A 1968 Beatles song from "The White Album," with a ska-influenced rhythm written by Paul McCartney, telling a brief storybook narrative of Desmond and Molly.
Composition
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da was written principally by Paul McCartney, who drew the song’s title phrase from a saying he had heard from conga player Jimmy Scott. The arrangement uses a ska-style offbeat piano and a bouncing bass line.
Recording
The recording was made at Abbey Road Studios over multiple sessions in 1968. John Lennon, reportedly impatient with the number of takes McCartney requested, played the opening piano figure for the final version that appears on the album.
Reception
Although it was not released as a single in the UK and US, the song reached number one in Australia, Austria, and several other countries through cover versions. It has been frequently included on Beatles compilation albums.
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Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da starts with O and ends with A. Browse other songs along the same letter.
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