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Overview
"Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The lyrics contain sayings the Beatles heard from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with whom they studied Transcendental Meditation in India in early 1968. [Wikipedia]
Background
Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey is a song by The Beatles, written by Lennon and led on vocal by John Lennon. About John & Yoko (the 'monkey'); Maharishi quote in the title. John Lennon's energetic rocker Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey reflected the singer's minimalist compositional approach during late 1968 sessions. The song's simple, repetitive structure and driving rhythm provided a stark contrast to orchestral numbers elsewhere on the White Album. The composition exemplified Lennon's blues-rock roots.
What's distinctive
One of 101 songs led primarily by John. Recorded approximately 7 of 34 into the The White Album (1968) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'john-and-yoko' — no other song shares it. Take count: 34 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "Come on, come on…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's The White Album (1968) period, recorded 26 Jun 1968 at EMI Studios + Trident Studios (Soho). George Martin (with Chris Thomas covering) produced; Ken Scott (early), Geoff Emerick walked off — replaced engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.139 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). Recorded with multiple sessions during June 1968, the track required Paul McCartney's bass overdubbing, reduction mixdowns, and John Lennon's lead vocal overdubbing. George Martin's production maintained tight focus on the rock-and-roll arrangement without orchestral elaboration. The multi-session approach reflected the group's increasingly fragmented recording methodology. (“Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey Emerick 2006, p.630) (e version IU s fade-out MacDonald 1994, p.126)
| Studio | EMI Studios + Trident Studios (Soho) — first Beatles 8-track sessions: 'Hey Jude' onward |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Ampex AG-440 8-track (Trident); 3M M23 8-track at EMI from late 1968 (J37 four-track until then) |
| Console | REDD/TG12345 prototype; Sound Techniques 20/8 (Trident) |
| Microphones | U47/U48, AKG C12, U67 introduced |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124, EMT 140 & 250 (Trident), Fairchild 660, ADT, tape flanging, fuzz, wah (Vox/CryBaby) |
| Guitars | Epiphone Casino, Fender Strat (Rocky), Gibson J-200 acoustic, Martin D-28, Fender Telecaster Bass |
| Amplifiers | Fender Twin Reverb, Fender Bassman, Vox UL730 |
| Producer | George Martin (with Chris Thomas covering) |
| Engineer / 2nd | Ken Scott (early), Geoff Emerick walked off — replaced • John Smith, Mike Sheady, Barry Sheffield (Trident) |
| Estimated takes | 34 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP The Beatles (White Album). Documented alternate versions include Mono Masters (2009 box), White Album 50th Anniversary (2018). Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. John Lennon lead vocals appear in 73 canon songs (26 in White era). The track's raw energy and minimalist arrangement exemplified the White Album's stylistic contrast.
Mono & stereo
- Both mono and stereo mixes were prepared; the UK mono White Album (PMC 7067/8) has many distinct edits, mixes and effects vs. the stereo (PCS 7067/8) — collectors prize the mono.
Documented alternate versions
- Mono Masters (2009 box) — Allan Rouse / Guy Massey remaster
- White Album 50th Anniversary (2018) — Giles Martin stereo remix
Released on
- The Beatles (White Album) — LP, 22 November 1968
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (john-and-yoko, maharishi-quote, frantic)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
john-and-yokomaharishi-quotefrantic
References & external databases
Notable covers
- Larry Harlow did a cover as "Me and My Monkey" on his album of the same name in 1969.
- Fats Domino covered the song in 1969. In a 1972 interview, Lennon highlighted it as a "great version".
- The Feelies did a cover of the song on their 1980 debut album Crazy Rhythms.
- Hoodoo Gurus covered the song during a Triple J radio show in 1989
- Soundgarden covered the song during a 1989 Peel session.
- Phish, on the album Live Phish Volume 13.
Cover-version mentions extracted from the Wikipedia article. For comprehensive cover catalogs see SecondHandSongs.
Frequently asked
Who wrote Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey?
“Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey” is credited to John Lennon (Lennon–McCartney).
Who sings lead on Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey?
The lead vocal on “Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey” is by John Lennon.
When was Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey recorded?
“Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey” was recorded 26 Jun 1968 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 34 numbered takes for “Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey”.