of the overdubs, developing into impromptu whisting by the song's end.

Despite making five remixes the song was soon discarded in favour of a re-make on 26 April.

Tuesday 26 April

Studio Two: 2.30pm-2.45am. Recording: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (re-make) (takes 3-13, SI onto take 10). P: George Martin. E: Geoff Emerick. 2E: Phil McDonald

"Okay boys, quite brisk, moderato, foxtrot!" Under this somewhat confusing directive from meastro John Lennon the Beatles launched into the re-make of 'And Your Bird Can Sing'. The first attempt, take three, although only a rhythm track, was a very heavy recording but the song grew progressively lighter after that, although guitars were always to the fore. A playback at the end of the 13th take revealed that take 10 had been the best. With Phil McDonald having spooled back the tape the remainder of the session was then spent overdubbing John's lead vocal, with Paul and George backing.

An interesting blend of lead guitar strumming and Paul's bass guitar notes ended the song, and the best version of this cestion came at the conclusion of take six. Future remixes for the album were edits of the two elements.

Wednesday 27 April

Studio Three: (control room only): 6.00 pm-11.30pm. Mono mixing: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (remix 6, from take 10). P: George Martin. E: Geoff Emerick 2E: Phil McDonald

Eleven remixes in one evening - and was chosen for inclusion onRevolver. The Beatles paid little attention to stereo. In fact, to this point, no stereo mixes had been done for any Revolver songs.

Thursday 12 May

Studio Three (control room only): 1.45-3.35pm. Mono mixing: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (remixes 7 and 8, from takes 10 and 6). Editing: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (of mono remixes 7 and 8). P: George Martin. E: Geoff Emerick 2E: Jerry Boys.

Friday 20 May

Studio One (control room only): 11.00am-12.30pm. Stereo mixing 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (remixes 1 and 2, from takes 10 and 6). Editing: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (of stereo remixes 1 and 2). P: George Martin E: Geoff Emerick 2E: Phil McDonald.

The two mixes are the same.

Monday 6 June

Studio Three (control room only): 7.00-12.00pm. Mono mixing: 'And Your bird Can Sing' (remixes 9 and 10, from takes 10 and 4). P: George Martin E: Goeff Emerick 2E: Phil McDonald.

Wednesday 8 June

Studio Two (control room only): 1.00-2.00pm. Editing: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (of mono remixes 9 and 10). P: n/a. Geoff Emerick. 2E: n/a.

Mark Lewisohn: The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions

Lennon vocal, rhythm guitar, handclaps; McCartney harmony vocal, bass, handclaps; Harrison harmony vocal, lead guitar, handclaps; Starr drums, tambourine, handclaps

During the high-pressure final dates for Rubber Soul, The Beatles had been allowed to arrange their sessions more or less as they pleased and had grown accustomed to camping out in Abbey Road for days at a time, evolving songs in the studio and recording them as they went along. And your bird can sing took most of two twelve-hour sessions (including a complete remake) and went through many variations before arriving at its finished form in the early hours of 27th April. In what he later dismissed as a throwaway, Lennon (McCartney claims to have helped on the lyric, estimating the song as '80-20 to John' (Miles op. cit., p. 288). ) elaborates the hipper-than-thou psychedelic omniscience of Rain, taunting the limitations of the analytical mind which, no matter how educated, can never comprehend creativity. The song's working title was 'You don't get me'. Counting the song in at the start of the second day, Lennon mocked the pedantry of popular sheet music: 'Okay, boys - quite brisk, moderato, foxtrot.' Ending on the raised eyebrow of an unresolved subdominant, the track is memorable mainly for its rolling swing (probably based on The Merseys' contemporary UK hit 'Sorrow') and the intricacy of its guitar parts, including an arpeggiated chromatic passage and a reccuring arabesque in parallel thirds played by Harrison and McCartney (or possibly Lennon). One of the early versions of this track (Anthology 2) shows the group using a stop chord on the final 'me' of the last chorus. This allows a break from the track's dense texture, momentarily revealing the vocal harmony by itself - an effective device for some reason later dropped.

Ian McDonald

The period during which Revolver was recorded coincided with a time when Paul had a ravenous appetite for new cultural experiences and this made John feel uneasy because he felt that, as an ex-art student, this was his territory. In April 1966 Paul was in print enthusing about the different forms of music he was getting into - Indian, classical, electronic - and bemoaning the fact that there simply wasn't time to listen to everything he wanted to. "The only thing to do is to listen to everything and then make your mind up about it." Could talk like this have led John to write, 'Tell me that you've heard every sound there is.'?

If it was a put-down, it's unlikely that Paul was aware of it.

Steve Turner

For some reason, for a long time I overlooked this song. Crazy, I know. But now I love it! It's one of my favorites on Revolver. I love the laughing version too.

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Why does that site call "poor" the bass line in "She Said She Said"? I always thought it was great!

According to Paul McCartney's 'auto'biography Many years From Now he stormed out of the She Said She Said session and doesn't play on it at all, so George had to play bass, which is presumably why it doesn't really leap out at you like some McCartney ones were doing around that time, though there is one very nice bit in it.
And I agree, And Your Bird can Sing is a heck of a song. I read Joe Walsh (Eagles) once saying he learned the intro/solo as a teenager and was known throughout the area as 'the kid who could play the And Your Bird Can Sing lick'. He said it nearly killed him. In 1992 when he told Ringo he could play it, ringo told him no-one could, that's why George and John played it together on the record.