DM's Beatles forums
Beatles forums => Songs => Song Of The Week Series => Topic started by: nimrod on June 02, 2014, 11:49:54 PM
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All through the day, I me mine
I me mine, I me mine
All through the night, I me mine
I me mine, I me mine
Now they're frightened of leaving it
Everyone's weaving it
Coming on strong all the time
All through the day I me mine
I-I-me-me-mine, I-I-me-me-mine
I-I-me-me-mine, I-I-me-me-mine
All I can hear, I me mine
I me mine, I me mine
Even those tears, I me mine
I me mine, I me mine
No-one's frightened of playing it
Everyone's saying it
Flowing more freely than wine
All through the day I me mine
I-I-me-me mine, I-I-me-me mine
I-I-me-me mine, I-I-me-me mine
All I can hear, I me mine
I me mine, I me mine
Even those tears, I me mine
I me mine, I me mine
No-one's frightened of playing it
Everyone's saying it
Flowing more freely than wine
All through your life I me mine
I Me Mine is the ego problem. There are two 'I's: the little 'i' when people say 'I am this'; and the big 'I' - is duality and ego. There is nothing that isn't part of the complete whole. When the little 'i' merges into the big 'I' then you are really smiling!
—George Harrison, The Beatles Anthology[
The Let It Be film features a segment in which Harrison plays the song for Ringo Starr, describing it as "a heavy waltz"; the band is then seen performing the tune while John Lennon dances with Yoko Ono.
The song was released on the Let It Be album; however, the Beatles had not done a proper studio recording of the song during the January 1969 sessions. When director Michael Lindsay-Hogg chose to include the "I Me Mine" segment in the Let It Be film, the Beatles decided to record the song for inclusion on the accompanying album. Paul McCartney, Harrison and Starr met in the studio on 3 January 1970, to record the group version of the song.[12] John Lennon was not available; he was on holiday in Denmark. Lennon had privately quit the group in September 1969 so it is not known if he would have attended anyway.[12]
The group recorded 16 takes of the song, the last of which was chosen for the album. Before take 15, Harrison delivered a mock press statement in a joking reference to Lennon's absence (He was on holiday In Denmark) and the British pop group Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich: "You all will have read that Dave Dee is no longer with us. But Mickey and Tich and I would just like to carry on the good work that's always gone down in number two [EMI Studio 2]." The statement followed by take 16 was included on Anthology 3. Although final rendition only lasted 1:34, Phil Spector extended the length by copying and repeating a section. Spector also overdubbed a string and brass accompaniment. The final version, as "re-produced" by Spector, was featured on the re-titled Get Back album, Let It Be. A similar edit, without Spector's overdubs but retaining the repeated section, is available on Let It Be... Naked.
The verses of this song are in the key of A minor but the chorus is in A major. This technique of parallel minor/major contrast is also present in Beatles' songs including While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Savoy Truffle, The Fool on the Hill, Fixing a Hole, Michelle, Things We Said Today, Do You Want to Know a Secret and Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown).
The song begins in 6/8 time on "All through the day" with a shift from the I minor (Am) chord to a IV (D7) which Dominic Pedler of Total Guitar magazine considers emphasises the Dorian mode.
The progression in 3/4 time beginning with an F melody note on "Now they're frightened of leaving it" against minor iv (Dm) chord (the ♭3rd emphasising in Pedler's view the Aeolian mode) shifts to an V7 (E7) on "comin' on strong", but here (at 0.27 secs) the hauntingly strong ♭9 (F natural) melody note results in the suitably "dark drama" of the very rare (in pop music) E7♭9 chord in the key of A minor.
The song is also notable for concluding on an ♭VI (Fmaj7) chord in A minor key.
Personnel
George Harrison – lead and harmony vocal, acoustic guitar, lead guitar
Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass, Hammond organ, electric piano
Ringo Starr – drums
George Martin – producer
Phil Spector – producer
Uncredited – 18 violins, four violas, four cellos, harp, three trumpets, three trombones
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This could almost be credited to The Threetles. Although I suppose John had a habit anyway of excluding himself from George songs.
I've always liked this one. I suppose it could be accused of being turgid but the melody is good, George's growing penchant for interesting chord progressions gives it depth and the middle 8 drives it well to lift the song.
I can't think whether George ever rocked as hard again after this. If not it's a pity. He should have.
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"Everyone is selfish but in particular Paul is more selfish than me"
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I've always liked it, on the whole. The plaintive quality in George's singing is a standout for me. He did that so well. The lyrics strike me as being a bit thin on meaning, but - hey - it's only rock 'n' roll.
