Dig a Pony
Encyclopedia
"Dig a Pony" is a song by The Beatles
, originally released on their 1970 album Let It Be
. "Dig a Pony" was the penultimate song played at the concert on the rooftop of Apple Studios in Savile Row
, London
on 30 January 1969.
was the song's composer and singer but the song was credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was originally called "All I Want Is You". Lennon would later comment that he thought the song was "a piece of garbage," though he has shown similar scorn for many of his songs. It was written for his soon-to-be wife Yoko Ono
, and featured a multitude of strange, seemingly nonsense phrases which were strung together, culminating in the chorus "All I want is you", aimed at Yoko.
American copies of Let It Be
mistitled this song as "I Dig A Pony."
, with Ringo Starr
yelling "Hold it!" to halt the other band members because he was holding a cigarette and had only one drum stick in his hand. On the Anthology 3
version of this song, the first verse and the end of the song start off with Paul McCartney
singing "All I want is..." This phrase appeared in every performance of the song but was cut from the final version by Phil Spector
, and subsequently cut from the Let It Be... Naked version.
In rehearsals and takes, the last variation on "dig a pony" was "dog a boney," perhaps a reference to "This Old Man
". This is the lyric that appears on Glyn Johns
' assembly of Get Back. On the Anthology version, Lennon sang the spoonerism
"bog a doney." During the rooftop concert, Lennon substituted what sounds like "rode a lorry
," and this is the version that appears on both the Let It Be album and Let It Be... Naked.
borrowed the intro of "Dig a Pony" as an introduction to their song "I Could Die For You" while touring to support their 2002 album By the Way
.
Yellow Matter Custard
covered the song in their 2003 tour.
St. Vincent
occasionally covers the song during live performances, as well as a session with Black Cab Sessions
in October 2007.
It has also been covered by Laibach
on their album Let It Be, which is a complete re-working of the Beatles album.
Chris Lightcap
recorded an instrumental version of the song for his 2002 album Bigmouth.
Ray LaMontagne
and David Gray
performed this song live during their 2010 tour together.
Meaghan Farrell covers the song, complete with sound effects, on Beatles Complete On Ukulele Volume 1.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, originally released on their 1970 album Let It Be
Let It Be (album)
Let It Be is the 12th and final studio album released by the English rock band The Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970 by the band's Apple Records label shortly after the group announced their break-up....
. "Dig a Pony" was the penultimate song played at the concert on the rooftop of Apple Studios in Savile Row
Savile Row
Savile Row is a shopping street in Mayfair, central London, famous for its traditional men's bespoke tailoring. The term "bespoke" is understood to have originated in Savile Row when cloth for a suit was said to "be spoken for" by individual customers...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 30 January 1969.
Composition
John LennonJohn Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
was the song's composer and singer but the song was credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was originally called "All I Want Is You". Lennon would later comment that he thought the song was "a piece of garbage," though he has shown similar scorn for many of his songs. It was written for his soon-to-be wife Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
, and featured a multitude of strange, seemingly nonsense phrases which were strung together, culminating in the chorus "All I want is you", aimed at Yoko.
American copies of Let It Be
Let It Be (album)
Let It Be is the 12th and final studio album released by the English rock band The Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970 by the band's Apple Records label shortly after the group announced their break-up....
mistitled this song as "I Dig A Pony."
Recording
The song was one of the songs on Let It Be that was recorded at the rooftop concert. It begins with a false startFalse start
In sports, a false start is a movement by a participant before being signaled or otherwise permitted by the rules to start...
, with Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
yelling "Hold it!" to halt the other band members because he was holding a cigarette and had only one drum stick in his hand. On the Anthology 3
Anthology 3
Anthology 3 is a compilation album by The Beatles released in October 1996 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. The album includes rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band's career, ranging from the initial sessions for The Beatles to the last...
version of this song, the first verse and the end of the song start off with Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
singing "All I want is..." This phrase appeared in every performance of the song but was cut from the final version by Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
, and subsequently cut from the Let It Be... Naked version.
In rehearsals and takes, the last variation on "dig a pony" was "dog a boney," perhaps a reference to "This Old Man
This Old Man
"This Old Man" is an English language children's song, counting and nursery rhyme with a Roud Folk Song Index number of 3550.-Origins and history:The origins of this song are obscure...
". This is the lyric that appears on Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns is a musician, recording engineer and record producer.-Career:He has worked with such artists as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Easybeats, The Band, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, Eric Clapton, The Clash, The Steve Miller Band, Small Faces, Spooky Tooth, The Ozark...
' assembly of Get Back. On the Anthology version, Lennon sang the spoonerism
Spoonerism
A spoonerism is an error in speech or deliberate play on words in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched . It is named after the Reverend William Archibald Spooner , Warden of New College, Oxford, who was notoriously prone to this tendency...
"bog a doney." During the rooftop concert, Lennon substituted what sounds like "rode a lorry
Lorry
-Transport:* Lorry or truck, a large motor vehicle* Lorry, or a Mine car in USA: an open gondola with a tipping trough* Lorry , a horse-drawn low-loading trolley-In fiction:...
," and this is the version that appears on both the Let It Be album and Let It Be... Naked.
Personnel
- John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
– lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
– backing vocals, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
– backing vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Cover versions
The Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
borrowed the intro of "Dig a Pony" as an introduction to their song "I Could Die For You" while touring to support their 2002 album By the Way
By the Way
By the Way is the eighth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album was released on July 9, 2002 on Warner Bros. Records. It sold over 286,000 copies in the first week, and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. The singles from the album included "By the Way", "The...
.
Yellow Matter Custard
Yellow Matter Custard
Yellow Matter Custard is a Beatles tribute supergroup consisting of Mike Portnoy , Neal Morse , Paul Gilbert , Matt Bissonette...
covered the song in their 2003 tour.
St. Vincent
Annie Clark
Annie Erin Clark is an American multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who performs as St. Vincent. She was a member of The Polyphonic Spree and also part of Sufjan Stevens' touring band, prior to forming her own band....
occasionally covers the song during live performances, as well as a session with Black Cab Sessions
Black Cab Sessions
The Black Cab Sessions is a series of one-song performances by musicians and poets recorded in the back of a black cab and filmed for an internet audience. A black cab is a type of hackney carriage common to Britain. The sessions are recorded while the black cab that serves as the studio travels...
in October 2007.
It has also been covered by Laibach
Laibach (band)
Laibach is a Slovenian avant-garde music group associated with industrial, martial, and neo-classical musical styles. Laibach formed June 1, 1980 in Trbovlje, Slovenia . Laibach represents the music wing of the Neue Slowenische Kunst art collective, of which it was a founding member in 1984...
on their album Let It Be, which is a complete re-working of the Beatles album.
Chris Lightcap
Chris Lightcap
Chris Lightcap is an American bassist and composer from Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He has performed or recorded with Marc Ribot, Regina Carter, Craig Taborn, Mark Turner, Joe Morris, Sheila Jordan, James Carter, Butch Morris, Ben Monder, Tom Harrell and others.Lightcap released an album called Lay-Up...
recorded an instrumental version of the song for his 2002 album Bigmouth.
Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
Raymond "Ray" Charles Jack LaMontagne is a Grammy-award winning American singer-songwriter. LaMontagne has released four studio albums, Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain and God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise. He was born in New Hampshire and was inspired to create music after...
and David Gray
David Gray (musician)
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
performed this song live during their 2010 tour together.
Meaghan Farrell covers the song, complete with sound effects, on Beatles Complete On Ukulele Volume 1.