Golden Slumbers (1:31)
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“Golden Slumbers” is a song by The Beatles, part of the climactic medley on their 1969 album Abbey Road. The song begins the progression that leads to the end of the album and is followed by “Carry That Weight.” The two songs were recorded together as a single piece, and both were written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney).
“Golden Slumbers” is based on the poem ‘Cradle Song’ by Thomas Dekker and written in a lullaby style. McCartney saw the sheet music for Dekker’s lullaby at his father’s home in Liverpool, left on a piano by his stepsister Ruth McCartney. McCartney could not read music at the time and was unable to read the score, and so he created his own melody and arrangement.
The words originally come from a lullaby in The Pleasant Comodie of Patient Grissill written about 1603.
McCartney was the lead vocalist. He begins the song in a soft tone appropriate for a lullaby, with piano, bass guitar, and string section accompaniment. Beginning with the line “Golden slumbers fill your eyes”, the drums come in and McCartney switches to a stronger tone, both of which emphasize the switch to the refrain. McCartney said, “I remember trying to get a very strong vocal on it, because it was such a gentle theme, so I worked on the strength of the vocal on it, and ended up quite pleased with it.”[2]
The main recording session for “Golden Slumbers”/”Carry That Weight” was on 2 July 1969. John Lennon was not present. He was injured in a motor vehicle accident in Scotland on 1 July 1969, and was hospitalized there until 6 July.
“Golden Slumbers” is based on the poem ‘Cradle Song’ by Thomas Dekker and written in a lullaby style. McCartney saw the sheet music for Dekker’s lullaby at his father’s home in Liverpool, left on a piano by his stepsister Ruth McCartney. McCartney could not read music at the time and was unable to read the score, and so he created his own melody and arrangement.
The words originally come from a lullaby in The Pleasant Comodie of Patient Grissill written about 1603.
McCartney was the lead vocalist. He begins the song in a soft tone appropriate for a lullaby, with piano, bass guitar, and string section accompaniment. Beginning with the line “Golden slumbers fill your eyes”, the drums come in and McCartney switches to a stronger tone, both of which emphasize the switch to the refrain. McCartney said, “I remember trying to get a very strong vocal on it, because it was such a gentle theme, so I worked on the strength of the vocal on it, and ended up quite pleased with it.”[2]
The main recording session for “Golden Slumbers”/”Carry That Weight” was on 2 July 1969. John Lennon was not present. He was injured in a motor vehicle accident in Scotland on 1 July 1969, and was hospitalized there until 6 July.
Video
Added by LLaRo
Me playing this piece of the Sun King Medley (AKA: Abbey Road Medley, among other names) from Abbey Road
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Related Tracks
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Carry That Weight
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Albums featuring this track
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Abbey Road
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English Summer
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Shouts
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lmbj wrote:
perfect
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shinohiro929 wrote:
Stunning. There's no other way to describe it. [2]
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kevin_london wrote:
Great melody put to those lyrics that Paul discovered, and passed on to us...
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rgwilder wrote:
Used to make me cry as a kid.... still chokes me up...
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SilviettaD wrote:
soo perfect.. great job with the voice in the music.
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HenriqSC wrote:
This song + Carry that Weight + The End are completely Epic [2]
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sanderfennema wrote:
True, guess I like it better than all the number-one-hits!
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Simon_FM wrote:
Stunning. There's no other way to describe it.
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lucas7599 wrote:
Side 2 of Abbey Road may be the best moment of the Beatles' discography. This song + Carry that Weight + the End are completely Epic. No better ending for the best band in history.
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rights_reserved wrote:
Paul kicks so much ass on this one.
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lovermew wrote:
one of my ultimate favourites.
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asabarnes wrote:
powerful
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mirellasilveira wrote:
*_* beaaaaaaaaautiful. + carry the weight
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Mr_Whirly wrote:
Chills, every time
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RIPELIVEJAM wrote:
how can a one and a half minute piece of music encompass so much greatness?
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subjective wrote:
oh man. Paul you're killing me. heartwrenching every time
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weemies wrote:
Best song ever... the whole ending trio of Abbey Road actually.
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subjective wrote:
seque into Carry that Weight absolutely chilling every time !!!!!
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subjective wrote:
FUCK
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lunchpunch wrote:
So beautiful. Made me cry first time I heard it.
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