Search by Title

A	B	C	D	E	F	G
H	I	J	K	L	M	N
O	P	Q	R	S	T	U
V	W	X	Y	Z	#

Browse Categories Random Songfact Random Category Add to Songfacts Take the Quiz SongFAQ Get the Newsletter E-Mail Us Message Boards Full Interviews Lyrical Pursuit Song Fallacies

Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

Paul McCartney wrote this for the 1969 movie The Magic Christian, starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr.

This was Badfinger's first hit single. They were one of the first groups to sign with Apple Records, which is The Beatles' label.

Badfinger had a few other hits in the early '70s, but in 1974 Warner Brothers Records, which signed them when Apple folded, sued the band and kept them from recording. One member of the group killed himself a year later, and another committed suicide in 1983.

Paul McCartney recorded the demo of this, and he played all the instruments himself. This was done prior to a Beatles recording session at Abbey Road studios. Paul's demo sounds exactly like Badfinger's recording, which he produced. In The Beatles Anthology book, Paul mentions that Badfinger wanted to do the song more in their own style, but he insisted they do it the same as on his demo. He told them that he knew this would be a hit song as long as they played it just as he had. (thanks, Rick - Lafayette, NJ)

Comments:

Graham Parker recorded an interesting version of this song on From A Window- The Lost Songs Of The Beatles.
- Randy, San Diego, CA

This song's lyrics are a capsule summary of the movie plot ... a series of stunts where people are offered money in order to do ridiculous and sometimes humiliating things. This culminates in the "Something in the air" scene at the end where money is thrown into a pit filled with blood, manure and urine. A crowd wades in to pick the money up. One thing often overlooked about Magic Christian is the incredible number of references to male homosexuality and gay culture. One of the stunts, for example, is two male boxers bribed to passionately kiss instead of fight. But the climax of all this is the "Magic Christian" scene itself, set on a fake ocean liner whose "passengers" are all conservative bluebloods. Here, one of them is given marijuana by the ship's doctor who pronounces his name "Lawrence Fahgoh". But in the end credits you find that the name is really "Lawrance Faggot" pronounced as if it were French. Another scene (with the song "Mr. Universe" involves an erotic dance with two nearly naked men, one black - one white. But the best of all is a scene where Yul Brynner sings Noel Coward's "Mad About the Boy" in drag, pulling his wig off at the end (the "reveal" is an almost compulsory end to drag performances.) Noel Coward was known to be gay and "Mad About the Boy" was kind of an anthem among the gay crowd during the 1950's.
- Dave, Madison,

I heard the same story as Ted from Pa. about the heir to the oleo margarine empire or some such , and when he had given away all the money , he sobered up and committed suicide.Max S.D.
- max, rapid city, SD

I had heard on the radio several years ago that the inspiration for this song was a guy (in NY, I think) during the anti-establishment era who had inherited a lot of money. As the story goes, he stood on a street corner giving it away to anyone who wanted it. I have never found anything to substantiate it however.
- Ted, Lebanon, PA

Paul McCartney's demo is great!!! Both his, and Badfinger's versions are superb.
- Farrah, Elon, NC

If I re-call, the linner notes on the back of the SESSION LP claimed Paul recorded his version in 20 mins & the drummer is Ringo.
- Nunzio, Darwin, Australia

Paul's demo is world's better than this version
- Bad Dan, Encino, CA

pete ham and tom evans most notable songwriting credit is for harry nillsons 1972 hit without you
- jeff, liverpool, England

this was written about the beatles apple company and the way the company would give money away to any "hippy" with a "brilliant" idea
- ade, neath, Wales

Actually, Brad Wind, the song playing when people jumped into the dung vat was another great tune, Thunderclap Newman's "Something in the Air." Come and Get It appeared near the middle of the movie, the dung vat was right near the end. The movie should be put on DVD, Ringo is great in it!
- Alan, Chesterfield, MI

Ever heard the flip side of the original single? It's an all-out rock & roll jam called "Rock Of All Ages", and it's a blistering rocker! The lyrics, IIRC, don't make much sense, but who cares? :-)
- Bill, St. Paul, MN

Elton John on backing vocals. Enjoy Gary
- Gary, Seattle, WA

Sad endings for great potential. The two kingpins both hanged themselves. Peter Ham hanged himself in his garage in 1975, Tom Evans hanged himself from a tree in his backyard 1983. Gary
- Gary, Seattle, WA

HELP!! What was the inspiration for the song "Come and Get it?"
- Dawn, Harrisburg, PA

This was a huge fan written by Paul McCartney, and he wanted to be played just as he wanted to be played, the demo as you already know is on the Beatles' Anthology, but what you don't already know was that one American group did a cover of this song... (the group was named The Magic Christians, like the title of the movie of Peter Sellers that Badfinger did the OST... )... damn, ma'am!
- Axel, Mexico, Mexico

I love this song!!! I thought that it was the Beatles at first, until I heard that it was Badfinger. They did a great job on this.
- Farrah, Elon, NC

Loved this song before I knew Paul McCartney wrote it.
- Shayne, Edmonton, KY

Songwriting legend Graham Parker recorded this song on The Lost Songs Of Lennon and McCartney. It's uptempo and guitar driven. Great rendition and certainly worth checking out. SFD
- Silver, Las Angelas, CA

This song also, to me, sounds like it was recorded by the Patridge Family. I dunno why. It just has that vibe to it.
- Benn, Arcola, IL

The McCartney demo is quite similar....the only difference being that the tempo is a little slower. Even the vocals are hard to tell apart.
- rob, vancouver, Canada

I aboslutely loved this song when I saw The Magic Christian, then I loved it even more when it said Paul wrote it. Paul is a total genius
- joey, Nowhere Land, CA

The demo that Paul McCartney recorded is on the Beatles Anthology 3 cd-set, and it sounds exactly like the Badfinger version. I like both songs.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

I thought this was Paul McCartney when I heard it. Fits into the scene in the movie.
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

Badfinger took their name from the original working title for the Beatles song "WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS" which was "BADFINGER BOOGIE" (J - uk)
- JARROD, BRISTOL, England

This song was used in a military recruitment television commercial, I think for the United States Navy.
- Bill, southeastern part of, FL

The song - and the movie - are about an eccentric millionarire's quest to prove that people will do anything - literally - for money.
- Ken, Louisville, KY

At the time this song was recorded Badfinger was known as The Iveys - they changed their name by the time the song was released.
- Elliott, Douglassville, PA

I thought this was Paul McCartney all the way when I first heard it late '70 or '71. This song was well associated with my first puppy love. It was a girl (I can not remember her name) that looked like an angel to me. I was only 8 years old and this was my sisters friend I think she was a few years older than me. We lived in Texas at that time, and I remember that warm summer day, we were walking through a field and my sister had given me a ring (just a cheap dimestore ring) and I gave to this girl and she smiled at me and my heart soared like and eagle in the wind. She thanked me and held my hand. Oh man! was thata great day or what?! Well I'll never forget taht day or that moment or that song that was going through my head... I only wish that I could remember her name.
- Mike, Mountlake Terrace, WA

The song was played in the high point of the "Magic Christian" movie, as poor people were jumping into a vat of human dung to chase after money that was thrown into it.
- Brad Wind, Miami, FL