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The Beatles — Come Together
Album: Abbey Road
Avg rating:
8.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 5208









Released: 1969
Length: 4:11
Plays (last 30 days): 4
Here come old flat top
He come groovin' up slowly
He got joo joo eyeballs
He one holy rollers
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker
He just do what he please

He wear no shoeshine
He got toe jam football
He got monkey finger
He shoot Coca Cola
He say I know you, you know me
One thing I can tell you is
You got to be free
Come together, right now
Over me

He bad production
He got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard
He one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knees
Hold you in his armchair
You can feel his disease
Come together, right now
Over me

He roller coaster
He got early warning
He got muddy water
He one Mojo filter
He say one and one and one is three
Got to be good looking
Cause he's so hard to see
Come together right now
Over me

Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Comments (443)add comment
It's art. Its meaning is subjective.
I always flinch a little bit when stuff like this from The Beatles comes on. It’s like, what can possibly be played after this? A mic drop and radio silence forever?!! 
Pretty good song - I think these guys may have a future.
Those of you who rated this low enough to keep it from at least being a "9" can leave the building now.
Perfect song for the shackled Don to call his minions to ...
On every level, this song still absolutely bucks and hums with a raw, pure power! And this, like many from these wild and ingenious fearless Pioneers of Trip-Rock, is way up there with the BEST music to trip to!
One of my least favorite Beatles songs. And I LOVE the Beatles.
 kingart wrote:

Yeah.
For that matter: what is monkey finger?  Mojo filter? 
This sure ain't the Slow Down Help guy.  



They're just nonsense phrases John made-up. They're just meant to fit the rythm and sound. Kind of avant-garde lyrics he had been exploring at that time. Yoko's influence for sure.
Yeah.
For that matter: what is monkey finger?  Mojo filter? 
This sure ain't the Slow Down Help guy.  
 GingerandMe wrote:

Fantastic!  But can I ask, what is a joo joo eyeball?



I lived for a short time in Malawi. Joo joo (juju) was the local term for magic or witchcraft....
 On_The_Beach wrote:

It's about 4 minutes long.


the string?
Paul’s bass playing AND how they mixed it is off the charts 
 keenevision wrote:
This tune is an absolute LESSON in percussion!!



I Agree completely!
 wymoree wrote:

This is my least liked Beatles songs. Perhaps I have heard it to much... the lyrics are stupid. However the guitar at the end is cool.  Maybe i am not a true Beatles fan. Their music loses me when they start doing drugs and play the fucking sitar. The  funny thing is I have thought the opposite of other bands... they got off the drugs then their music went down hill for me 



"Fucking" sitar?! Colonial racist much?
Fantastic!  But can I ask, what is a joo joo eyeball?
This tune is an absolute LESSON in percussion!!
 Laptopdog wrote:


The Beatles were at the forefront of a cultural revolution of the 60s. Unless you were there, it's hard to imagine the impact that their music, their lifestyles, and their awareness of political and social issues of the day had on young people fed up with war, racism, and overall political crookedness of the time. Add in a potent mix of mind-expanding drugs, and you have songs like Come Together, which features mostly nonsensical lyrics that still attempted to unite a generation to come together. The random word salad John used and the images they conjured were unimportant to me, but the message to unite was still loud and clear.   At least that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.


War? Racism? Political Crookedness? Glad we got past all that! Now all we have is climate change, corporate greed and civil unrest.

Sarcasm aside I think the message that this song conveys is more important and pressingly needed than ever.
It's good... and inspiring... Check out the Urban Dawn remix for something a bit beefier
The line that always made me wonder if I was missing a hidden meaning was, 
"He got feet down below his knees"
I mean, that's where I keep mine...
 mario_1954 wrote:

ho questo album e confesso ho consumato tante puntine del giradischi per ascoltare tutte le canzoni. Se poi penso a quanti anni avevo e quanta voglia avevamo del cambiamento ...solo chi c'era e l'ha vissuto può comprenderlo! Album  fenomenale come tutte le canzoni dei favolosi quattro di Liverpool.



