- Album This song officially appears on the Rubber Soul (UK Mono) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Nov 08, 1965
Nov 09, 1965
Yellow Submarine Songtrack remixing
Circa 1999
Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.
Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Think for Yourself” is a song by English rock band The Beatles, and written by George Harrison who sings and plays guitar on the track. First appearing on their 1965 album Rubber Soul, it is a warning against listening to lies, and the first of Harrison’s songs not to be a love song. In a departure from all precedent at the time, the song has two bass lines, a normal one and one created by Paul McCartney’s then-unique application of a fuzzbox to his bass. A brief repeated clip of the song was featured in The Beatles 1968 animated movie Yellow Submarine and was reissued for the 1999 Yellow Submarine Songtrack album.
Origin
In Harrison’s book I, Me, Mine he writes, “But all this time later, I don’t quite recall who inspired that tune. Probably the government.” As the song was recorded about six weeks after Pete Best’s libel suit against Ringo, the Beatles, and Playboy magazine was filed, and contains such lyrics as “you’re telling all those lies about the good things that we can have if we close our eyes,” “I left you far behind, the ruins of the life that you have in mind” and “I know your mind’s made up, you’re gonna cause more misery,” some have speculated that it might be about Best — which Harrison likely would have been reluctant to ever admit.
Musical structure
The song is in the key of G major, but its musical premise appears to be permanent tonic key ambiguity and restless root movement (musically echoing the title) through extensive borrowing from the parallel G minor. Thus, the G7 introduction appears to ground us in G major (G Mixolydian); yet the verse soon opens (“I’ve got a word or two“) with a ii chord (Am) that suggests we are in A Dorian mode or even A Aeolian mode with the following move to a Dm chord on “word or two” being a iv rather than a v in G major. The immediate shift to B♭ chord (♭III in G major) on “to say” and the C chord (IV in G major) on “about the things” again confuses as the Bb and C chords seem to hint at a ♭Vi- ♭VII rock run in D Aeolian. When we arrive at the chorus (“Think for yourself…“) the anticipated tonic-identifying V-I (D7 chord-G7 chord) shift, is preceded (pointedly on “Think“) with a strange ♭VI (E♭/B♭) chord in second inversion that undermines its tonal direction. This overlapping of major and minor harmony and restless root movement is an intriguing characteristic of Harrison’s songwriting as far back as “Don’t Bother Me“. […]
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
- [a] mono 9 Nov 1965
UK: Parlophone PMC 1267 Rubber Soul 1965.
US: Capitol T 2442 Rubber Soul 1965.- [b] stereo 9 Nov 1965
UK: Parlophone PCS 3075 Rubber Soul 1965.
US: Capitol ST 2442 Rubber Soul 1965.- [c] stereo 1987
CD: EMI CDP 7 46440 2 Rubber Soul 1987.
Last updated on May 20, 2017
Lyrics
I've got a word or two
To say about the things that you do
You're telling all those lies
About the good things that we can have
If we close our eyes
Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you
I left you far behind
The ruins of the life that you had in mind
And though you still can't see
I know your mind's made up
You're gonna cause more misery
Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you
Although your mind's opaque
Try thinking more if just for your own sake
The future still looks good
And you've got time to rectify
All the things that you should
Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you
Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1965
2:16 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1965
2:16 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
2:20 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
2:20 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
CD • Released in 1987
2:16 • Studio version • C • Stereo • 1987 mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- 1987 remixing, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1999
2:16 • Studio version • D • Stereo • 1999 remix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remix engineer assistant
- Mirek Stiles :
- Remix engineer assistant
- Peter Cobbin :
- Remix engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Circa 1999
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (US - 2006 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2006
2:20 • Studio version • B2006 • Stereo • 2006 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (US - 2006 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2006
2:20 • Studio version • A2006 • Mono • 2006 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:16 • Studio version • A2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Sean Magee :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:16 • Studio version • B2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Maracas
- John Lennon :
- Harmony vocals, Tambourine, Vox continental organ
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Sean Magee :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Nov 08, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Complete Controlroom Monitor Mixes - Volume 1
Unofficial album
18:32 • Studio version • vocal rehearsal
Rubber Soul - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics
Unofficial album • Released in 2012
18:59 • Alternate take • (Session chat) (mono)
Rubber Soul - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics
Unofficial album • Released in 2012
2:21 • Alternate take • (RS from Take 1) YS Soundtrack (stereo)
Rubber Soul - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics
Unofficial album • Released in 2012
2:23 • Alternate take • (Rockband Mix) (stereo)
Unofficial album • Released in 2012
2:20 • Studio version • No Overdubbed Fuzz Guitar
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
Contribute!
Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!