Your Mother Should Know

Your Mother Should Know is a Paul McCartney song, released in November, 1967 in the US on the LP of Magical Mystery Tour and in the UK in December, 1967 on the double EP of the same name. Paul wrote it "on spec" for the Magical Mystery Tour film, when the Beatles make a grand entrance, dancing down a grand staircase in white tuxes, while boy scouts and other uniformed groups march across the set. The title is an allusion to a phrase in the screenplay, A Taste Of Honey. The musical style recalls the old days of the music hall and the lavish show numbers of Busby Berkeley. Paul composed the song on the harmonium in his home on Cavendish Avenue in London, with family members listening in on the process.

Recording occurred on August 22, 1967 and then on September 16, 29 & 30, and November 7 of the same year. The base track came from the first session, and then overdubs were added. It was at the August 22, 1967 session (at Chappell Recording Studios) that Brian Epstein last visited the Beatles prior to his death on August 27. The remaining work was done at Abbey Road. Paul played bass and overdubbed a piano part. John played the organ. George was on guitar and Ringo on drums and tambourine. Paul sang the lead, and John and George provided the backing vocals.

The takes made on September 16 were scrapped for the final mix, but number 8 of the set of 11 from that day, featuring harmonium, piano and military-style snare drums over the vocals, is available in the collection, Anthology 2.