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