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The song was inspired by actor Peter Fonda, who was dropping acid with John Lennon while they were together at a party at the Playboy Mansion. John was trying to take in the beauty of the girls and the atmosphere, and Peter Fonda was whispering, "I know what it's like to be dead man." John originally wrote it as "He Said He Said" because it did come from Peter, but felt it didn't sound right, so he changed it to "She." (thanks, Saint - New Orleans, LA)

Fonda accidentally shot himself and almost died when he was 10. That is what he was talking about when he said he knew what it was like to be dead.

Fonda has said that Lennon always hated him. He feels Lennon didn't like intellectual types around him.

The Beatles recorded this in 9 hours during the last session for Revolver.

Comments:

I agree with Brittanie in Liverpool, the song does seem like a conversation between friends. The girl is saying to the guy that he just doesn't get her, but he says, "no, no, no, you're wrong" or, "I really do understand you". He reassures her by telling her that childhood was the perfect time "when I was a boy, everything was right...." but being an adult is hard and he sympathizes. It's comforting.
- Heather, Los Angeles, CA

George helped John out in this song, he contributed to the line "I said no no no your wrong when I was a boy" Says so in the Anthology Book.
- Breanna, Henderson, NV

one of their first LSD inspired songs! the best
- Nick, Seattle, Albania

I'm an American and when I first heard this song, I knew that John said "head" and not "hair", just to let y'all know...
- Julia, Richland, WA

Another one of John's surrealistic journeys where the lyrics serve to paint images superimposed on each other. I can pick out so many things about this track that amaze me...even 40+ years later
- Matt, NY, NY

"The song is so beautiful. It's almost as if you can actually feel it."
- Matias, MIami, FL

The guitars on this tune are great! I love Ringo's fills and rolls through out the whole jam, amazing, and the opening riff just grabs ya... great song!
- German, Costa Mesa, CA

The "When I was a boy" part is another song that either John or Paul wrote but never finished. They decided to use it in this song.
- Madison, Norway, ME

an amazing song on their best album...the guitar is sweet and the words really hit you hard, even ringo is at his best...but the fact that it is one of their greatest despite paul's absence proves who their best songwriter was...
- max, vancouver, Canada

A great example of how drugs are a good thing, JK. But seriously, reminds me a bit of Rain.
- John, New York, NY

John Lennon couldn't have written the lyrics to the song 'she said, she said' without Peter Fonda's help. Fonda was tripping on acid with Lennon and George Harrison in 1965. Harrison and Lennon were both having bad trips and Harrison thought he was going to die. Fonda told him "I know what it's like to be dead and you're not going to die." He was referring to the time he accidentally shot himself as a child and his heart stopped beating three times on the operating table. Lennon then said to Fonda "what do you mean you know what it's like to be dead? You're making me feel like I've never been born." He ended up using those phrases in the song 'she said, she said.'
- Shannon, Toronto, Canada

this is one of their songs that separates them. unique. "when i was a boy!" haunts me still. like jimi this is creative genius. soul music
- Bryant Urban, Seattle/born trenton,n.j., WA

I've read Peter Fonda's biography and I've heard all about his rotten childhood. Henry Fonda didn't like Peter, but Peter wanted him to. Love this song though.
- Sarah, Sacramento, CA

I love this song it's in true Mixolydian and it has sections in contrasting meters something that not many rock groups were doing at the time.
- joe, montvale, NJ

John Lennon took loads of drugs, but it's a great song.
- Nathan, Bruges, Belgium

I always love this song especially the riff. Something tells me that I've heard it somewhere before though
- Darius, Lancaster, CA

Actually it was John Lennon and Stephen King. They were dropping Peter Fonda off the roof of their hotel.
- joe, lethbridge, Canada

Fonda says that when he first said he knew what it's like to be dead, Lennon whirled around and said, "Who put all that sh*t in your head?"
- fyodor, Denver, CO

Paul doesn't even play on this song, and it doesn't even matter. You know you have a great band when you can have one or even two of the guys missing and still come away with a complete song.
- Robb, Hamburg, NY

I remember hearing this on the radio and being entranced by it. Definitely among the best songs on Revolver.
- lauren, some place, DE

The English/Liverpoolian accent makes some words seem different to alot of American listeners. He says head. If you listen to it and say the word "head" in your mind as he sings it, you can clearly hear that is what he says.
- Robb, Hamburg, NY

this is my favorite beatles song
- yo, sudbury,ontario, Canada

The correct lyric should be: who put all those things in your head (not hair.) It makes more sense and it rhymes with said.
- Owen, Boulder, CO

The opening guitar riff just hits you in the face...
- Kevin, San Antonio, TX

actually it was john lennon and steve mcqueen dropping on the hood of johns car and steve out of the blue said i know what its like to be dead
- Sam, Philadelphia, PA

this song has such a great melodicness about it.
- kika, nyc, NY

eird song huh guys.W
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC

I meant weird song huh guys.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC

awsome song, everything is right, everything is right...
- Mauricio, Hanford, CA

The Black Keys made an excellent cover of this song. It was on their debut album, it rocks even beter, it's more raw, so the mysterious lyrics come to a better end.
- Ruben, Buggenhout, Belgium

I have always loved this song. Lennon's songs always seem to reach me some how
- Robb, Hamburg, NY

Paul McCartney is not present on this song. He and Lennon had a row just before it was recorded, and Paul walked out. George Harrison played bass, and both vocal parts are sung by John Lennon.
- Mike, Youngstown, OH

This is definitely one of my favorite songs lyrically.
- Joe, West Creek, NJ

apparantly when Lennon and Fonda were dropping acid together, Fonda stood in the corner saying 'she said, she said' repeatedly.
- Simone, Tawonga South, Australia

this song is so weird...i luv it
- Liliana, Huntley, IL

This sounds like one of the conversations my best friend and I would have.
- Brittanie, Liverpool, England

Wouldn't be surprised if this inspired the movie Easy Rider, or at least the graveyard sequence.
- Paulo, New York, NY