“Then I told a story about a chap my wife Joan and I met in the Carrick Bay Hotel on the Isle of Man. Incredible,' you know, the fact that happiness was a warm gun that had just shot something or somebody...I thought it was a fantastic, insane thing to say." John continues his rhythm guitar and organ as well as lead vocal. The title of the song comes from an article in the May 1968 issue of “American Rifleman”, the magazine of the National Rifle Association (NRA) which George Martin took into the Abbey Road Studios one day. Happiness (is a warm gun mama) is a warm gun, yeeeaahhh! One can only imagine how this song would have ended up on a John Lennon solo album but instead, it became a fascinating Lennon tour de force, and a favorite track among the other Beatles on the White Album. "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" is structually a very unique song for The Beatles in that, with the exception of their sound collage "Revolution 9," it is one of only two Beatles songs that do not have a definanable structure without any repeated elements at all. Paul remembers about the magazine, “It was, kind of, saying, 'Get ready for the long hot summer,' with rifles, you know, 'Come and buy them now!' These tapes were released sometime in 1969 and are quite collectible today. Paul mostly plays an “oom-pah” style bass pattern throughout these measures, these being mimicked on tuba as an overdub. The article featured a picture showing young John holding a rifle in one hand and a dead pheasant by the neck in his other hand, with the caption reading, "The Herlihy's ate pheasant after young John's first wildfowl hunt." He then said, 'I don't want to go into details.' Featuring one of John Lennon‘s best vocals on the White Album, ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun’ was made up of four distinct song fragments, and took its title from a gun magazine, The American Rifleman, which … Various editions of the "White Album" were released on November 9th, 2018 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of its original release. "The 'White Album' was the tension album. Now John started to be talking about fixes and monkeys and it was a harder terminology which the rest of us weren't into. Search THE BEATLES Happiness is a warm gun lyrics; Search THE BEATLES Happiness is a warm gun music tabs; Go to THE BEATLES page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more; Go to The Beatles [Aka: The White Album] page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews; Search the Forum for THE BEATLES related discussions And because of the mathematical symmetry between the 4/4 and 6/8 measures, Ringo doesn't even let up on playing a simple 4/4 drum pattern throughout, with the exception on the fifteenth measure where all instrumentation stops to allow John to deliver his striking vocal climax to the song. 1 (A Beatles '68 Tribute). Thus becoming take 65. This is top 5 Beatles songs ever. She's well acquainted with the touch of … Your email address will not be published. Introductions • Re: Just Another Two Beatles Lovers! Download Happiness Is A Warm Gun song on Gaana.com and listen Album Branco, Vol. Written by John Lennon, but as ever, the credit goes to the Lennon-McCartney partnership, this track comes after “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on “The Beatles” aka “The White Album”. In 1968, The Beatles recorded “Happiness is a Warm Gun” on The White Album. I thought it was a fantastic, insane thing to say. PAUL 1968: "The idea of 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun' is from an advert in an American paper. It sounds like faint praise but on Merseyside, in those days, it was actually the best you could get.” John, however, claimed authorship of this line, stating: “The first half, 'She's not a girl who misses much,' was just something I was writing vaguely connected with Yoko just after first meeting her.” They're good words and I'd stick up for them to anybody who worries about them. One such occasion was the recording of the song “Happiness Is A Warm Gun.” All four Beatles have been quoted as saying they liked the song, Paul even naming it as the best on the whole album. It's just good poetry." These different time signatures are deemed necessary due to the extended syllables in the lyrics at those parts of the song. The first four measures are in 4/4 time, measures five through ten being in 6/8 time, measures eleven through fourteen also being in 4/4 time, this being followed by a dramatic fifteenth measure of no set time frame, and finally the song ending with a return to 4/4 time for measures sixteen through twenty. Then comes section two. The first was Lennon's indignation of the American firearms lobby; the second was a sort of rock 'n' roll history; and the last was imagery that conveyed Lennon's sexual passion for Yoko. Notwithstanding the inspiration, critics and fans alike overwhelmingly think the world of “Happiness Is A Warm Gun.” Author John Robertson writes: “Musically, the track was a tour de force, albeit without the theatrics and orchestration of the 'Pepper' album." When we weren’t in the studio, we were in bed.”, John Lennon The interplay between John's lead vocal lines “when I hold you in my arms...” and the harmony hi-jinks of “ooooh, oh yeah” work to great effect in the 6/8 measures of this section. All Together Now – Last Few Forum Posts – Join Today, General Beatles Lounge • Re: The complete Rooftop Concert Vinyl, General Beatles Lounge • The complete Rooftop Concert Vinyl, George Harrison • Re: George Harrison Funny Moments. Introductions • Re: A Groovy Kind of Bug - A Beatle. Never before had we recorded with...people visiting for hours on end, business meetings and all that. It was late one night drinking in the bar and this local fellow who liked meeting holiday makers and rapping to them suddenly said to us, 'I like wearing moleskin gloves, you know. It was camp.” No wonder it took the group 70 takes in two days to just get a usable rhythm track! But that provided the line, 'She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand.' The Beatles began recording “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”, on the 23rd September, 1968, in Studio Two at the EMI Studios, London, during the 7.00pm-3.00am session. Paul McCartney: bass guitar, backing vocal This also can be divided into two smaller sections, the first being completely in 3/4 time and lasting a total of 21 measures. On October 28th, 1996, the compilation album “Anthology 3” was released which contains a good portion of the above mentioned 'Kinfauns' demo of “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” that John recorded on May 28th, 1968. The initial inspiration was from the magazine cover. "John was proud enough of "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" to include it as the closing track of side one, a spot that would definitely be noticed by their listeners. The drum beat is simplified for Ringo in these 21 measures, he only needing to accent the downbeat of each measure by alternatively crashing a cymbal with the kick drum and then a snare beat with the kick drum. Song facts. George puts in a menacing lead guitar part in measures one through eleven which mimics John's vocal melody line as will appear afterward. John was proud enough of "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" to include it as the closing track of side one, a spot that would definitely be noticed by their listeners. “When John put it all together, it created a series of layers of images. They recorded this copy at George Harrison’s home, “Kinfauns”, Esher, UK. Happiness is a warm gun (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) Happiness is a warm gun, mama (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) When I hold you in my arms (Oo-oo oh yeah) And I feel my finger on your trigger (Oo-oo oh yeah) I know no one can do me no harm (Oo-oo oh yeah) Because happiness is a warm gun, mama (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) Extensive background harmony vocal overdubs abound here from John, Paul and George, John even adding in some low "doo-wop" style moaning in between vocal phrases. So we didn't. Then came the first section of the song, which was actually written last. It's a favorite of mine.”. The next part of the song that was written was the final section, which was based on something that John had seen in print. Then there was 'like a lizard on a window pane.' Happiness is a warm gun (bang, bang, shoot shoot) Happiness is a warm gun When I hold you in my arms And I feel my finger on your trigger I know nobody can do me no harm Because happiness is a warm gun. Since they apparently were taking heroin in pill form instead of by injection, this fact could easily be the reason why John always insisted that the song wasn't about drugs, the “warm gun” meaning a real gun and not a heroin needle. Required fields are marked *, The Beatles Forum is open to all people with an interest in the Fab Four. John was emphatic throughout the years that there were absolutely no intended drug connotations in the song. She's not a girl who misses much Do do do do do do, oh yeah She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand Like a lizard on a window pane Watch the video for Happiness Is a Warm Gun from The Beatles's The Beatles (The White Album) for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. The difference here is that every sixth measure is in 4/4 time for some reason (or how John heard it in his head). Indeed, that headline came from an adaption of a book by “Peanuts” cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz, “Happiness is a Warm Puppy”. This part ends suddenly at the 21st measure as all instruments ring out during the final words “going down.” Personnel. From those 70 takes, they joined the first half of take 53 and the second half of take 65 together on the 25th September. Happiness is a warm gun (bam bam shoot shoot) Happiness is a warm gun, yes it is. Happiness is a warm gun means that if you are happy, it's like a warm gun; it can shoot anytime. ----- Tabbed by: PJVillanueva She's not a girl who misses much Do do do do do do- oh yea! “She was rabbiting on in the car one day, and I said, 'mother superior jumped the gun again,' because she's always one jump ahead. It seemed to run through all the different kinds of rock music." I think it's a beautiful song. The germ of "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" took root in Rishikesh, India in the spring of 1968 as The Beatles were studying with the Maharishi and practicing Transcendental Meditation. It is similar only to the first recorded installment of the "Abbey Road" medley, "You Never Give Me Your Money," which is also a succession of different songs strung together. John Lennon: double-tracked lead vocal, electric guitar, backing vocal Many listeners at the time were suspicious of drug references in the lyrics of "Happiness Is A Warm Gun," even