Dear Prudence

Dear Prudence is a song by The Beatles, credited Lennon/McCartney. The "Prudence" in the song is Prudence Farrow, the sister of movie star Mia Farrow. Prudence had accompanied her famous sister to study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at Rishikesh. Prudence usually spent most of her time there in her room meditating. While the Beatles left the course early, Prudence and several others stayed and became TM teachers. The was inspired by how Prudence would block herself away from the world, which inspired the line "won't you come out to play."

Lyrics
[Chorus]

Dear Prudence

Won't you come out to play?

Dear Prudence

Greet the brand new day, hey

The sun is up, the sky is blue

It's beautiful, and so are you

Dear Prudence

Won't you come out to play?

[Verse 1]

Dear Prudence

Open up your eyes

Dear Prudence

See the sunny skies

The wind is low, the birds will sing

That you were part of everything

Dear Prudence

Won't you open up your eyes

[Bridge]

Look around, round

(round, round, round, round, round, round, round, round, round)

Look around, round, round

(round, round, round, round, round, round, round, round, round, round)

Look around (around)

[Verse 2]

Dear Prudence

Let me see you smile

Dear Prudence

Like a little child

The clouds will be a daisy chain

So let me see you smile again

Dear Prudence

Won't you let me see you again?

[Chorus]

Dear Prudence

Won't you come out to play?

Dear Prudence

Greet the brand new day, hey

The sun is up, the sky is blue

It's beautiful, and so are you

Dear Prudence

Won't you come out to play?

Trivia

 * John Lennon never played "Dear Prudence" for Prudence Farrow when they were in India. "George was the one who told me about it," she said later. "At the end of this course, just as they were leaving, he mentioned that they had written a song about me but I didn't hear it until it came out on the album. I was flattered. It was a beautiful thing to have done."


 * On June 27, 1987, Sotheby's in New York sold a page of "Dear Prudence" lyrics (14 lines of verse and notes and doodles around the border) to an unidentified bidder for $19,500.
 * It's one of Julian Lennon's favourite songs of his father's.
 * This song has been covered by Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Jerry Garcia Band, the Jackson 5, Leslie West, Ramsey Lewis, and The Five Stairsteps.

Credits

 * John Lennon - Lead and Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar (1965 Epiphone 230TD Casino), Tambourine
 * Paul McCartney - Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 4001S), Piano (Bechstein #44064 Grand), Drums (1964 Ludwig Super Classic Black Oyster Pearl), Cowbell, Flugelhorn and Handclaps
 * George Harrison - Backing Vocals and Lead Guitar (1964 Gibson SG Standard)
 * Mal Evans - Backing Vocals and Handclaps, Tambourine
 * John McCartney (Paul's cousin) - Backing Vocals and Handclaps
 * Jackie Lomax - Backing Vocals and Handclaps