Totalmente d'accordo con te, tempi favolosi


 revel4t0r wrote:

who the hell rates this under 10?



On the Beach!
Anyone who has doubts about Ringo's importance and effectiveness should listen to this song
What every couple shoots for ;-)
Not a drummer but Mr. Starkey's drumming shines on this one. Just so right.
 Edweirdo wrote:
What a wonderful song, part of the soundtrack to my adolescence.  Also, anyone who says Ringo was a crap drummer - just listen to the genius part he came up with for this song.
 
McCartney thought well of Ringo Starr's talents.  Long after the band split, he lauded Ring's creativity.
 theirongiant wrote:

If you haven't seen this animated music video for this song, you owe it to yourself to check it out. It was made in the early 2000s in Adobe Flash. Way ahead of its time. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=45cYwDMibGo https://www.thesound.co.nz/home/music/2018/06/The-Beatles-finally-releases-Come-Together-music-video.html




Thank You for the info.
If you haven't seen this animated music video for this song, you owe it to yourself to check it out. It was made in the early 2000s in Adobe Flash. Way ahead of its time. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=45cYwDMibGo https://www.thesound.co.nz/home/music/2018/06/The-Beatles-finally-releases-Come-Together-music-video.html
easy 10
Nice, only that it's 4 minutes and 12 seconds too long. 
Q: What is walrus gumboot?

A: Part of it.
Almost seems like one of the boys opened a dictionary and blindly pointed to words for the lyrics.  I don't care...I've always loved this song.
What a wonderful song, part of the soundtrack to my adolescence.  Also, anyone who says Ringo was a crap drummer - just listen to the genius part he came up with for this song.
 revel4t0r wrote:

who the hell rates this under 10?




Pendejos!! One gave it a "1", 2 gave it a "2", 3 gave it a "3!   
GODLIKE!!!  This was their last recording, even though it was released prior to "Let it Be". What a way to go out!!! Let it Be was recorded before this.
 Proclivities wrote:

abbey road


Does it matter?  It sounds just as good now as it did 60 odd yrs ago.


who the hell rates this under 10?
SUPERGREAT!!!!!!!
That bass line! That near-impossible constant drum fill! Damn that's fine!
 wymoree wrote:

This is my least liked Beatles songs. Perhaps I have heard it to much... the lyrics are stupid. However the guitar at the end is cool.  Maybe i am not a true Beatles fan. Their music loses me when they start doing drugs and play the fucking sitar. The  funny thing is I have thought the opposite of other bands... they got off the drugs then their music went down hill for me 



Not "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite"?
I just read a fascinating new biography about John Lennon. What an interesting and complex man. I highly recommend it, if you like that sort of thing.
the bassline - resonated my living room floor… not my favorite song and the tongue in cheek/seriousness of it. love their blend of fun and context.
This song turned out to be a huge headache for John Lennon. Morris Levy, noted Mob Racketeer who infiltrated the music biz in the 50s-80s called Allan B Klein (another piece of work) and told him to pass along word to John and to himself that they had "stolen" his artist, Chuck Berry's composition, and unless he was paid they would both have their legs broken. John laughed and told him to F**&k off, until Klein told him this was no joke, this was a serious mobster. Ultimately a settlement was reached. No cash payment but John had to record an album of Moish Levy's artists, Ben E King etc, and all profits went to him. 
 Darsaka wrote:

Sorry to spoil the magic but... The singer first describes one by one all the men taking part in it, and then asks them "come together, right now, over me". This song is clearly about bukkake.




Clearly...
 mjbaumann wrote:
Who was the Walrus?
 
According to the White Album song Glass Onion:
Well, here's another clue for you all, the walrus was Paul.

