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Released as a single in March 1970,
'Let It Be' sounded as if had been deliberately recorded as
the Beatles' swansong. However, the fact is it was recorded
in January 1969. No-one had any idea it was going to be the
last single.
Paul had written 'Let It Be' out of
his general feelings of despair, as the Beatles began to
fall apart at the seams. The documentary of the same title
had started out as a record of a rehearsal followed by a
live performance, but it was to become a record of the
group's death throes.
By now, John preferred to spend his
time with Yoko whose presence around the studio was not
welcome with everyone. George had already quit the group
once and was discouraged at the way his songs were instantly
rejected. Even Ringo had taken off for a short holiday
during the recording of the White Album when the atmosphere
got really bad.
Paul was really trying to take over
the role of leader because he felt that without organization
and discipline nothing would be achieved. "I think we've
been very negative since Mr. Epstein passed away," Paul can
be heard saying in the film. "We haven't been positive.
That's why all of us in turn have been sick of the group.
There's nothing positive in it. It's a bit of a drag. The
only way for it not to be a bit of a drag is for the four of
us to think - should we make it positive or should we forget
it?"
Although Paul's role may have been
necessary, it didn't make him popular. The others began to
resent his chiding and chivying in the studio. 'Let It Be'
was written by Paul as a response to all this pressure: "I
wrote it when all those business problems started to get me
down," he said. "I really was passing through my 'hour of
darkness' and writing the song was my way of exorcising the
ghosts." Written in the style of a modern hymn, the
religious feeling was heightened by the invocation of
'mother Mary' which appeared to be a reference to the Virgin
Mary but was in fact a reference to Paul's own mother, who
he was imagining being there and offering
support.
"I used to lie in bed and wonder
what was going on and feel quite paranoid." Paul revealed.
"I had a dream one night about my mother. She had died when
I was 14, so I hadn't heard from her in quite a while and it
was very good. It gave me some strength. In my darkest hour,
mother Mary had come to me."
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