Back In The U.S.S.R.

Album: The White Album (1968)
Charted: 19
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Songfacts®:

  • The story of this song begins in Hrishikesh, India, where The Beatles were on a retreat learning Transcendental Meditation from their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Also on the retreat was Mike Love of The Beach Boys, who told us: "Paul (McCartney) came down to the breakfast table one morning saying, 'Hey, Mike, listen to this.' And he starts strumming and singing, 'Back in the U.S.S.R.,' the verses. And I said, 'Well, Paul, what you ought to do is talk about the girls around Russia, Ukraine girls and then Georgia on my mind, and that kind of thing.' Which he did.

    So I think it was the fact I was there, which caused Paul to think in terms of Beach Boys, and then my suggestion for what to do on the bridge, he took that suggestion and crafted, like only Sir Paul can, a really great song."

    McCartney was impressed with the idea and used some Beach Boys' elements in this song: Instead of "California Girls" it was "Moscow Girls." Plus, the definitive Beach Boy "Oooeeeeoooo" in the background harmonies.

    The title was inspired by Chuck Berry's "Back In The U.S.A." The Beach Boys had been influenced by that song and also "Sweet Little Sixteen" to come up with "California Girls" and "Surfin' U.S.A."
  • Paul stated in 1968, "In my mind it's just about a (Russian) spy who's been in America for a long time and he's become very American but when he gets back to the USSR he's saying, 'Leave it 'til tomorrow to unpack my case, Honey, disconnect the phone.' and all that, but to Russian women."
  • Things were tense when they were working on this album, and Ringo walked out during recording, briefly quitting the band. Paul McCartney played drums in his place.
  • In early 1968, the British government launched the "I'm Backing Britain" campaign to rally enthusiasm and boost their economy, even encouraging workers to stay on the job an extra 30 minutes every day without pay. As part of the campaign, Bruce Forsyth released a song of that title, with the lyrics:

    In offices and factories up and down the country
    An extra half an hour is all we need each day
    In shops and supermarkets, everybody's started
    To work a little more without the pay


    This campaign may have influenced "Back In The U.S.S.R.," at least the title.
  • The line "Georgia's always on my mind" in a play on the Ray Charles song "Georgia On My Mind." It has a double meaning, since Georgia was part of the U.S.S.R.
  • Elton John performed this song when he toured Russia in 1979, and he got a huge response. This was the year before Moscow hosted the Summer Olympics, which the United States boycotted. Elton told Q magazine: "The first night as an encore I did 'Back In The U.S.S.R.' And they went apes--t. It was like playing 'Philadelphia Freedom' in Philadelphia. You just noticed that the people there were as ordinary and as good as the people you'd notice anywhere else."

    Billy Joel got a similar reaction when he played the song in Moscow in 1987.
  • This song caused a controversy with conservative America, because it came out during Vietnam and the Cold War and it appeared to be celebrating the enemy.
  • This opens with the sound of an airplane flying from left to right across the speakers. Stereo was relatively new, so this was very innovative for the time.
  • On August 22, 1968, following an argument with McCartney over the drum part for this song, Ringo walked out on The Beatles. He flew to Sardinia for a holiday to consider his future. While there he received a telegram from his bandmates saying, 'You're the best rock 'n' roll drummer in the world. Come on home, we love you.' On his return, he found his drum kit covered with flowers. A banner above read, 'Welcome Back.'
  • Paul McCartney told Mojo magazine October 2008 that the song's middle-eight was a spoof of the Beach Boys leading up to Pet Sounds. He added: "The rest is (sings first bars of the melody line of the opening verse) more Jerry Lee (Lewis). And the title is Chuck Berry, Back In The U.S.A., and the song itself is more a take on Chuck. You'd get these soldiers back from Korea or Vietnam, wherever the hell, and Chuck was picking up on that. I thought it was a funny idea to spoof that with the most unlikely thing of way back in Siberia."
  • There was a rumor in the Soviet Union that The Beatles had secretly visited the U.S.S.R. and given a private concert for the children of top Communist party members. They believed the song was written because of the concert. Actually, some fans still believe so. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alex - Tomsk, Russia Federation
  • The wafer-thin actress and model Twiggy claimed that this song was written for her to sing on a tour of Russia that didn't materialize. She and McCartney had met to discuss a film project, but it's unlikely this song was written for her.
  • Paul McCartney used this as the title to an album he released only in Russia in 1989. In 2002, McCartney called his US tour the "Back In The US" tour.
  • In Stephen King's 1979 novel The Dead Zone, a serial killer hums this tune as he contemplates his first murder.

