The song Paul McCartney wrote as a parody of The Beach Boys
One song from The Beatles extensive back catalogue sees Paul McCartney channel two artists, Chuck Berry and The Beach Boys to create one classic
(Credits: Far Out / Linda McCartney)
Music » From The Vault
Thu 6 February 2025 19:47, UK
The world of music is one that has shaped the entire globe for decades. Countless cultural behemoths have found their first shockwaves on the landscape on the airwaves provided by the sonic soundstage. So many artists have become icons off the back of music. Paul McCartney, in the minds of many, is one of the most revolutionary musicians who have impacted popular culture.
With The Beatles, Wings and his solo material, Macca has been able to traverse genres, themes and societal changes to remain relevant in an ever-changing landscape. While continually pushing new sonic boundaries, the former Beatle has also never been afraid to reference his contemporaries as motivation, often wearing inspiration on his sleeve.Â
Reflecting on the music that has helped shape his creative output, Mccartney once revealed his all-time favourite song to the world. To many peopleâs surprise, the song he chose wasnât taken from The Beatlesâ extensive back catalogue, but from one of the bandâs apparent rivals, The Beach Boys, and their iconic song âGod Only Knowsâ.
The Beatle once decreed: ââGod Only Knowsâ is one of the few songs that reduces me to tears every time I hear it. Itâs really just a love song, but itâs brilliantly done. It shows the genius of Brian [Wilson]. Iâve actually performed it with him, and Iâm afraid to say that during the soundcheck, I broke down. It was just too much to stand there singing this song that does my head in and to stand there singing it with Brian.â
Given that Paul McCartney and the legendary Brian Wilson often looked across at one another for inspiration, it seems right that their song material should overlap. However, one Beatles track was written as a âBeach Boys parodyâ by the Liverpudlian musician.
(Credits: Far Out / Alamy)These days, 60 years down the line, the many inspirations that fall into pop music are so vast and varied that it seems a bit pointless to try and figure them all out. But back in 1968, as The Beatles prepared to release their incredible record The White Album, it was still a reasonably straight line to draw from one artist to another.
Whatâs more, usually, great artists were more than happy to share their inspiration, candid in their appreciation of the art that went before them. That can indeed be said of Paul McCartney when talking about The White Album song, âBack in the U.S.S.Râ. âChuck Berry once did a song called âBack In The USA,â which is very American, very Chuck Berry,â said McCartney back in â68.
â[The song was] very sort of, uhhâŠyou know, youâre serving in the army, and when I get back home, Iâm gonna kiss the ground. And you knowâ Canât wait to get back to the States. And itâs a very American sort of thing, Iâve always thought. So this one is like about⊠In my mind, itâs just about a spy whoâs been in America a long, long time, you know, and heâs picked up⊠And heâs very American. But he gets back to the USSR, you know, and heâs sort of saying, âLeave it till tomorrow, honey, to disconnect the phone,â and all that. And âCome here honey,â but with Russian women. It concerns the attributes of Russian women.â
However, thatâs not where the inspiration ended. As well as being directly inspired by Chuck Berry, McCartney also confessed in 1984: âI wrote that as a kind of Beach Boys parody. And âBack in the USAâ was a Chuck Berry song, so it kinda took off from there. I just liked the idea of Georgia girls and talking about places like the Ukraine as if they were California, you know?â
The song also offered The Beatles a chance to ensure their message was reaching all corners of the globe. âIt was also hands across the water, which Iâm still conscious of,â said McCartney in the same interview. ââCuz they like us out there, even though the bosses in the Kremlin may not. The kids do.â
The song is also beloved by Beatles fans for its curious arrangement. Not that sonically, the music is avant-garde, but because the band members all switch up instruments. John Lennon plays six-string bass on the track while McCartney sat in on the drums for Ringo, he remembered, âIâm sure it pissed Ringo off when he couldnât quite get the drums to âBack In The U.S.S.R,â and I sat in. Itâs very weird to know that you can do a thing someone else is having trouble with.â
Ringo, being the affable sort of chap he is, quickly got over the perceived insult and the band delivered a stellar record in The White Album. Often seen as one of their best, the LP wouldnât have been anywhere near as good without a little bit of direct competition and inspiration from The Beach Boys.
Related Topics
Chuck BerryPaul McCartneyThe Beach BoysThe Beatles
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