Back in the U.S.S.R.

The White Album

**"Back in the U.S.S.R."** is a song released by the English rock band The Beatles, and is the first track of their self-titled ninth album, *The Beatles* (also known as "*the White Album*)" (1968). Written and sung by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney; made as a pastiche of The Beach Boys, its inspiration came from the Chuck Berry song "*Back In The USA*," from Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s “*I’m Backing Britain*” campaign of the time, and reportedly from one of the Beach Boys themselves – Mike Love. Love, a fellow follower of the Maharishi in India during the late 60s, overheard Paul McCartney playing a rough version of “U.S.S.R.” on an acoustic guitar in Rishikesh and said to him, “You ought to put something in about all the girls around Russia.” During the recording of this song, Ringo Starr had briefly quit the band, so McCartney ended up playing the drums for the drums.

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC

Didn't get to bed last night

On the way, the paper bag was on my knee

Man, I had a dreadful flight

[Chorus]

I'm back in the U.S.S.R.

You don't know how lucky you are, boy

Back in the U.S.S.R. (Yeah)

[Verse 2]

Been away so long, I hardly knew the place

Gee, it's good to be back home

Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case

Honey, disconnect the phone

[Chorus]

I'm back in the U.S.S.R

You don't know how lucky you are, boy

Back in the U.S., back in the U.S.

Back in the U.S.S.R.

[Bridge]

Well, the Ukraine girls really knock me out

They leave the West behind

And Moscow girls make me sing and shout

That Georgia's always on my mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mind

Oh, come on!

[Chorus]

Yeah, I'm back in the U.S.S.R.

You don't know how lucky you are, boys

Back in the U.S.S.R.

[Bridge]

Well, the Ukraine girls really knock me out

They leave the West behind

And Moscow girls make me sing and shout

That Georgia's always on my mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mind

[Verse 3]

Oh show me round your snow-peaked mountains way down south

Take me to your daddy's farm

Let me hear your balalaikas ringing out

Come and keep your comrade warm

[Chorus]

I'm back in the U.S.S.R. (Hey)

You don't know how lucky you are, boys

Back in the U.S.S.R.

[Outro]

Oh, let me tell you, honey

Hey, I'm back, I'm back in the U.S.S.R.

Hey, it's so good to be home

Yeah, back in the U.S.S.R.

## Personnel

* Paul McCartney – double-tracked vocal, backing vocal, piano, bass guitar, drums, lead guitar, handclaps, percussion
* John Lennon – backing vocal, rhythm guitar, six-string bass, handclaps, drums, percussion
* George Harrison – backing vocal, rhythm and lead guitars, bass, drums, handclaps, percussion

## Info

* The title was inspired by Chuck Berry's "Back In The U.S.A." The Beach Boys had been influenced by that song and also "*Sweet Little Sixteen*" to come up with "*California Girls*" and "*Surfin' U.S.A.*"
* Paul stated in 1968, "In my mind it's just about a (Russian) spy who's been in America for a long time and he's become very American but when he gets back to the USSR he's saying, 'Leave it 'til tomorrow to unpack my case, Honey, disconnect the phone.' and all that, but to Russian women."
* Things were tense when they were working on this album, and Ringo walked out during recording, briefly quitting the band. Paul McCartney played drums in his place.
* This song caused a controversy with conservative America, because it came out during Vietnam and the Cold War and it appeared to be celebrating the enemy.
* This opens with the sound of an airplane flying from left to right across the speakers. Stereo was relatively new, so this was very innovative for the time.

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Beatles\_discography
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Beatles\_(album)
3. ↑ https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/back-in-the-ussr/
4. ↑ https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/beatles/secret-behind-back-in-the-ussr-beatles/
5. ↑ https://genius.com/The-beatles-back-in-the-ussr-lyrics
6. ↑ https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/back-in-the-ussr-story-behind-song/
7. ↑ https://ultimateclassicrock.com/ringo-starr-temporarily-quits-the-beatles/?trackback=tsmclip
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beatles/back-in-the-ussr