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[nimrod]

I Will

Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime
If you want me to, I will.
For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same.
Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart.
And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear you to me
Oh, you know, I will
I will.


“I wrote quite a few songs in Rishikesh," explained Paul in his book "Many Years From Now," describing The Beatles' visit to India in the spring of 1968.  "George actually once got quite annoyed and told me off because I was trying to think of the next album.  He said, 'We're not f*cking here to do the next album, we're here to meditate!"  It was like, 'Ohh, excuse me for breathing!,' you know.  George was quite strict about that...and it's like, 'Oh come on, George, you don't have a monopoly on thought in this area.  I'm allowed to have my own views on the matter.''

"I was doing a song, 'I Will,' that I had as a melody for quite a long time but I didn't have 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 favorite 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.” 

On September 16th, 1968, with just over three-and-a-half months already spend on recording the "White Album," Paul brought "I Will" into EMI Studio Two for the first time.  Paul, John and Ringo arrived sometime after the usual designated time of 7 pm to begin the recording process, George not taking part in the recording or possibly not present at all on this day.

Paul McCartney - Lead and Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar (1967 Martin D-28)
Ringo Starr - Drums (1964 Ludwig Super Classic Black Oyster Pearl), maracas
John Lennon - skulls (“Wood on metal”)

https://youtu.be/vKTwfk1523k

[blmeanie]

extremely pleasant "Paul" love song.  One of those songs from the White Album that just fits and sounds like the White Album to me, don't know if that makes sense.

[zipp]

It's an average song with a nice treatment. I do however feel it's too short. It lacks a guitar solo or something.

[Moogmodule]

This is a lovely gentle melody. As BLmeanie said, very pleasant.

Isn’t this the one where Paul imitates the bass with his voice?

[Hello Goodbye]

Isn’t this the one where Paul imitates the bass with his voice?

Yes, I heard that too.

And here's Paul's vocal French horn...


https://youtu.be/cbJrXqrLtMw


 

[Hello Goodbye]

It's an average song with a nice treatment. I do however feel it's too short. It lacks a guitar solo or something.

A song doesn't have to be long to get the point across...


https://youtu.be/JGnNQM_9q-w


https://youtu.be/ciunoKbw5Q8


 

[nimrod]

Ive always liked this song, beautiful melody, very Paul, imo couldve fit on Rubber Soul very well.

Apparently there were 67 takes, mostly false starts, heres an earlier take from Anthology 3

https://youtu.be/RONN2sFEfzM

[zipp]

A song doesn't have to be long to get the point across...

I didn't say that. I said THIS song seems too short to me and lacks a solo. The studio I'll Follow The Sun only lasts 1'48 but is perfectly structured and includes a guitar solo. This song isn't and doesn't.

[nimrod]

I didn't say that. I said THIS song seems too short to me and lacks a solo. The studio I'll Follow The Sun only lasts 1'48 but is perfectly structured and includes a guitar solo. This song isn't and doesn't.

Its funny how we all see things differently, I think this little song is perfect as it is. The guitar solo in I'll Follow The Sun is only a few seconds longs, not much longer than the little ones on I Will and I Will has a distinctive coda (ending) which is something IFTS hasnt got.
Ive written songs as a hobby for years, Ive never had the talent to write one with a melody as good as I Will, how I wish I had.

[Mr Mustard]

I'm with zipp on this one.

It's a pleasant, soothing number with a lilting melody and a mellow touch, but it doesn't quite lift off at any point.

I can get the comparisons with I'll Follow The Sun; brevity, a gentle charm and a similar fragile quality. But that solo, fleeting as it is, serves to lift IFTS above the one dimension within which the innocuous I Will flows. Also the later tune lacks that wistful touch of regret which provides an edge to the 1964 track.

Beautiful as it may be, I Will for me provides one of the last examples of - dare I say it - "filler" that the group, who had largely moved beyond this, served up.

[Moogmodule]

I checked an older post and I have I Will on my one album version of the White Album. So I must like it.

[Hello Goodbye]

Yes, we all see things differently.  Is a guitar solo a criterion for a good Beatles song?


https://youtu.be/0soSE-RMH3s


In my opinion it's a perfectly structured song and Eight Days A Week might be the first song to have a fade-in.

[Hello Goodbye]

Here's another without a guitar or instrumental solo...


https://youtu.be/zfnkMBOSIUQ

[nimrod]

I checked an older post and I have I Will on my one album version of the White Album. So I must like it.

Good taste ^   

Its one of those McCartney acoustic gems that I love to play and sing.
Lovely Linda, Every Night, I Will, Blackbird, Michelle and this absolute masterpiece;

https://youtu.be/YbeA7HTzeh4

[Hello Goodbye]

The point I was making in my first post in this thread was merely that a song doesn't have to be long to get a point across.

Some people take a much longer amount of time to do so...


https://youtu.be/j7UUKjpplvg


And for decades we debate just what that point was. 

[KelMar]

I checked an older post and I have I Will on my one album version of the White Album. So I must like it.

It’s nice when former self and current self are in agreement. 

This is one of my favorite White Album songs. The lyrics feel like they could be the basis for a much bigger story that could be a great book or movie. I’ve always chuckled at the placement on the album. It stands in tender juxtaposition to the song just before it.

[Hello Goodbye]

It’s nice when former self and current self are in agreement. 

Now you're being existential.   

[Moogmodule]

It’s nice when former self and current self are in agreement. 

This is one of my favorite White Album songs. The lyrics feel like they could be the basis for a much bigger story that could be a great book or movie. I’ve always chuckled at the placement on the album. It stands in tender juxtaposition to the song just before it.

It is. It’s a pain when your former self keeps hassling you for changing your mind. Especially since in my case he’s younger and fitter.

It’s not my favourite White Album tune but it’s got a nice breezy way about it. It comes and goes quickly so suited an album with songs of different feel and length.

[zipp]

I'm with zipp on this one.

It's a pleasant, soothing number with a lilting melody and a mellow touch, but it doesn't quite ... lift off at any point.

I can get the comparisons with I'll Follow The Sun; brevity, a gentle charm and a similar fragile quality. But that solo, fleeting as it is, serves to lift it above the one dimension ... I Will ... lacks that wistful touch of regret which provides an edge to the 1964 track.

Very well said Mr Mustard.

And incidentally I'm not saying every Beatles song should have a guitar solo, but I do think I Will would be better with one.

[Hello Goodbye]

And incidentally I'm not saying every Beatles song should have a guitar solo, but I do think I Will would be better with one.

I understand what you're saying, zipp, but sometimes a guitar or instrumental solo could interrupt a song's delivery of its message.  For example...


https://youtu.be/2Q_ZzBGPdqE

...a solo here would have detracted from the song's sense of urgency.


I Will is three sentences long conveying a single thought.  A solo would unnecessarily break up that single thought.