Long and Winding Road

The Beatles

About 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:
1970
3:37
754 
#4

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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

Songwriting
"The Long and Winding Road" was written by Paul McCartney, but it is credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership. The song is deemed as one of the most classic ballads from The Beatles.
Release Information
The song was released as the last single from "The Beatles," commonly called "The White Album," on May 11, 1970. It topped the charts in both the US and UK.
Album Decision
Despite having been recorded in January 1969, it wasn't included in the "Abbey Road album," which was the actual last album recorded by The Beatles. Instead, "The Long and Winding Road" was placed onto the subsequent release, "Let it Be."
Beatles Breakup
Paul McCartney cited the changes producer Phil Spector made to "The Long and Winding Road" without McCartney's consent as one of the reasons behind The Beatles' subsequent breakup.
Different Versions
Multiple versions of this song exist, with McCartney's preferred, simpler arrangement appearing on the 2003 release "Let it Be... Naked."
Awards and Recognition
This Beatles ballad became the group's 20th and final number-one song in the United States.
Inspired by the Countryside
McCartney reportedly composed "The Long and Winding Road" at his farm in Scotland, finding inspiration in the tranquility of the hills and valleys.
Not Regularly Performed
Prior to the disbanding of The Beatles, the band had never performed "The Long and Winding Road" in public, though McCartney has featured it in his solo concerts since.
Orchestration Controversy
Without Paul McCartney's knowledge, Phil Spector added orchestration and a choir to "The Long and Winding Road," causing a significant dispute within the band. McCartney was particularly opposed to this version.
Cultural Impact
"The Long and Winding Road," with its poignant lyrics and haunting melody, is often seen as symbolizing the overwhelming cultural journey The Beatles undertook, ultimately leading to their breakup.

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