Songs > Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
(Lennon/McCartney)
Song background
The phrase "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" is from the Yoruba tribe (Nigerian) and it means "life goes on",
a phrase used frequently by conga player Jimmy Scott, whom Paul had met. After Paul used the
phrase Scott wanted a royalty, however Paul insisted that it was a common phrase. "Ob-La-Di,
Ob-La-Da" is cited as the first white reggae; involving Jamaican people and genre. During the
recording sessions the Beatles went through numerous takes with several different sounds until
John, who hated the song to begin with, just went up to the piano and banged out the opening
notes, which they kept for the master. Paul wanted to use the song as a single, but when John
refused the song was rerecorded by the band Marmalade and became a British hit. A deritive of
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" was used in the theme song to the 1980s television show "Life Goes On".
Recording dates ...
Release dates
- November 22, 1968 (UK) (on The Beatles)
- November 25, 1968 (UK) (on The Beatles)
- November 8, 1976 (US) ("Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/Julia" single)
Recording notes ...
Chart performance ...
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Notable covers
- Marmalade
