Good Night

AUTHORSHIP Lennon (1.00)
LENNON: " 'Good Night' was written for Julian the way 'Beautiful Boy' was written for Sean, but given to Ringo and possibly overlush." September 1980, All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono

McCARTNEY: "You could almost be forgiven for thinking 'Good Night' was mine, because it's so soft and melodic and so un-John. I believe John wrote this as a lullaby for Julian, and it was a very beautiful song that Ringo ended up singing to the accompaniment of a big string orchestra. I think John felt it might not be good for his image for him to sing it but it was fabulous to hear him do it, he sang it great. We heard him sing it in order to teach it to Ringo and he sang it very tenderly. John rarely showed his tender side, but my key memories of John are when he was tender, that's what has remained with me; those moments where he showed himself to be a very generous, loving person. I always cite that song as an example of the John beneath the surface that we only saw occasionally. I think that was what made us love John, otherwise he could be unbearable and he could be quite cruel. Now that I'm older, I realise that his hostility was a cover-up for the vulnerability that he felt, and if you look at his family history it's easy to see why. But this is an example of that tender side. I don't think John's version was ever recorded." Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now

RECORDED
June 28, 1968, at Abbey Road, with overdubbing July 2; then remade completely July 22

INSTRUMENTATION
STARR: lead vocal
SESSION MUSICIANS: thirty-piece orchestra, harp
CHOIR: four boys, four girls

The orchestration was scored by George Martin. The Long and Winding Road: An Intimate Guide to the Beatles

LENNON: "I just said to George Martin: 'Arrange it like Hollywood. Yeah, corny.' " Beatles Forever

George Martin's Hollywood arrangement, which uses a large string section and the Mike Sammes Singers, is perfect for this sentimental ballad. Ringo is the only Beatle on the track. Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now

MISCELLANEOUS
Early versions of the song included a spoken introduction by Starr: "Come along children, it's time to toddle off to bed . . ." The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970