One After 909

Origin

In his 1980 Playboy interview Lennon explained, "That was something I wrote when I was about seventeen. I lived at 9 Newcastle Road. I was born on the ninth of October, the ninth month [sic]. It's just a number that follows me around, but, numerologically, apparently I'm a number six or a three or something, but it's all part of nine."

McCartney said, "It's not a great song but it's a great favourite of mine because it has great memories for me of John and I trying to write a bluesy freight-train song. There were a lot of those songs at the time, like 'Midnight Special', 'Freight Train', 'Rock Island Line', so this was the 'One After 909'; she didn't get the 9:09, she got the one after it."

Different versions

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison first recorded the song in early 1960 under The Quarrymen name, but the recording does not survive. In mid-1960, the Beatles recorded the song again, on a home demos tape, but the recording has not been officially released.

On 5 March 1963, the Beatles recorded a version of the song in five takes during the same session that produced their third single, "From Me to You", and its B-side "Thank You Girl". They were unhappy with the result and that version was not released at the time. Various takes from the 5 March session, and an edit of them, were released in 1995 on the Anthology 1 compilation.

The song was then shelved for six years, until the Beatles re-recorded it in January 1969 for their Get Back project, and the rooftop concert performance of the song was released on Let It Be. "One After 909" is also included on 2003's Let It Be... Naked, in a remixed and remastered version of the concert take. A preceding studio take of the song from January 1969 (take three) was released as part of the 2021 re-release of Let It Be.

Personnel

''Let It Be'' (1970, recorded 1969)

According to Mark Lewisohn:

The Beatles

• John Lennon – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Paul McCartney – backing vocals, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1)
• George Harrison – lead guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums

Additional musician

• Billy Preston – electric piano

''Anthology 1'' (1995, recorded 1963)

According to Ian MacDonald:

The Beatles

• John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm guitar, harmonica
• Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass
• George Harrison – lead guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums

Cover versions

The song has been covered by various artists including Ricky Nelson, Terry Manning, Laibach, Willie Nelson, Helen Reddy, Carmen Rasmusen, the Long Ryders, and The Smithereens. James Apollo recorded a version of the song in 2010 for *Mojo'''s 40th Anniversary recreation *Let It Be Revisited''. Caspar Babypants released a children's version in 2015.

Notes

References

1. Lewisohn, Mark (2004) [First published 1988]. The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962–1970.
2. (1988). "High Fidelity". ABC Leisure Magazines.
3. Lewisohn, Mark. (2013). "The Beatles: All These Years, Volume One – Tune In". Crown Archetype.
4. Sheff, David. (2000). "All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono". [[St. Martin's Press]].
5. "Let It Be". Beatles Interview Database.
6. Miles, Barry. (1997). "Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now". [[Henry Holt and Company]].
7. Lewisohn, Mark. (1988). "The Beatles Recording Sessions". Harmony Books.
8. Lewisohn, Mark. (1994). "Anthology 1". [[Apple Records]].
9. Winn, John C.. (2009). "That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966-1970". Three Rivers Press.
10. (18 September 2021). "Hear the Beatles' Unreleased 'Get Back (Take 8)' From Upcoming 'Let It Be' Reissue".
11. Lewisohn, Mark (1988). ''The complete Beatles recording sessions''. London: Hamlyn p. 169. {{ISBN. 0-600-55798-7.
12. MacDonald, Ian (2007). ''[[Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties]]''. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. {{ISBN. 978-1-55652-733-3.