Skip to Content

Golden Slumbers

Abbey Road Album Cover
Your rating: None Average: 4 (7 votes)
By: 
The Beatles
Lead vocals: 
Paul McCartney
Songwriter(s): 
Lennon/McCartney
First released on: 
Abbey Road
U.S. release date: 
October 1, 1969
U.K. release date: 
September 26, 1969
Length (≈): 
1:31
Label: 
Apple
Produced by: 
George Martin
Recorded at: 
Abbey Road Studios (EMI)
Musicians : 
    Paul McCartney – lead vocal, piano
  • George Harrison – bass guitar
  • Ringo Starr – drums
  • George Martin – arrangements
Album(s): 
Abbey Road

The 1969 album, Abbey Road, ends in a lengthy medley. The first song in that sequence is Golden Slumbers, followed by Carry That Weight. Both songs were written by Paul McCartney, and both songs were recorded as a single unit. Golden Slumbers is really a setting of the first four lines of a poem that dates back to 1603 (The Pleasant Comodie of Patient Grissill). Thomas Dekker called his setting, Cradle Song, the sheet music for which Paul first saw as a child in his family's home. Paul's musical setting is much different from the Dekker version. Paul takes the lead in singing Golden Slumbers, which starts off softly with piano and strings and then crescendos towards the refrain. It was recorded on July 2, 1969. John Lennon was not present for the recording as he was recovering from an auto accident. Voiceovers (including Lennon's) were added on July 30, and orchestral dubs on August 15.

Sleep pretty darling do not cry

Download Golden Slumbers

Post a comment about Golden Slumbers

Post new comment

Have something interesting to add?  Just want to put in your 2 cents?  Great, use the form below to add a little something to theBeatles.org!
CAPTCHA
This question is to prevent automated spam submissions.
Fill in the blank