Come Together

Come Together was recorded in late July of 1969 and released on the Abbey Road album in September of 1969. Lennon wrote the song as a gesture of support for Timothy Leary, famed pro-drug activist, psychologist, writer and gad-fly to the conventional generation. John himself described his vocal performance as "funky," "bluesy" and danceable. Lennon composed the song in the studio, basing the lyrics on Leary's political campaign slogan in California, "Come Together, Come to the Party." It was to be John's last "political" song while with the Beatles. The music was thought to have been inspired by Chuck Berry's song, You Can't Catch Me (1956). Berry's publisher sued Lennon, and there was a settlement. The line "Here come old flat top" appears in both songs. Lennon denied any plagiarism. In addition to Abbey Road, Come Together can be heard on the Anthology 3 album, on 1, and on the Love album, where parts of Dear Prudence can be heard in the long fade.