John Lennon  went on to say in an interview that he wrote the "walrus was Paul" just to confuse everybody further. I think he was successful.
Who was the Walrus?
ho questo album e confesso ho consumato tante puntine del giradischi per ascoltare tutte le canzoni. Se poi penso a quanti anni avevo e quanta voglia avevamo del cambiamento ...solo chi c'era e l'ha vissuto può comprenderlo! Album  fenomenale come tutte le canzoni dei favolosi quattro di Liverpool.
Personalised gaits. Very impressive.

 
Proclivities wrote:

abbey road
 

 Darsaka wrote:
Sorry to spoil the magic but... The singer first describes one by one all the men taking part in it, and then asks them "come together, right now, over me". This song is clearly about bukkake.
 

Haha, blasphemy!
Sorry to spoil the magic but... The singer first describes one by one all the men taking part in it, and then asks them "come together, right now, over me". This song is clearly about bukkake.
 passsion8 wrote:
Don't make me dig through the forum for this answer: What's this song about?
 
It obviously chronicles man's ambiguous attitude toward his future.
 wymoree wrote:
This is my least liked Beatles songs. Perhaps I have heard it to much... the lyrics are stupid. However the guitar at the end is cool.  Maybe i am not a true Beatles fan. Their music loses me when they start doing drugs and play the fucking sitar. The  funny thing is I have thought the opposite of other bands... they got off the drugs then their music went down hill for me 
 
I think you need to read a little more about this band. Just read "Anthology" or watch the 10 part series.
 passsion8 wrote:
Don't make me dig through the forum for this answer: What's this song about?
 

The Beatles were at the forefront of a cultural revolution of the 60s. Unless you were there, it's hard to imagine the impact that their music, their lifestyles, and their awareness of political and social issues of the day had on young people fed up with war, racism, and overall political crookedness of the time. Add in a potent mix of mind-expanding drugs, and you have songs like Come Together, which features mostly nonsensical lyrics that still attempted to unite a generation to come together. The random word salad John used and the images they conjured were unimportant to me, but the message to unite was still loud and clear.   At least that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.
This is my least liked Beatles songs. Perhaps I have heard it to much... the lyrics are stupid. However the guitar at the end is cool.  Maybe i am not a true Beatles fan. Their music loses me when they start doing drugs and play the fucking sitar. The  funny thing is I have thought the opposite of other bands... they got off the drugs then their music went down hill for me 
 hbs47 wrote:
What a load of crap. Genius lyricists ?? Average tune, meaningless words.
 Maybe that's why it's one of the few of their songs I like!  It's an 8 from me!!
Long Live RP!!
For me, this song will forever symbolize the Dot Bomb era of the late '90s. My employer at the time (Nortel) licensed this song and used it heavily in their advertising. One of the many ridiculous moves that emptied them of their cash and caused them to implode.
It's about Trump!  They saw it coming!  Or they saw how ludicrous all elections have become and wrote a silly song about them all...
Robin Williams does a fair version of this as well on the George Martin album - In my life
 hbs47 wrote:
What a load of crap. Genius lyricists ?? Average tune, meaningless words.
 
Nice to see Pete Best is posting on RP.
What a load of crap. Genius lyricists ?? Average tune, meaningless words.
This is an objectively great song with objectively stupid lyrics. On balance, an 8!

EDIT: Lot of people in this thread trying to figure out what the words are about, and I think maybe you're trying too hard: "At the time, Paul says, 'John would be getting an extension on his house or something, and the joke used to be, 'Okay! Today let's write a swimming pool.' It was great motivation.'"
 passsion8 wrote:
Don't make me dig through the forum for this answer: What's this song about?
 
abbey road
Harrison boring? You've got to be kidding. Abby Road was a continuing new adventure
and "I want you" is light years from boring.
My first enjoying and lessoning popsong. Beatles forever {#Heartkiss}
I love all things Beatles, but this song is iconic in a way that still makes my spine tingle when I hear it after a fair absence. I performed it with friends in a cover band back in the day, and it's a heck of a song to unleash your inner rock star. {#Cheesygrin}

Oh, and call me a heretic, but Aerosmith's cover ain't bad, either. This is a 10, folks.
 passsion8 wrote:
Don't make me dig through the forum for this answer: What's this song about?

