Background
I've Got a Feeling is a song by The Beatles, written by Lennon–McCartney and led on vocal by Paul McCartney & John Lennon. Two unfinished songs welded — Paul's title and John's 'Everybody Had a Hard Year.' Within the catalogue, its rooftop thread connects it to Dig a Pony, One After 909, Get Back.
What's distinctive
At 3:37 it sits in the top fifth by length. One of 101 songs led primarily by John. Recorded approximately 3 of 7 into the Get Back / Rooftop (Jan 1969) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'welded' — no other song shares it. Take count: 16 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "I've got a feeling…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Get Back / Rooftop (Jan 1969) period, recorded 30 Jan 1969 at Apple Studios rooftop, 3 Savile Row, London. George Martin produced; Glyn Johns, Alan Parsons (2nd) engineered. The track was committed to Apple's mobile 8-track to studio downstairs via the Hand-built Apple desk, with the era's standard signal chain — Live to tape — minimal. Likely instrumental setup followed the era's working kit: Fender Rosewood Telecaster (Harrison), Epiphone Casino (Lennon), Hofner 500/1 (McCartney), Fender Rhodes electric piano (Billy Preston), amplified through Fender Twin Reverb. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.164 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below).
| Studio | Apple Studios rooftop, 3 Savile Row, London |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Apple's mobile 8-track to studio downstairs |
| Console | Hand-built Apple desk |
| Microphones | AKG D19 (Ringo kick), STC 4038, U47 (vocals) |
| Outboard / effects | Live to tape — minimal |
| Guitars | Fender Rosewood Telecaster (Harrison), Epiphone Casino (Lennon), Hofner 500/1 (McCartney), Fender Rhodes electric piano (Billy Preston) |
| Amplifiers | Fender Twin Reverb |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Glyn Johns, Alan Parsons (2nd) • Dave Harries |
| Estimated takes | 16 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Pattern analysis
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP Let It Be. Documented alternate versions include Let It Be… Naked (2003), 2009 Stereo Remasters, Let It Be 50th Anniversary (2021). Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below.
Mono & stereo
- Stereo only on UK release — the band's last three LPs were mixed for stereo; no UK mono LPs were issued.
Documented alternate versions
- Let It Be… Naked (2003) — Spector overdubs removed
- 2009 Stereo Remasters — Allan Rouse / Guy Massey remaster
- Let It Be 50th Anniversary (2021) — Giles Martin stereo remix
Released on
- Let It Be — LP, 8 May 1970
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (welded, rooftop, call-response-vocals)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
weldedrooftopcall-response-vocals