Dig It

Album: Let It Be (1970)
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Songfacts®:

  • "Dig It" was taken from a 12-minute improvised jam session in the studio. The Beatles were planning to record the album in front of a live TV audience, with another TV special made about how the album was made. When George Harrison protested, plans for the live show were scrapped and the album was assembled from various sessions. Phil Spector was brought in to work with the tapes, and the album was finally released about a year after it was recorded.
  • The Beatles were constantly using the phrase "Dig it" at this time.
  • This appears in the Beatles movie Let It Be, which was the result of footage shot for what was going to be the TV special.
  • This song did not age very well, and was left off the album when Apple records released Let It Be... Naked, a version of the album without Phil Spector's orchestrations. That album came out in 2003.
  • Billy Preston played the organ. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • The original title was "Can You Dig It," which John says at the end (spliced in from an earlier session) when he says "That was 'Can You Dig It' by Georgie Wood. And now we'd like to do 'Hark The Angels Come.'" Incidentally, George Wood was the name of the man who bought John's childhood home Mendips from his Auntie Mimi. It was also the name of a British child star.

Comments: 30

  • Ogith Hamilton from Earthat Least i got the FULL Song Thats WAY Over 4 Minutes Long...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Ny'And the BBC, BB King
    And Doris Day'
    Doris Day, born Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff, passed away at the age of 97 on May 13th, 2019 in Carmel Valley, California...
    Besides "Dig It" she was referred to in two records that peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham! {1984} and "We Didn't Start The Fire " by Billy Joel {1989}...
    She was also referred to in "Le De Da" by Ringo Starr {1999}, "Dirty Epic" by Underworld {1994}, and "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" from the musical 'Grease' {1978}...
    May she R.I.P.
  • Carl from Apg, MdOnly a small part was used for the original "Let It Be" album.
  • Raf from Vancouver, Bc"By Georgie Wood" is a play on words (possibly unintential), which can also be heard as "By George, 'e would." This phrase uses the British expression 'by George', and drops the 'h' in the word 'he'. Note that the 'h' is also dropped in the word 'hark', i.e. " 'ark the angels come"
  • Jay from Vancouver, BcJohn was heavily influenced By Bob Dylan at the time. When he says "Like a rolling stone", he's referring to Bob Dylan's classsic song "Like a rolling stone". Lennon's improvisation captured the same energy and spirit of Dylan's classic.
  • Linc from Beaumont, Tx"Like a Rolling Stone," mean just that - the Rolling Stones! They were the Beatles friends and it was very likely a plug for them. Since none other than Billy Preston played with them on this one.
  • Jacquot from State Of Franklin, TnAlthough he's mostly remembered as MUFC manager because of the way he built up the team, that's not the whole Busby story.

    The significance of Matt Busby might only be because he was a major British soccer figure. But time for trivia, some of which is relevant ....

    Busby played for Manchester City before transferring to Liverpool FC in 1936; he was a major player at Anfield.

    The Beatles first TV appearance was on Manchester-based independent TV network Granada, program.

    I disagree that the rivalry between Pool and MUFC was notably bitter. Rivalry between Liverpool and Everton was more likely to be.
  • Matthew from Melbourne, AustraliaI can't believe it, But I actually LIKE this song!
  • Jim from Johnsonburg, NyThe real beauty of Dig It is how its little slice of weirdness segues so wonderfully into the gentle piano intro of Let It Be. I personally cannot play Let It Be without first playing Dig It. Magic!
  • Susan from Toronto, CanadaSheryl Crow was obviously VERY VERY INFLUENCED by this song when she wrote/recorded her "Na-Na Song."
  • John Smith from Southington, Ct"Like a rolling stone" whatever that means
  • David from Youngstown, OhI can't state this as fact, but am under the strong belief that John does the "Hark the Angels Come," as a shot at Paul singing "Let it Be," which follows the comment. On Anthology III, John praises "Let it Be," but I believe John did it in post-production when the two were feuding and insults Paul's song with the thought that it's not the type of song the Beatles would sing.
  • Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaI don't know why, but I love this song! Short, but great! One of the things I love about The Beatles is that they did so many weird (but awesome) songs!
  • Jaf from Benson, AzMR. CHIMP, I don't really know if John was doing a Mick Jagger impersonation, but ever since I heard this song (some 30 years ago) I was searching for the album's credits to see if indeed Jagger was singing on the song. The Beatles and Stones did some collaboration before...
  • Jon from Danville, CaThe speach at the end was actually done by John.
  • Micka from šèavnica, Otherthis song is great. i think it should be longer
  • Micka from šèavnica, Otheryeah it's paul
  • Jordan from Wimette, IlIt is 0:50.
  • Paula-mersey from TÃ?mperley, ArgentinaThis is a great song!!I think it´s Paul who says :
    "That was Can you dig it by Georgie Wood,and now we´d to do Hark the Angels Come"
    It may be John, but I´m sure it´s PAUL.Listen more carefully!!!!
  • Brooks from Vero Beach, FlI personally have never heard an instrumental jam session that has sounded better than the piano/organ combination of this song... It's up tere with my other faorite Beatles hits...
  • Loretta from Liverpool, Englandthe hark the angels come comment is not talking about let it be, but in fact the actual song, hark the angels come, which they sang (jokingly and terribly) afterwards
  • Mr. Chimp from Brno, Czech RepublicDidn´t John parody Mick Jagger ?
  • Alan from New Baltimore, Mi("Wee")Georgie Wood was a music hall and variety performer in England. He was only 4 Ft. 9 in. tall when fully grown and had over a 50-year career. A child star, he was imitated by John in the high falsetto voice on the end of "Dig It".
  • Alexandre from São Paulo, BrazilIs John who says "That was 'Can You Dig It' by Georgie Wood, and now we'd like to do 'Hark the Angels Come"', not Ringo. See the Let It Be Outtakes
  • Dave from Springfield, United StatesI think Ringo's saying:
    "That was [two syllable word] 'Dig It' by Georgie Wood, and now we'd like to do 'Hark the Angels Come"'. I dont know who Georgie Wood is- it might be one of the beatles' nicknames for each other. I think that the "hark the angels come" has something to do with the fact that the next song is "Let it Be", which sounds slightly religius. but i don't really know for certain
  • Sun King from Danielsville, GaThe meaning of "Dig it"?
    Now it's ALL clear.
    Just looking at:
    http://digilander.libero.it/p_truth/index.html

    Very telling.
  • Scott Baddwin from Edmonton, EnglandNick,I don't know.He sounds like:"we can dig it charlie real good now;we'll do it just when the angels come!"
  • Nick from San Francisco, Cawhat does Ringo say at the end? anyone know?
  • Brendan from Colts Neck, NjRight at the end, they say "And Matt Busby" Sir Busby was one of the greatest managers of the football team Manchester United. I never really understood this line, as Liverpool and Manchester United have always had a bitter rivalry.
  • Brittanie from Liverpool, EnglandI don't know why...but this song gives me the giggles. I don't know...call me strange. But it's one of my favorites of theirs (as are most of their songs) and I think it's a rip off that it didn't make the final cut. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.
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