:)
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"Everyone is selfish but in particular Paul is more selfish than me"
A nice summation of the lyrics ha2ha
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Its not really a favourite of mine, but I really really like the brass that Spector put on there, not too intrusive, but just enough to give it colour, it sort of has a Brass Band effect towards the end.
I thought the naked version sounded empty without it, its all personal preference though
The Beatles - I Me Mine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvDHwVM-PJI#)
The Beatles- I Me Mine ("Let It Be... Naked" version) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9El1ucxQZEU#)
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The thing I like about this song is that it shows what a versatile guitarist George really is! The Threetles are really tight here and George handling all three guitar parts with overdubs is a good insight to what he can do!
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The thing I like about this song is that it shows what a versatile guitarist George really is! The Threetles are really tight here and George handling all three guitar parts with overdubs is a good insight to what he can do!
He does well on the grittier stuff which isn't what you normally associate with him. I like listening to George's Rhythm/Lead on Dig a Pony. It's quite intricate and adds a lot to the song, working away in the background.
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I've always liked it, on the whole. The plaintive quality in George's singing is a standout for me. He did that so well. The lyrics strike me as being a bit thin on meaning, but - hey - it's only rock 'n' roll.
:)
It's pretty blunt but actually quite profound. George is bollocking us all for being wrapped up in ourselves and the here and now. I like the consistency and continuity of his message, which rolls on through "Love You To", "I Want To Tell You", "Within You Without You", "The Inner Light" and so on... what blossoms in "I Me Mine" is his impatience and as others have said, that urgency gives this outing a bit more backbone than some of his earlier preachings. "I Me Mine" is probably the first time he's told us off since "Think For Yourself".
This one has grown on me over the years. It's nowadays one of my favourites from "Let It Be". Must be my ears but I don't pick up brass on the Spector version, just the solemn presence of a churchy organ which adds weight and depth to the track for me, even if it does underline the fact we're getting another one of Harrison's sermons.
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This was the last song recorded by the Beatles, in January 1970. Actually, the Beatles were already disbanded at that point.
I like "I Me Mine" and I think the orchestration added by Spector works very well.
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It's pretty blunt but actually quite profound. George is bollocking us all for being wrapped up in ourselves and the here and now. I like the consistency and continuity of his message, which rolls on through "Love You To", "I Want To Tell You", "Within You Without You", "The Inner Light" and so on... what blossoms in "I Me Mine" is his impatience and as others have said, that urgency gives this outing a bit more backbone than some of his earlier preachings. "I Me Mine" is probably the first time he's told us off since "Think For Yourself".
This one has grown on me over the years. It's nowadays one of my favourites from "Let It Be". Must be my ears but I don't pick up brass on the Spector version, just the solemn presence of a churchy organ which adds weight and depth to the track for me, even if it does underline the fact we're getting another one of Harrison's sermons.
Yes, you make a good point. I see it now. He says something profound in an uncomplicated way. No argument.
:)
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It's pretty blunt but actually quite profound. George is bollocking us all for being wrapped up in ourselves and the here and now. I like the consistency and continuity of his message, which rolls on through "Love You To", "I Want To Tell You", "Within You Without You", "The Inner Light" and so on... what blossoms in "I Me Mine" is his impatience and as others have said, that urgency gives this outing a bit more backbone than some of his earlier preachings. "I Me Mine" is probably the first time he's told us off since "Think For Yourself".
I'm still not sure who he was telling off in Think For Yourself. But he certainly told us off, in a transcendental way, in Within You Without You.
It's a good song and I enjoyed hearing George suddenly rock out when I first played the LP in 1970. By then we knew The Beatles split up. I knew he was telling someone off again but I wasn't going to let me be the one he was aiming his sermon at. I was happy with my college studies and working hard toward achieving my career ambition which is sacred in its own way.
I like Mairi's summation of this song. Succinct and, considering what The Beatles were going throuh at the time, possibly right on target. She has a way of doing that around here for years now.
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It's pretty blunt but actually quite profound. George is bollocking us all for being wrapped up in ourselves and the here and now. I like the consistency and continuity of his message, which rolls on through "Love You To", "I Want To Tell You", "Within You Without You", "The Inner Light" and so on... what blossoms in "I Me Mine" is his impatience and as others have said, that urgency gives this outing a bit more backbone than some of his earlier preachings. "I Me Mine" is probably the first time he's told us off since "Think For Yourself".
