The Beatles – Come Together
“Come Together” is the opening song from Abbey Road. It was released, in the UK, as a double single, along with “Something,” 50 years ago this Halloween. It was released earlier, October 6th, in the US. The song was written primarily by John Lennon. The song charted at #1 in US and #4 in the UK. The ‘Come Together” started as a theme for Timothy Leary’s campaign for Governor of California, prior to Leary being arrested and jailed for marijuana possession.
Rolling Stone ranks “Come Together” at #9 in their list of the 100 Greatest Beatles Songs and #202 on the list of The Greatest Songs of All-Time.
The song has been covered by Ike & Tina Turner, Aerosmith, Joe Cocker and has even been covered by John Lennon, acoustically, and Paul McCartney,Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller on an updated version for the 1995 HELP charity record.
So, you may be asking – Where is the irony?
Just a month prior to the release of this lp which speaks to “Come Together” – The Beatles had broken up. In September 1969, John Lennon quietly announced to John, George and Ringo that he was leaving the band; which marks the actual break-up of the band. However, the official breaking of the Fab Four was announced in April 1970 when Paul announced he was leaving the band.
How Ironic.