"Cry Baby Cry" is a song by The Beatles from their self titled album, more commonly known as The White Album. "Cry Baby Cry" is the final song on the album featuring the group's instrumental presence. It is about an old fairy tale that John Lennon remembered from his youth.

The song features a brief segment often referred to as "Can You Take Me Back".

History

When asked about "Cry Baby Cry" in 1980, Lennon replied, "Not mine. A piece of rubbish." The "Not mine" part is either a mistake in Lennon's memory, an error in the transcription of the interviewer's audio tape of the interview, or Lennon sarcastically disowning the song. Paul McCartney said, "Cry Baby Cry was another of John's songs from India,", although demos of the song indicate it was written in late 1967, before the Beatles went to India.

The original lyrics were "Cry baby cry, make your mother buy." Lennon said he got the words from an advertisement. The "Duchess of Kirkcaldy" mentioned in the song was a creation of Lennon's, possibly inspired by the Beatles' gig in the town of the same name in 1963.

George Martin plays harmonium on this track (introduced after the first statement of "make your mother sigh". This was the same harmonium Lennon used on "We Can Work It Out" and that Martin had previously used on "The Word".

Can You Take Me Back

"Cry Baby Cry" includes a very short unrelated song performed by McCartney, whose most prominent line is "Can you take me back?" appearing directly before "Revolution 9". This portion of the song does not appear in the lyrics included with the album. Immediately following, a short and barely audible conversation takes place between producer George Martin and Alistair Taylor, Brian Epstein’s personal assistant. Taylor is apologising to Martin, apparently for neglecting to bring a bottle of wine for him to the session. While this was included as part of the track for "Cry Baby Cry" on some CD releases, it is considered the beginning of "Revolution 9.Also, at the end of "Come Together" on the Love soundtrack, the song segues into "Can You Take Me Back".

The whole version of the song is featured on several bootlegs.

Cultural references

• The song is referenced in a line from the Firefly episode "Serenity."

Cover versions

• German pop band Fool's Garden covered this song on their first album Once in a Blue Moon in 1993.
• Samiam covered this song on their 1997 album, You Are Freaking Me Out.
• Live covers by Phish are available on the Hampton Comes Alive box set and Live Phish Volume 13.
• Richard Barone has live version of this song on his album Cool Blue Halo.
• American psychedelic rock band Bardo Pond covered this song on their album Ticket Crystals.
• Throwing Muses include a version of this song on the "Not Too Soon" EP, having already recorded their own song, with the same title, on the "Chains Changed" EP.

Notes

External links

• Lyrics