The Beatles,
Abbey Road (
1969)
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This is one of the
medley of song fragments on side two of the album. Recorded on
July 2, 1969 with "
Golden Slumbers" as a single song, that song seamlessly slides into this one, which just as seamlessly proceeds into "
The End".
It begins with the entire band singing in unison as a
chorus, a rare thing. Horns signal the recurrence of the
melody from "
You Never Give Me Your Money" earlier in the album, and Paul sings a verse (below in italics) recalling that song. Horns again signal a return to the original melody, the Beatles sing again in unison, and the guitars take us into the next song.
It's been written that the "Golden Slumbers"/"Carry That Weight" sequence is about the fading of youthful idealism of The Beatles and the strain upon their friendship caused by the burdens of fame and the music business.
Carry That Weight 1:36
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time.
I never give you my pillow
I only send you my invitations
And in the middle of the celebrations
I break down
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time.
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time.
John Lennon: acoustic guitar
Paul McCartney: lead vocal, bass guitar, lead guitar
George Harrison: 12-string lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
George Martin: producer