Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (song)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a song credited to Lennon/McCartney, and first recorded and released in 1967, on the The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's album. The song appears twice on the album: as the opening track and as "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)", the penultimate track. As the title track, the lyrics introduce the fictional band which performs in the album.

Since its original album release, the song has also been released on singles, on compilation albums, and has been performed by several other artists including Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, McCartney with U2, and a comic interpretation by Bill Cosby.

Authorship and recording
The song was recorded 1 February 1967.

In November 1966, on the flight back to England after a holiday, McCartney conceived an idea in which an entire album would be role-played, with each of The Beatles assuming an alter-ego in the "Lonely Hearts Club Band", which would then perform a concert in front of an audience.

Lyrics
[Pre-Chorus]

It was twenty years ago today

Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play

They've been going in and out of style

But they're guaranteed to raise a smile

So may I introduce to you

The act you've known for all these years?

Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

[Chorus]

We're Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

We hope you will enjoy the show

We're Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sit back and let the evening go

Sergeant Pepper's lonely, Sgt. Pepper's lonely

Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

[Bridge]

It's wonderful to be here

It's certainly a thrill

You're such a lovely audience

We'd like to take you home with us

We'd love to take you home

[Outro]

I don't really want to stop the show

But I thought you might like to know

That the singer's going to sing a song

And he wants you all to sing along

So let me introduce to you

The one and only Billy Shears

And Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, yeah

Credits

 * Paul McCartney - Vocal, Rhythm Guitar (1962 Epiphone 230TD Casino), Lead Guitar (1964 Fender Esquire) Bass (1964 Rickenbacker 4001S)
 * John Lennon - Harmony Vocal
 * George Harrison - Harmony Vocal, Rhythm & Lead Guitar (1961 Fender Stratocaster)
 * Ringo Starr - Drums (Ludwig Super Classic Black Oyster Pearl)
 * James W Buck - French horn
 * Neil Sanders - French horn
 * Tony Randall -French horn
 * John Burden - French horn
 * George Martin - Producer