 
I read a very convincing post about that, that I can't find anymore unfortunately. The guy says that it's about the Beatles themselves. He gives examples from the lyrics and ties them to stuff that happened at the time the song came out. One of them f.e. was known for being addicted to Coca Cola. Another was known for not being overly visible when the four of them appeared together. Jou-Jou eyeballs was probably Ringo... and so on.

I'm not from that time so I can't confirm, but as said, it sounded very plausible and convincing. Maybe someone can dig up that post (it was somewhere on the net, not here on RP).
This song speak about john's death. Unfortunately. John, i miss you !!!
Hey Beatles......................you can't catch me
 passsion8 wrote:
Don't make me dig through the forum for this answer:
What's this song about?
 
It's about 4 minutes long.
 passsion8 wrote:
Don't make me dig through the forum for this answer: What's this song about?

 
It's kinda the same as that other song, you know.
 passsion8 wrote:
Don't make me dig through the forum for this answer: What's this song about?

 
Yes. And no.
Don't make me dig through the forum for this answer: What's this song about?
You never Give Me Your Money is my all time greatest song of the 1960s.
It didn't hurt that I was on the verge of graduating from college and the song alludes to no prospects afterwards ie the Vietnam War. 
shout out to Chuck Berry on this one
 Skydog wrote:

.....
.
yep 'Abbey Road' is on the bottom of the list of Beatle albums for me
but remember it is a list of Beatles albums
so it's good
but for me everything else was better
i just didn't hear any conviction from them on this one
 

 
Interesting comments Skydog.  I share your sentiments.

Stratocaster:  I absolutely love reading your comments and feel that I learn something every time I do.

-w
 Stratocaster wrote:

"Lennon had some moments" yeah, Come Together could be called a "moment" as could "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". LOL.
"McCartney had some moments" hmmm, "Oh! Darling", and the whole Side Two "Big Medley" was conceived by him. OK.

But "Harrison was boring"??
Seriously, "Here Comes The Sun" and "Something" are still great after almost half a century, and are arguably the best songs on the album.

Are you sure you weren't listening to Weird Al Yankovic or something, and just got a little confused?
 
no it wasn't Al, no title on the front cover but the picture was the Beatles crossing the street
.
yep 'Abbey Road' is on the bottom of the list of Beatle albums for me
but remember it is a list of Beatles albums
so it's good
but for me everything else was better
i just didn't hear any conviction from them on this one
 
 Skydog wrote:
i think it might be an age thing
but i have never been a fan of the 'Abbey Road' album
younger Beatle fans rank it as their best
it is on the bottom for me
Lennon had some moments on it
McCartney had a moment and Harrison boring
i think it was just a shiney new toy for us fans to say good-bye to 
but it was the Beatles so it was good

 
"Lennon had some moments" yeah, Come Together could be called a "moment" as could "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". LOL.
"McCartney had some moments" hmmm, "Oh! Darling", and the whole Side Two "Big Medley" was conceived by him. OK.

But "Harrison was boring"??
Seriously, "Here Comes The Sun" and "Something" are still great after almost half a century, and are arguably the best songs on the album.

Are you sure you weren't listening to Weird Al Yankovic or something, and just got a little confused?

i think it might be an age thing
but i have never been a fan of the 'Abbey Road' album
younger Beatle fans rank it as their best
it is on the bottom for me
Lennon had some moments on it
McCartney had a moment and Harrison boring
i think it was just a shiney new toy for us fans to say good-bye to 
but it was the Beatles so it was good
Beatles....what else can you say    {#Group-hug}
This song is original, but it always reminds me of the cover by Robin Williams, one of my favorite movie actors. {#Wink}
 Lazarus wrote: 
I always love your commentaries, makes me happy all the time!
 kcar wrote:
 
Yeah, they almost had a hit.  {#Biggrin}

  
I psd this tune, and when scrolling comments Billy Preston is all that matters to me : )    rock on
 
 pontfarrer wrote:
. . . so SICK of the Beatles, and they really, really suck
 
Actually, The Leafs suck, the Beatles rock.
 I hear ya!!!!!!!!!!!!      personally, so SICK of the Beatles, and they really, really suck

Dazzerb wrote:
my ears...my poor ears.....PSD..

