Let It Be

Original Beatles 7" single, 1970

"**Let It Be**" is a song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, which was originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1970 film and album of the same name.

"Let It Be" is the first Beatles song known to be performed by the group who would later become The Residents, as they briefly play abortive renditions of it on their 1970 demo reels *Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor* and *The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger*.

The Pre-Residents' versions of the song have never been officially released to date, but has circulated among fans on low quality bootleg versions of the two tapes. The *Rusty Coathangers* tape ends with a cover of another Beatles song, "Yesterday".

## Lyrics

### The Beatles' version

```
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, "Let it be"
And in my hour of darkness, she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, "Let it be"

```

```
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

```

```
And when the brokenhearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

```

```
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Yeah, there will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

```

```
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

```

```
And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me
Shine on 'til tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, "Let it be"

```

```
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
Oh, there will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
Oh, there will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

```

## List of releases

* *Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor* (unreleased, 1970)
* *The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger* (unreleased, 1970)

### Versions

1. ↑ San Mateo home recording, 1970 (version 1)
2. ↑ San Mateo home recording, 1970 (version 2)

## See also

* The Beatles
* "Yesterday"
* "Strawberry Fields Forever"
* *The Third Reich 'n Roll*
* *The Beatles Play The Residents and The Residents Play The Beatles*

## External links and references

* "Let It Be" at Wikipedia
* "Let It Be" at Genius

**Side A**
"Untitled Instrumental #1" · "One Boy" / "Kids" · "Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor" · "Untitled Instrumental #2"
**Side B**
"Untitled Instrumental #3" · "Bringing in the Sheaves" · "|Untitled Instrumental #4" · "**Let It Be**" · "Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor" (reprise) · "Bo Diddley" · "Yesterday"
**Personnel**
The Delta Nudes · Roland Sheehan
**Related works**
"I Hear Ya Got Religion" · "Moonman" · *The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger* · *Theory of Obscurity: A Film About The Residents* · *Leftovers Again?!*
**Related articles**
""Satisfaction" (song) · "When Johnny Comes Marching" · *The W\*\*\*\*\* B\*\*\* Album* · San Mateo apartment · *Bye Bye Birdie* · The Rolling Stones · The Beatles · *A Nickle If Your Dick's This Big*

‎

**Side A**
"Satisfaction" · "96 Tears" · "**Let It Be**" · "The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger" · "Untitled Instrumental #1" · "Ecological Blues"
**Side B**
"Summertime" · "Untitled Instrumental #2" · "House of the Rising Sun" · "Summertime" (reprise) · "The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger" (reprise) · "Untitled Instrumental #3"
**Personnel**
The Delta Nudes · Roland Sheehan · Palmer Eiland
**Related works**
"I Hear Ya Got Religion" · "Moonman" · *Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor* · *ERA B474* · *The Delta Nudes' Greatest Hiss*
**Related articles**
"When Johnny Comes Marching" · "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" · *The W\*\*\*\*\* B\*\*\* Album* · San Mateo apartment · The Rolling Stones · George Gershwin · The Beatles

**Major works**
*Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor* (1970) · *The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger* (1970) · *The W\*\*\*\*\* B\*\*\* Album* (1971) · *B.S.* (1971) · *Santa Dog* (1972)
**Other recordings**
"I Hear Ya Got Religion" / "Moonman" (1969) · *1-10 (With A Touch of 11)* (1972)
**Compilation albums**
*ERA B474* (2012) · *The Delta Nudes' Greatest Hiss* (2013) · *The Residents Present The Delta Nudes* (2016) · *A Nickle If Your Dick's This Big* (2019) · *Warning: Uninc.* (2022)
**Live shows**
The Boarding House, October 18th 1971 · Philip's Wedding, October 31st 1971 · Chris' Party, February 12th 1972
**Collaborators**
Randy Rose · Charles Bobuck · Hardy Fox · Homer Flynn · Palmer Eiland · Roger "Bunny" Hartley · Jay Clem · John Kennedy · Roland Sheehan · Bob Tangney · Jim Whitaker · N. Senada · Philip "Snakefinger" Lithman · Peggy Honeydew (Margaret Swaton) · The Singing Lawn Chairs (Pamela Zeibak)
**Related articles**
San Mateo apartment · Hal Halverstadt · Porno Graphics · Sycamore St. studio · Ralph Records · The Residents · *Vileness Fats* · *Meet The Residents* · *The Third Reich 'n Roll* · "Satisfaction" · "Aphids In The Hall" · The Cryptic Corporation · *WB:RMX*‎‎‏‏‎