This one has grown on me over the years. It's nowadays one of my favourites from "Let It Be". Must be my ears but I don't pick up brass on the Spector version, just the solemn presence of a churchy organ which adds weight and depth to the track for me, even if it does underline the fact we're getting another one of Harrison's sermons.
after each line in the 2nd & 3rd verses (after each line like - All I can hear, I me mine I me mine, I me mine) there is an answering phrase by the trombones & trumpets, it sounds to me to have the colour of a Brass Band.
The effect is similar to the brass sound on some Kinks songs
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By George ;) you're right Nim!
Not surprised since you have a better tuned musical ear than I'll ever have, but I've never noticed that (very) subtle brass reply before now! Thanks... and I agree with you that it tinctures the track with just a little bit of extra seasoning (so gently that I hadn't even realised it!)
This is what I love about the Beatles' music and discussing it with fellow fans... even after decades of listening to them there are always new little touches to discover :)
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By George ;) you're right Nim!
Not surprised since you have a better tuned musical ear than I'll ever have, but I've never noticed that (very) subtle brass reply before now! Thanks... and I agree with you that it tinctures the track with just a little bit of extra seasoning (so gently that I hadn't even realised it!)
This is what I love about the Beatles' music and discussing it with fellow fans... even after decades of listening to them there are always new little touches to discover :)
and just before the final chorus (I Me me mine) the same brass guys play a tremolo effect on the last stretched out note...nice touch.
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Some interviews I've heard say the song was aimed at all the bickering and infighting at Apple.
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You've got to pity George sometimes, you really have.....the two full songs either side of 'I, Me, Mine' are 'Across The Universe' and 'Let It Be'. Beat that!
The song certainly fulfils the original aim of the LP to give us 'The Beatles as nature intended' (unlike the sanitized 'Let It Be.....Naked' CD) but, even though George is my favourite Beatle, this song is not one of my faves, though it works well enough on the LP.
I prefer 'For You Blue' and, in particular, the 'Elmore James has got nothing on this fella' exchange with John.
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You've got to pity George sometimes, you really have.....the two full songs either side of 'I, Me, Mine' are 'Across The Universe' and 'Let It Be'. Beat that!
Being sandwiched between two of the most overrated Beatles songs does it no harm in my opinion! ;)
But I do much prefer the running order on "Naked".....
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You've got to pity George sometimes, you really have.....the two full songs either side of 'I, Me, Mine' are 'Across The Universe' and 'Let It Be'. Beat that!
The song certainly fulfils the original aim of the LP to give us 'The Beatles as nature intended' (unlike the sanitized 'Let It Be.....Naked' CD) but, even though George is my favourite Beatle, this song is not one of my faves, though it works well enough on the LP.
I prefer 'For You Blue' and, in particular, the 'Elmore James has got nothing on this fella' exchange with John.
For me, I Me Mine is a much better song than For You Blue, which, at the end of the day is a 12 bar blues, like a million Blues songs, but with George's lyrics, its just like a band jamming and using 12 bar as a vehicle, IMM has a very interesting chord structure, some fantastic lyrics, and a wonderful waltz time rhythm, I wish Id written it, Id be very proud of it, whereas its easy to write a 12 bar blues, in fact there isn't any writing ! just make up a few words, like how much you love your woman/man......no 12 bar blues is original really, in a way I don't even think this does belong to George.
I never classed For You Blue as a Beatle song, its just not creative, I go to Blues jams sometimes, I hear this 12 bar sequence over & over, fast, slow with made up on the spot words, I think of IMM as an original, its not a favourite of mine, but its a fine original song, very creative.
Were all different though.
As for Naked being 'sanitized' I kind of agree with you, Im more a fan of the original LIB, although I have wondered from time to time, if Naked had been released first and Id spent 30 years listening to that version, and then the Spector one came out...........would I still feel the same ?
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For me, I Me Mine is a much better song than For You Blue, which, at the end of the day is a 12 bar blues, like a million Blues songs, but with George's lyrics, its just like a band jamming and using 12 bar as a vehicle, IMM has a very interesting chord structure, some fantastic lyrics, and a wonderful waltz time rhythm, I wish Id written it, Id be very proud of it, whereas its easy to write a 12 bar blues, in fact there isn't any writing ! just make up a few words, like how much you love your woman/man......no 12 bar blues is original really, in a way I don't even think this does belong to George.