Comments: 94

  • Used My Gi Bill On Romantics from ConnecticutBuilt my first of many stereos after hearing Plane as a Boy Scout Explorer at a radio station trying to figure out if the new-fangled stereo could be somehow could be played on their AM frequencies, we built a variety of different ways to produce stereo from 32 and 8 track demos (some of our own feeble attempts at being arock star (I'm lousy on guitar, worse on keyboard, and have the range and ability of a bloodhound on vocals). I did however do plenty of work at home on my 2 reel to reels and assorted amplifiers, receivers, speakers and soldering gun but could never figure out how to transmit 2 tracts on 2 close frequencies so they could be combined with one receiver. Then a FM station became the 1st in Ct to broadcast stereo (blues, acid, and hard rock). I sold much of my used, beg borrowed and dismantled off anything with audio from TVs, phonographs, and PA systems and I broke down and mail-ordered receiver, It was dismantled within hours and tubes (I was still a luddite when it came to transistors), resisters and tuners filled my parent's basement which now resembled a lab in a cheap 50s horror movie. The recording industries cheap attempts a new technology was left behind me and with the addition of 6 more reel to reels somehow missing from the state school's audio-visual department made me the recording king of my town using a Unitarian church as a studio for local bands. Nobody's demo sold but I learned 16 track mixing, a lot of physics, and countless electrical disasters All because of a BOAC flight Back in the USSR. Unfortunately, I went bankrupt on a false hope in quadraphonics. Still own some vintage 74 quad tuners, turntables, amps, and limited commercial and homemade attempts at audio's Beta visual recordings. For sale, CHEAP limited editions. A 200-amp quad amp makes a wonderful anchor for a boat 14 foot or smaller. I still argue 8 track had a bright future. "Hey Man, your car's eight track just ate my Abby Road tape." Great idea, poor packaging. I'm investing my social security and pension hoping Smellavision is the next Wall Street dimes to become dollars undervalued stock ready to rocket my wealth higher than Bill Gates, Buffet, and Musk combined. Oops, here comes the orderly with my meds

