The Long and Winding Road

The Beatles

About The Long and Winding Road

"The Long and Winding Road" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1970 album Let It Be. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. When issued as a single in May 1970, a month after the Beatles' break-up, it became the group's 20th and last number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It was the final single released by the quartet. The main recording of the song took place in January 1969 and featured a sparse musical arrangement. When preparing the tapes from these sessions for release in April 1970, producer Phil Spector added orchestral and choral overdubs. Spector's modifications angered McCartney to the point that when the latter made his case in the British High Court for the Beatles' disbandment, he cited the treatment of "The Long and Winding Road" as one of six reasons for doing so. New versions of the song with simpler instrumentation were subsequently released by McCartney and by the Beatles. In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked "The Long and Winding Road" at number 90 on their list of 100 greatest Beatles songs. 


Year:
1995
3:37
152 
#6

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The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to you door

The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
Let me know the way

Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Any way you'll never know
The many ways I've tried

And still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door

But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here
Lead me to your door

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The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. Their best-known lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, they later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. In the early 1960s, their enormous popularity first emerged as "Beatlemania", but as their songwriting grew in sophistication, they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era's sociocultural revolutions. more »

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Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origin
"The Long and Winding Road" was actually written by Paul McCartney, but, like all songs written by either him or John Lennon regardless of whether they wrote it together or individually, it was credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership.
Album Inclusion
The song is the closing track on The Beatles' 12th and final studio album, "Let It Be," released in 1970.
Lyrics Inspiration
Its inspiration came from the tension and disagreements among The Beatles members during the recording of "The White Album," as McCartney sought solace in the long and winding road near his property in Scotland.
Chart Success
"The Long and Winding Road" became The Beatles' 20th and final number-one song in the United States on June 13, 1970, shortly after the band announced their break-up.
Musical Style
The song was originally performed with a simple piano accompaniment, but producer Phil Spector added orchestration and a choir without McCartney's consent, leading to a fallout between them.
Grammy Awards
In 1971, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and was also nominated for Song of the Year.
Version Releases
Two versions of the song were released in 2003 – the one on "Let It Be... Naked" that reverted to the original, stripped-down arrangement, and the one on "The Beatles Anthology 3" that had a slightly different composition.
Beatles’ Performances
"The Long and Winding Road" was one of the tracks to which McCartney sang the lead vocal part, and it was never performed live by The Beatles.
McCartney's Solo Performances
The song has been a staple in McCartney's live performances as a solo artist, usually appearing towards the end of the set.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by numerous artists since its release, testament to its timeless appeal. Notable covers include those by Ray Charles, Cilla Black, George Michael, and Billy Ocean.

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