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