Across the Universe (song)

Across the Universe is a song by the rock band The Beatles, first released in December of 1969 on the compilation album No One’s Gonna Change Our World. It also appeared alternatively on the Beatles' album Let It Be.

Writing
Credited to Lennon/McCartney. The song was written by Lennon in 1967 after an argument with his wife at the time, Cynthia Lennon, and after she had gone to sleep, Lennon wrote a line that was repeated through his head during the argument. He began writing the song and went to sleep. When he awoke, he forgot he had written it and found it later in the morning. He went to the piano and wrote the rest of the song.

Credits

 * John Lennon - lead vocals, guitar (1965 Epiphone 230TD Casino);
 * Paul McCartney - piano (1905 Steinway Vertegrand)
 * George Harrison - sitar;
 * Ringo Starr - maracas

Trivia

 * "Jai guru deva om", the mantra repeated in the song, means something to the equivalent of: "I give thanks to the great teacher, om". Jai meaning thanks, guru meaning teacher, and deva meaning great. Om is believed to be the sound of the harmony of the universe.
 * This song was transmitted into space on February 4, 2008 towards the direction of Polaris. This was meant to celebrate multiple anniversaries including the songs' 40th.
 * For the female chorus, two female Apple Scruffs were invited in to sing.
 * This was the first and only Beatles song to feature a female chorus.