insisting that the "warm gun" itself referred to a needle used for shooting heroin. A bit of poetic license.” The phrase in the magazine was actually a humorous but dark take-off on the Peanuts cartoon phrase “Happiness Is A Warm Puppy.” the beatles happiness is a warm gun Traducida en Español. It was such a great line...that John, sort of, took that and used it as a chorus...It's not deadly serious. So that was Yoko really. “I don't know where the 'soap impression of his wife' came from but the eating of something and then donating it 'to the National Trust' came from a conversation we'd had about the horrors of walking in public spaces on Merseyside, where you were always coming across the evidence of people having crapped behind bushes and in old air raid shelters. You can just hear last word “down” as they faded the vocals back in slightly too early. These measures contain mostly elements from John, these being rhythm guitar (utilizing his newly acquired finger-picking style), lead vocals and subdued organ notes. Just like a collage, instead of an album like 'Pepper.' This article, written by Warren W. Herlihy, relates the author's pride in his 18-year-old son John who has been shooting guns since the age of seven. It was an advert in a gun magazine. “'Happiness Is A Warm Gun' was from the cover of a gun magazine that George Martin had in the studio when we were making the double album,” John recalled, “and it had 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun' on the cover. All We Are Saying, David Sheff. “Happiness Is a Warm Gun” was finished at 5 in the morning of September 26. It wasn’t about ‘H’ at all.”. "She's well-acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand Like a lizard on a window pane The man in the crowd with the Paul plays a simple bass pattern throughout while he and George add harmonies to John's vocals in measures five through eight. "No one believes me about that. But they were advertising guns and I thought it was so crazy that I made a song out of it. In any case, it was weird. While it is true to say there are three clear sections, many believe there are four or even five. Paul also sings along with John on the second half of this part, him singing the same notes only a full octave higher. It's just camp, you know...It was also about a gun and not about heroin or anything. But that was the beginning of my relationship with Yoko and I was very sexually oriented then. Written by Lennon, who got the idea from a gun magazine cover that read, "Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hands," also Lennon's original song title. First of all, he wanted to know how to describe a girl who was really smart and I remembered a phrase of my father's which was 'she's not a girl who misses much.' Your email address will not be published. John abandons the finger picking guitar work for a simple chording pattern and sings a low lead vocal in measures twelve through twenty-one. Released: Nov 1968 In those 8 hours, they recorded 45 takes but returned the next day to record another 25. John Lennon says that the song was not about drugs, but more towards his love life with Yoko Ono. Lennon married Ono on the 20th March, 1969, on the Rock of Gibraltar, Christ, you know it ain’t easy. But don't you know that happiness. I had put together three sections of different songs. The elements consist of John on exuberant lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Paul on bass and overdubbed 50's style piano and Ringo on drums. We thought this was an incredibly complicated and tortuous way of getting a cheap thrill and so that became 'multicolored mirrors' and 'hobnail boots' to fit the rhythm. The third and fourth syllable of the word "gun" appears in the measure that is in 4/4 time, this happening three times in this section of the song. Until that point we had made rather mild, rather oblique references to pot or LSD. The second smaller part of section two is 18 measures in length and is mostly in 3/4 time. You know, 'When I hold you in my arms,' very funny.” “Oh, well, by then I’m into double meanings. The song dealt with three themes. Taylor continues: “'The man in the crowd with the multicolored mirrors on his hobnail boots' was from something I'd seen in a newspaper about a Manchester City soccer fan who had been arrested by the police for having mirrors on the toe caps of his shoes so that he could look up girls' skirts. I'm sure he wouldn't. Happiness Is a Warm Gun is a song by The Beatles featured on the eponymous double-disc album The Beatles also known as The White Album.It is primarily a John Lennon composition, credited to Lennon/McCartney.The original working title of the song was "Happiness Is a Warm Gun in Your Hand," which was inspired by a magazine containing the phrase, which in turn parodied "Happiness Is a Warm … It was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. Happiness. Follow me? Lyrics to 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun' by The Beatles. George adds distorted guitar chops on most of the even numbered beats of each measure, strategic places receiving held out guitar chords instead of just staccato chops. Playing via … Clear as mud? Indeed, he would use “Mother Superior” as a reference to his future wife. This was all done in one song and it went through all the different styles of rock'n'roll...I love it. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Remastered 2009) The Beatles. It appears that the bulk of the song was written after John had returned home from this trip, but one element that did result from his India trip was the finger-picking work that starts out the song, this style of guitar playing being taught to John by fellow TM student Donovan and/or his friend Gypsy Dave. Arguably, maybe it should be considered more of a “Lennon / Taylor” song! “Happiness Is A Warm Gun was another one which was banned on the radio – they said it was about shooting up drugs. We take this as part of the song but it wasn’t intentional. November 25th, 1968 was the release date of "The Beatles," the first and only double-album of new material by the band, the album affectionately known as the "White Album. An interesting US vinyl edition of the “White Album” was released on January 7th, 1982, this being manufactured by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in Chatsworth, California as part of their "Original Master Recording" series. It was like a whole mess of color.” John elaborates: “These were all different segments of songs that I wrote altogether and stuck them all in one piece. The fact that the song was about a gun, we sang 'Shoot shoot, bang bang.' “He was getting into harder drugs than we'd been into,” Paul states in his book “Many Years From Now,” “and so his songs were taking on more references to heroin. About Happiness Is A Warm Gun "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"). Derek Taylor continues his recollection of the genesis of the rest of the lyrics to this section of the song. On this cover it had a picture of a gun that had just been shot and was smoking, you know. Because some though there was a link to heroin in the song, the BBC banned it. Yes it is. George compensates for the extra beat in the seventh measure in 5/4 time, since the even numbered beat then becomes an odd numbered beat. “I like to talk about this,” Paul stated about the song, “because I like it. In those days I had no idea about heroin. First hand accounts of arguments, screaming, refusing to cooperate, paranoia, and temper tantrums resulted in engineer Geoff Emerick walking out midway through the sessions and even Ringo Starr himself quitting the band for a time. This part comprises the “I need a fix...Mother Superior” section of the song, this being all he had of the song by that time. It's very Lennon.” Happiness Is A Warm Gun. I'd never seen it or knew anybody that had touched it or taken it...(The song) was another one which was banned on the radio - they said it was about shooting up drugs...It wasn't about 'H' at all." Released on 22nd November 1968. That happiness is a tricky thing you can't rely on. One song which straddled this thin line was Happiness is a Warm Gun. The rest of this section comprise eight measures which are mostly also in 4/4 time, the only exceptions are the first measure which is in 6/4 time and the seventh measure which is in 5/4 time. The elements contained in this section of the song consist of John on lead vocal and rhythm guitar, Paul on bass on harmony vocal sung an octave higher than John (with the exception of the first "Mother superior jumped the gun" which is sung by John alone), George playing a lead guitar part, and Ringo playing a complicated drum pattern to compensate for the time signature changes as well as an overdubbed tambourine. Bang Bang Shoot Shoot. However, Lennon explained that there are double meanings in the song between Guns and sexuality. As to the song's structure, Paul stated, "It's a very interesting song because it changes tempo a lot; it's quite a complex piece. Ian MacDonald: “It packs a considerable punch, working on an emotionally allusive level few songwriters have been aware of, let alone succeeded at.” Chris Ingham: “Certainly one of Lennon's final masterpieces for The Beatles.” David Quantick: “The Beatles buried their differences in one of their best musical, Beatles-as-band collaborations.”, CLICK HERE to hear the author's new album "Clarity". Happiness is a warm gun (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) Happiness is a warm gun, mama (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) When I hold you in my arms (Oo-oo oh yeah) And I feel my finger on your trigger (Oo-oo oh yeah) I know nobody can do me no harm (Oo-oo oh yeah) Because happiness is a warm gun, mama (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) Since the writing of the song began in India but was completed in various stages, the time of writing would have to stretch from February to September of 1968. In particular, the lyric, “I need a fix ’cause I’m going down”, caused offence. I like all the different things that are happening in it. The box set “The Beatles In Mono” was released on September 9th, 2009, which features the entire mono Beatles catalog. George Harrison: lead guitar, backing vocal Happiness Is A Warm Gun chords The Beatles 1968 (The White Album) Am6 Em Am Em She's not a girl who misses much, Du du du du du du Oh yeah Dm She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand Am like a lizard on a window pane Dm Am The man in the crowd with the multicolored mirrors on his hobnail boots Dm Am Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy working overtime … Happiness (is a warm gun) Bang Bang Shoot Shoot . The song opens with guitar arpeggios, bass and a single track vocal. On their 1996 album, “Anthology 3” we get the home demo from the 28th May, 1968. There you can hear where they decided to leave out the first “I need a fix ’cause I’m going down” line.