I never classed For You Blue as a Beatle song, its just not creative, I go to Blues jams sometimes, I hear this 12 bar sequence over & over, fast, slow with made up on the spot words, I think of IMM as an original, its not a favourite of mine, but its a fine original song, very creative.
Were all different though.
As for Naked being 'sanitized' I kind of agree with you, Im more a fan of the original LIB, although I have wondered from time to time, if Naked had been released first and Id spent 30 years listening to that version, and then the Spector one came out...........would I still feel the same ?
Yes For You Blue is fun and I like listening to it but definitely a throwaway. I listened to the Naked I Me Mine yesterday. It does sound a little hollow without the horns. But then we might have been praising the harsh minimalism of the backing. Since it's still a good song without them. But overall I prefer the original version.
As OBS said poor old George did tend to get overshadowed even when he pulled out good tunes. But I suppose that's what made the Beatles great. Their No 3 songwriter would start writing too class things and Lennon/McCartney would keep topping them. Until Abbey Road of course.
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This song has always been a fair to midland tune for me. Very average or mediocre. George is lashing out and shouting in this song, but its comes across more as whining to me for some reason. I don't dislike the song by any means, but its one of those tunes that I really just don't give a crap about either.
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Being sandwiched between two of the most overrated Beatles songs does it no harm in my opinion! ;)
I can see your point Mr.M. While I never cared for any rendition of 'Across The Universe', I actually like 'Let It Be'. That's somewhat strange because its the type of over bloated, sugary song I normally would hate. Its kind of spiritual and it works for some reason. Oh well.
But I do much prefer the running order on "Naked".....
I know your talking about the running order, but I cant help but to mention how much I hate Naked.
Carry on
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George is lashing out and shouting in this song, but its comes across more as whining to me
care mate, you'll have 7 of 13 back on here with that statement ha2ha
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This song has always been a fair to midland tune for me. Very average or mediocre. George is lashing out and shouting in this song, but its comes across more as whining to me for some reason. I don't dislike the song by any means, but its one of those tunes that I really just don't give a crap about either.
I surprise myself sometimes when I realise how little I listen to the lyrics on a lot of songs. Yep the lyrics are preachy and a bit whiny. But to me the I Me Mine refrain works well phonetically to emphasise the melody. I sort of hear the whole thing as a collection of syllables set to music. And it works like that. Some songs the words are really important to my enjoyment of a song. Other times not so much.
At least we can be glad he doesn't mention God like he does in every second song for the next ten years ;)
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care mate, you'll have 7 of 13 back on here with that statement ha2ha
I hear you. I'll be more careful in the future. ha2ha
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I hear you. I'll be more careful in the future. ha2ha
Yeah, Todd. He didn't care much for your timid and bankrupt pc assertions, drunken strawmen, dimestore commentary and woefully inadequate, imbecilic, meandering conclusions which lead nowhere.
ha2ha
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What are "drunken strawmen?" ???
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What are "drunken strawmen?" ???
band from Ohio, they play banjo's uke's & fiddles ;D
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I'm really not holding 'For You Blue' up as being better, or indeed harder to write, than 'I, Me, Mine', I simply prefer to listen to it. It's fun.
'I, Me, Mine' is a lot of things (intriguing, vehement, heart-felt), but I wouldn't put fun at the top of the list.
But then I prefer 'Ask Me Why' to 'A Day In The Life', 'I've Just Seen A Face' to 'Yesterday', and 'The Inner Light' to 'In My Life'!
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Yeah, Todd. He didn't care much for your timid and bankrupt pc assertions, drunken strawmen, dimestore commentary and woefully inadequate, imbecilic, meandering conclusions which lead nowhere.
ha2ha
Wow. Sorry I missed him. Sounds like a fun guy to have at a party
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I'm really not holding 'For You Blue' up as being better, or indeed harder to write, than 'I, Me, Mine', I simply prefer to listen to it. It's fun.
'I, Me, Mine' is a lot of things (intriguing, vehement, heart-felt), but I wouldn't put fun at the top of the list.
But then I prefer 'Ask Me Why' to 'A Day In The Life', 'I've Just Seen A Face' to 'Yesterday', and 'The Inner Light' to 'In My Life'!
That's another of the long lists of things I like about the Beatles. So much choice in mood, style and intent.
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Wow. Sorry I missed him. Sounds like a fun guy to have at a party
Don't feel sorry, the guy was an idiot.
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That's another of the long lists of things I like about the Beatles. So much choice in mood, style and intent.
That's the thing isn't it..
