The Beatles: A Final Bow - Ever wondered what the last song was that the Fab Four recorded together? It's a poignant question, a final chapter in a story that changed music forever. On August 20th, 1969, the Beatles gathered in Abbey Road Studio 2. But this wasn't just another recording session; it was the end of an era, though no one knew it at the time.
They were putting the finishing touches on a song, overdubbing harmonized backing vocals and instrumental takes, just like they had done since their early singles. But this time, something was different. John Lennon would soon depart, officially informing his bandmates of his decision at a meeting to renew The Beatles’ contract with Capitol Records on September 20th.
Paul McCartney, in the band’s Anthology documentary, shared how he was trying to encourage Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr to revisit the “little gigs” of their early days. But Lennon had a surprise for him. "Well, I think you’re daft,” he told his songwriting partner. “I wasn’t going to tell you till we signed the Capitol deal, but I’m leaving the group!”
McCartney and then-Beatles manager Allen Klein urged Lennon to keep the news under wraps. He stuck to his word, even as solo releases made it obvious his career was already underway. However, McCartney beat Lennon, Klein, and the rest of The Beatles to the punch when he announced his departure, preceding the release of his debut solo album.
The Final Recording: 'The End' - So, what was this final song? Fittingly, it was the very end of their song 'The End.' It was the full stop at the end of an expansive eight-song medley on the second side of Abbey Road. On August 20th, they recorded the three-part, wordless vocal harmony heard during the climax of the song, which included Starr alongside the other three Beatles.
Last-minute short instrumental overdubs were likely recorded during the same session. The main instrumental material for the song, including guitar licks from Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, and Starr’s only drum solo for the band, had already been completed earlier in the month.
Two days before that last session, the track’s famous final lyrics, an epigrammatic couplet that seemed to signify the end of an age, was put down on tape, as well as its piano accompaniment. What better way for the four teenage friends from Liverpool, who’d brought us seminal moments of the 1960s like ‘She Loves You’ and ‘All You Need Is Love’, to give one another a final send-off? Singing in unison: “The love you take / is equal to the love you make.” It was almost too perfect.
The Beatles decided it was and tacked the hidden track ‘Her Majesty’, a throwaway McCartney ditty cut from the final listing for Abbey Road, on the end of the LP. It was irreverent to the last, but an ending fit for rock royalty.
'The End': A Masterpiece? - Is 'The End' a good song? It's undeniably one of the band’s most beautiful moments. The song is tuneful and bodacious at every turn, making use of the orchestra at hand. Aptly titled ‘The End’ it was a clear representation of things to come.
Featuring dueling guitar solos from every member of the band and a rare Ringo Starr drum solo, it's a lot to put in just over two minutes, but ‘The End’ still stands as an iconic Beatles composition. It’s the perfect capper to the album’s ending medley, giving each member a chance to shine on his own while still showing off the unity and chemistry that came so naturally to them.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some argue that the song's simplicity belies its depth, while others feel it's a fitting, albeit understated, farewell. And this is the part most people miss... The context of the song's recording, with the band's impending breakup, adds a layer of poignancy that's hard to ignore. What do you think? Was 'The End' the perfect song to conclude the Beatles' journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
