Sunday, October 12, 2025

And your bird can sing-a-ding-ding

John & Paul sit in with Jacky and the Strangers 
in Obertauern, Austria, March 18, 1965

Speaking as we just were of interpretations of the songs of John Lennon, I was  thinking of the fan theory about the Beatles' greatest non-hit "And Your Bird Can Sing." 

The theory has been around for a while but it was new to me: the song is about Frank Sinatra.

This YouTube video made by the channel James Hargreaves Guitar explains the theory in detail. 

I already loved the song, but thinking it is not just great music but a dig at Frank Sinatra makes it even better. 

Another aspect of this song that I only learned of recently is the guitar-doubling by Paul and George.

Other notable versions of the song, available on Youtube, are take 5, and this fan version that isolates the instruments.

And of course the version, also available on the Anthology, featuring Lennon and McCartney laughing and goofing around. This is the greatest version. The only thing like it in the Beatles oeuvre is the outro of "Hey Bulldog" and of course the immortal "You Know My Name, Look Up the Number."