Abba were just Abba, everything sounded err Abba-ish, same with The Stones, same with Queen, Hendrix, whoever
The Beatles were so broad, songs from Obla Di to Revolution, Strawberry Fields to Rocky Racoon, so many styles
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Don't feel sorry, the guy was an idiot.
...whose uncritical, bombastic responses, 20/20 "cornfed" pc tunnelvision biases, and akward and fractured reasoning were counterproductive, unobjective and irrelevant. His one sided delusional commentary, hopelessly linear statements and timid and gutless assertions were at best arbitrary nonsense, and were irrelevant. His uncritical pc distortions and woefully inept, drunken strawmen told a very sad tale, and bore little resemblance to the truth.
;D
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...whose uncritical, bombastic responses, 20/20 "cornfed" pc tunnelvision biases, and akward and fractured reasoning were counterproductive, unobjective and irrelevant. His one sided delusional commentary, hopelessly linear statements and timid and gutless assertions were at best arbitrary nonsense, and were irrelevant. His uncritical pc distortions and woefully inept, drunken strawmen told a very sad tale, and bore little resemblance to the truth.
;D
describes Todd to a tee ha2ha
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Don't feel sorry, the guy was an idiot.
I couldn't understand a word he wrote but that was my conclusion too.
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The Beatles' catalogue had to be broad as they are probably the only group ever who had to appeal to everybody, as everybody knew who they were.....primary school kids, secondary school kids, mum, dad, gran, grandad etc. etc. The Stones' (the wonderful Stones) market was far more concentrated, and was engineered to be by Andrew Oldham.
That's why it's slightly ingenuous for the knockers to pick on songs like 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da', 'Octopus's Garden', 'When I'm 64' to criticize the group, and then perceive them to be 'not rock 'n' roll' or some such tosh. Try 'Slow Down' if you want rock 'n' roll!
The hardest thing in the world to be in the mid-60s was John Lennon or Paul McCartney.....when they put forward their new compositions, they knew that most of Europe, America, the Far East and Australasia would get to hear them, and in those places, ALL genders, ethnic groups and generations!
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I couldn't understand a word he wrote but that was my conclusion too.
It was like trying to understand a bit of Yoko art ha2ha
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describes Todd to a tee ha2ha
(http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/lol8.gif)
Yup, he couldn't tolerate any negativity towards the Beatles and as you all know, I sometimes spew some every now and then. He would berate and cap on me like the things Kev and Barry quoted, but wouldn't or couldn't debate in any intellectual manner. I'm sure in his world he was really putting me down and felt good about himself. In the real world, I might as well been trying to read Chinese let alone deciphering what he was typing. Lol
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Some classic 7 of 13 quotes-
my sweet lord. that's a load of bullocks. such vapid and pointless sermonizing from joost
oh good lord. don't i wish. yes i follow music but the problem is that i'm not clinically braindead when it comes to serious subjects. but seriously, just another irrational and imbecillic response from tkitna.
ha2ha
that you choose to post meaningless insults, vapid and spiked commentary, and irrelevant rejoinders indicates a problem on your end
and i must say that i disagree with the tone of your rather unfortunate, spiritless and bombastic remarks. i also take issue with this idea of beatles songs being only simple melodies and beats, in fact every beatles song is heavily textured and very complicated.
Every song? Lol
Some of our personal go rounds
(me talking to him)Now like a prog song, 7 of 13 will post a repsonse that will be too long and not make any sense, but in his own little world it'll be above everybody else's ability to comprehend it
why thank you tkitna. i really appreciate that, and i really mean it.
*yawn*
there is no way to rationalize such demented and thick pc behavior, possibly because of misinterpreted "sour grapesian" mentality. like john lennon said, one thing you can't hide is when you're crippled inside
Towards you Kev, but of course i'm mentioned=
oh the irony. others here have echoed my exact sentiments nimrod, and the uncritical, bombastic responses manufactured by tkitna leave little to the imagination
once again tkitna, it is in fact you that is routinely making the most unobjective statements here, and of course your trademark boatload of obscene, outrageous and childish assertions. and obviously, it's up to you to prove them. you talking in circles and relying upon secondhand information is bogus, your comical assertions and insanely unrealistic "cornfed" moralizations, the icing on the cake. your pc distortions are no substitute for the truth. totally. fecking. irrelevant.
Oh I could go on, but I wont.
I don't miss him.
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I really like how he accuses YOU of talking in circles in that last quote
ha2ha ha2ha