The Epic Track: “Let It Be”

Editor’s Note: There are certain tracks that are, well, “epic” — memorable, larger than life, carved into music history. In this series, we look at one of them.

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The year was 1968. Paul McCartney was riding the wave of global triumph with The Beatles as they collaborated on their iconic White Album, but he was not happy. His relationship with girlfriend Jane Asher ended, leaving him lonely and disaffected while his bandmates were getting hitched. There was infighting within the band due to growing creative and personal differences with John, George, and even the peaceable Ringo. At 26, Paul was overworked, overwhelmed, and filled with anxiety. In his words:

“…I’d been doing too much of everything. I fell asleep and had a dream where my mom, who died 10 years previously, came to me and she said…’let it be.’ Seeing her beautiful, kind face, I immediately felt at ease and loved.”

It’s stunning to contemplate that this subconscious visitation from his mom yielded the inspiration for the Beatles’ final release from their 1970 album, and “Let It Be” has been a beacon of hope ever since. Paul’s homage to positivity and acceptance, coming to him through the voice of his departed mother is a musical gift.

It opens (and concludes) with the same contemplative, spiritual keyboard riff, luring the listener in with its melodic sweetness and air of melancholy. Never have Paul’s vocals been purer than in the opening lines, “When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me/Speaking words of wisdom…let it be.”

While all the Beatles contributed musically to “Let it Be” and it’s credited to “Lennon/McCartney,” this is really Paul’s jam.

Let’s just acknowledge the well-documented bitter rivalry between John Lennon and Paul McCartney at this point; John didn’t have much use for “Let It Be.” He objected to its air of perceived religiosity (after all, almost every listener who didn’t have the context for it, took “Mother Mary” to be a reference to the Blessed Mother, an interpretation Paul had no issue with). Lennon took a quirky piece of revenge by insisting that it not be the parting track on their last album, ending Let it Be with the risque folk ditty “Maggie Mae” as a kind of treacle cutter. He distanced himself from it further by referring to “Let It Be” as a tune better suited to Paul’s follow-up band Wings. (Despite John’s objections to this glowing track, he did a rather raw and endearing rendition in 1969 which lives on via YouTube.)

The rest of the Fab Four did their work admirably on “Let it Be,” with the glorious instrumental flourishes for which they are known and angelic backup vocals. Billy Preston, known as “The Fifth Beatle” for his unique presence with the band on Let It Be (both for his keyboard skills and calming presence) embellishes Paul’s keyboards with his stirring electric piano and organ solos. George’s guitar solo is a thing of beauty, as is Ringo’s precision percussion.

And oh, those gorgeous lyrics.

“And when the broken-hearted people living in the world agree

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be.”

“Let it Be” is so ubiquitous that a slew of stars have seen fit to cover it. First and foremost? Aretha Franklin, whose superb gospel take on her album This Girl’s In Love With You was released two months before The Beatles’ 1970 Let it Be LP. Joan Baez, David Bowie, Ray Charles, John Denver, Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, among others, have released covers.

 

Heck, the Beatles themselves released more than one version. Long-time listeners will likely be aware that there are two definitive “Let it Be”s in circulation. The single, produced by George Martin, had his trademark softer, more subtly orchestrated tone. The album was produced by Phil Spector and features his “wall of sound” elements – fuller, dramatized, with an emphatic overdub of George’s guitar solo. Each version has its devotees, but both are undeniable classics. John preferred Spector’s brighter sound but McCartney did not; in fact, in 2003 he released Let it Be…Naked on Apple Records, an earthier, whittled-down remix that was more to his liking.

“Let it Be” topped the domestic Billboard charts shortly after its release in 1970 and made it to #2 in the U.K. It still gets frequent airplay and is considered one of their most enduring classics.

“Let it Be” remains universally beloved, filled with melodic beauty. It’s a message of optimism, acceptance and the otherworldly reach of motherly love. Paul took a dream about his much-missed mama and conjured a masterpiece. And it shifted Paul’s fortunes for the better when he married his great love, Linda. This mystical track has been a source of comfort to countless souls. “Let it Be” is one hell of a swan song.

-Ellen Fagan

Photo: Fair use image from Let It Be