Back in the USSR

Album: The Beatles (aka The White Album)

Year: 1968

Written by: Lennon & McCartney

Like the previous post, this upbeat song was written while The Beatles were studying Transcendental Meditation (TM) in Rishikesh, India at the beginning of 1968. Inspired by Chuck Berry's Back in the USA and the Beach Boys' California Girls, Paul wanted the song to "sound" like the USSR.

The country that we now know as Russia was once part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (the USSR), a nation that existed from 1922 until 1991. Unfortunately, it was not a very free country, so Paul's intent was to add a little fun for the Beatles' fans in the USSR.

Paul sings a double-tracked lead vocal, with John and George joining him on the very Beach Boys-sounding backing vocals. Back in the USSR is one of the very few Beatles songs in which Ringo does not play drums. He had become angry during one of the recording sessions and walked out, leaving Paul, John, and George to share the drumming duties.