 


 Dazzerb wrote:
my ears...my poor ears.....PSD..

 
Hmm average rating 8.6 Dazz, seems like you are in the BIG minority, use your PSD, but spare us your drivel! {#Nyah}
my ears...my poor ears.....PSD..
 MrsTom wrote:
If only it was someone else's voice and lyrics. Great music for the time. 

So my name is Tom and I am very pleased we are not married.  Because I've just read two disparaging posts from you regarding two of my top three artists of all time, Elvis Costello and now the Beatles (Lennon).

I won't be judgmental because there must be some reason for your (to my mind) ridiculous views on especially on Lennon's lyrics and voice.  But we would be divorced. 



 ShoePuke wrote:

I'm not a musician, but I hear NO similarity between Chuck's song and Come Together... am I deaf, daft, or both?

 
The chord progression and some of the phrasing are very similar (though hundreds of songs have that progression), and some of the lyrics were "borrowed" by Lennon.  The rhythm and tempo are different though.  The suit was not brought by Chuck Berry, but by the infamous music racketeer, Morris Levy, who had swindled Chuck Berry and many other recording artists out of the rights to their songs.
that's a godlike 10 all day long.. {#Cheers}
Ah, Billy Preston. The sixth Beatle. I love his organ on this and other songs. 
 Otomi wrote:

This song is partially derived from Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me," including its rythm, melody, and lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-QBfWTAAY

Lennon was sued over this similarity, and as part of the settlement he recorded Berry's song and published it on his 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8g70Pzfcq0

The Rolling Stones recorded a cover of the same song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj4Kc-Fc9iM



 
I'm not a musician, but I hear NO similarity between Chuck's song and Come Together... am I deaf, daft, or both?
 Otomi wrote:

This song is partially derived from Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me," including its rythm, melody, and lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-QBfWTAAY

Lennon was sued over this similarity, and as part of the settlement he recorded Berry's song and published it on his 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8g70Pzfcq0

The Rolling Stones recorded a cover of the same song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj4Kc-Fc9iM



 
My fav Beatles album (the only one I own). {#Cheesygrin}

This song is partially derived from Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me," including its rythm, melody, and lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-QBfWTAAY

Lennon was sued over this similarity, and as part of the settlement he recorded Berry's song and published it on his 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8g70Pzfcq0

The Rolling Stones recorded a cover of the same song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj4Kc-Fc9iM


The Beatles cannot be denied their place in musical history and I rate this song very high, but who rates this song a 1, 2, or 3? More listeners than I would have guessed do.
Iconic? Yes
Masterful? Certainly
Definitive? Oh yeah

But so much more...

Words just fall short to describe this 
 Proclivities wrote:

You never heard of Billy Preston before "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"?  He was performing professionally since the early 1960s, but I don't believe he was a part of this song.  He's all over the "Let It Be" album, and did a lot of work with The Stones, though.

 
Billy Preston aka The Fifth Beatle.

 Black and white photo of grinning Billy Preston

That is one a-mazin' afro. 

 MrsTom wrote:
If only it was someone else's voice and lyrics. Great music for the time. 
  
Yeah, they almost had a hit.  {#Biggrin}
If only it was someone else's voice and lyrics. Great music for the time. 
RINGO  !!!
 junebaby65 wrote:
I read this a long time ago by some Beatles conspiracy theorist and I always think about it when I hear the song because it's very eerie.  If you listen to the opening line, it sounds like John is singing, "Shoot Me".    

 
Isn't he actually singing that?
 whomhow wrote:
This is real masterpiece and rock song pattern. 10, of course!

 
....... of course 
This is real masterpiece and rock song pattern. 10, of course!
 (former member) wrote:


This song, which celebrates the joys of simultaneous orgasms, is soooo good it makes us tear our clothes off and dance...

 
Everything I've read about this song says the reference you are talking about is all in your head..  But, whatever works for you!
come together, right now!
{#Daisy} ...... anything less than G O D L I K E is a crime against music
 handyrae wrote:
576 people have given this a 10 and 20 people have given it a 1. Make me wonder if the 20 people are just being ornery. 

 
I do not find this at all to be the case. I'll bet there are a lot more than 20 people who would like to rate it a 1 but are afraid of people like you.

A lot of people might be shocked to learn that the most critically aclaimed performer of the last 6 years, by far, is Kanye West.  Yet Kanye is not played here at all and I am glad.  It is OK to not share tastes with others. No need to call people names.
 handyrae wrote:
576 people have given this a 10 and 20 people have given it a 1. Make me wonder if the 20 people are just being ornery. 

 
Many of them are probably tired of hearing The Beatles in general, and this song in particular.  Not me, so much, but I could see how some people may feel that way.
"marginal" is under-represented in the poll.  This is a good time to fix that.  
could never get into this song or "get back".  there's just something about the two songs....i don't know they're kinda dull and lifeless, they lack that certain "beatle" je ne sais quoi




 
don't get me wrong - they're both far far better than most of the dreck that came out at the time and either would have been huge songs for any other band, but......
{#Bananajam}

10+
big stud Romeo Tuma wrote:
This great classic song about the joys of simultaneous orgasms is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...
 

I be the holy ghost of big stud Romeo Tuma...

everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all over the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...  love this song...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll... 
576 people have given this a 10 and 20 people have given it a 1. Make me wonder if the 20 people are just being ornery. 
Godlike song on a Godlike album. 
I read this a long time ago by some Beatles conspiracy theorist and I always think about it when I hear the song because it's very eerie.  If you listen to the opening line, it sounds like John is singing, "Shoot Me".    
 midreaming wrote:
 mm, great sideways comment snark-man. nope not overrated  ..at all.

definitely overlooked though, by a slightly self absorbed (me) generation lost in a psychedelic vision they thought was everything to their drug adled mind. you and your ilk had a chance to make a difference that lasted. what are you now? Marketing execs? Early Berkeley grads under-qualified and overpaid? The me-generation hiding from your past, manipulating the stock market, leveraging real estate depriving others of an affordable home so you can live off overpriced rents when you're too old and fat to move. yea you guys were all about that peace love and happiness thing. i guess it was a little overrated - for you guys. 



 

Yep, that covers about all of "us."  Very enlightening.  

One of my favorite Beatles songs.  A 10 all day long!
Toe jam footballs.  How on Earth does one come up with an image like that?


love this song so much...

miss Cynaera so much...

one of the most bad-ass songs ever. ripping and cool
 k-man wrote:
 midreaming wrote:

Ahhh boi, the beatle throw-backs are really showing their light here, yea?.. what a buncha whole grain Bunk. 


Yeah, all that peace, love, and happiness. It's so damn overrated.

Break out the Alien Sex Fiend, I need to get some mojo going ...
  mm, great sideways comment snark-man. nope not overrated  ..at all.

definitely overlooked though, by a slightly self absorbed (me) generation lost in a psychedelic vision they thought was everything to their drug adled mind. you and your ilk had a chance to make a difference that lasted. what are you now? Marketing execs? Early Berkeley grads under-qualified and overpaid? The me-generation hiding from your past, manipulating the stock market, leveraging real estate depriving others of an affordable home so you can live off overpriced rents when you're too old and fat to move. yea you guys were all about that peace love and happiness thing. i guess it was a little overrated - for you guys. 


 kingart wrote:

Seems like he's been victimized by some kind of purple microdot blotter flashback brain fry thing. Plenty of mixing the metaphors with his vodka. 
 
{#Lol}  I'm actually surprised I haven't rated this one yet.  A solid 10.  I guess it's that blue microdot I had back in '71.