    All meant was ---Back in the USSR changed my life.
  • Djk15 from Detroit, MiOn a version I have it sounds like John says "Nyet" during the break around 1:30. They were so great at adding little background bits to each others song.
  • Bridget from CoMy favorite on the album :)
  • George from Vancouver, CanadaSounds to me like they were flirting with the idea, via their yogi probably, of turning communist & promoting communism.
  • Steve from Princeton, NjThis is one of several songs, along with Why Don't We Do It In The Road and Lady Madonna, in which Paul sounds like Ringo.
  • Sean from Cranston, RiIf you listen to the vocals isolated, you can hear someone burp right before the first guitar solo.
  • Ron from Santa Barbara, Cait was my understanding that mike love suggested to paul that he write a "beach boys" type song when they were together in india on a meditation holiday with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. most of the material for the "white album" was written there. also on the retreat were fellow musicians, mick jagger; donovan and paul horn.
  • George from Belleville, NjWhat a way to start the White Album.A high energy rocker that splits the speakers wide open.Great lead guitar,very upbeat.It's not their best opener from all their albums,but still a good one.
  • Norman from Jakarta, IndonesiaTo : Girosovich, New York, NY,
    Paul's drumming in Dear Prudence was MAGNIFICENT!!!
  • Andrew from London, EnglandAlan from Milwaukee: "Flew in from Miami beach BOAC" BOAC stood for British Oversea Air Corporation (or was it company?) a pre-runner of BA British airways. And yes, it is paperbag - you are given them to throw up in, hence "Man it's been a dreadful flight". Paul was lucky he didn't go aeroflot!
  • K from Nowhere, Onthe cd booklet says paper bag
  • Chester from Chula, GaI do believe that he said "paper bag"...instead of paper back...He was referring to an air/motion sickness/barf bag...Man I had a dreadful flight?
  • Chester from Chula, GaIt is my belief that he said "paper bag" instead of paper back...Paper bag refers to an air sickness bag.."man I had a dreadful flight"...makes sense to me..
  • Dan from Mattoon, IlLuke, from camp hill, I haven't listened to this song or Dear Prudence for a long time and after reading your post about the plane carrying over to Dear Prudence I do remember it does carry over. Wow, I hadn't remembered that till now. Great post. Always a rush to have something from the 60's be remembered.
  • Girosovich from New York, NyFrom what I can hear there are at least two drum tracks. In the right channel is a basic beat mixed very low and on the left is a bright snare with tom fills, hi hat cymbal with not much happening it seems on the kick drum. McCartney being at least the main drummer if not the only drummer does a competent enough job and clearly does it how he wants it done but he so lacks the right feel. He also drums on Dear Prudence and at NO time during the entire song are the bass and drums in sync. THEN Glass Onion comes on and Ringo and the album roar to life. The White Album generally wasn't Ringo's best drumming but he really earns his keep on it... his highlights are "Yer Blues" "I'm So Tired" "Savoy Truffle" "Long Long Long". McCartney also drums on Wild Honey Pie, possibly Martha My Dear, and Mother Nature's Son.
  • Irina from Tbilisi, GeorgiaI am from Georgia and I love this song. I am sure that the beatles knew about Georgia and sang about it !!!
  • Frank from Granchester Meadows, GreenlandLove the Beach Boy stle OOOO's in the middle eight.
  • Brad from Lexington, KyThis is a really fun rock song, one of the Beatles' better hard rockers. The lyrics describe a soldier in the Soviet Union returning home from America.
  • Linc from Beaumont, TxThe line about "leaving the West behind" is a reference to the Beach Boys hit, California Girls of course.
  • Linc from Beaumont, TxI think Paul was a perfectionist and while it ensured that the Beatles didn't put out sloppy songs, it also added an element of tension to the band. There were several incidents where Paul would show one or other band memeber how he wanted his song to be played and if he didn't like it, he did it himself.
  • Paul from Liverpool, United KingdomAccording to Paul McCartney,Ringo couldn't get the drums right on the song.So he (Paul McCartney)played all the drum parts,and this was what caused the friction between the two superstars.
  • Olivia from Chicago, IlI have this image in my head of paul with his arms thrown open wide with a huge smile on his face, and the camera like swings in a circle around him from like his knee-height and you see the red square towers.

    Also i love the 'come and keep your comrad warm, it makes me grin every time
  • Susan from Toronto, CanadaRegarding the drums: in Mark Lewisohn's book THE BEATLES RECORDING SESSIONS, the Beatles' recording engineer Ken Scott comments about John, Paul and George having to substitute in Ringo's absence. Scott says, "Work continued. They did `Back in the USSR' with what I seem to recall was a composite drum track of bits and pieces, possibly with all of the other three playing drums." Yes, it's possible all three Beatles filled in for Ringo! It could be considered a compliment to Ringo that it took all three of the other Beatles to fill in for him!
  • R.h. from Pauls Valley, OkSammy you obviously don't have the album because the words are on the back of the original poster that came with it (which I still have). Bianca, you are right on the money. He's referring to the vomit bag because he was sick during his "dreadful flight"!
  • Danimal from Kraków, PolandRingo was pursuaded to come back to the Beatles but it is Paul drumming on this track. Later, Lennon mentioned that Ringo being the best rock and roll drummer in the world was somewhat over-egsaturated: "He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles" Lennon joked. Although I personally disagree (I think Ringo is a very innovative drummer), Paul does a good job on drums.
  • Rosario from Naples, FlPaul says "paper bag," not "paper back."

    why would it be a "Dreadful flight" to have a "paper back on your knee?" and who reads with books on their knees...?
  • Sammy from Gleneden Beach, Or'A paper back on my knee' is talking about a paper back book.
  • Peter from Stockholm, SwedenIt´s not Ringo that plays the drums. After what I´ve heard (you can har that too)As someone wrot he went on a holiday, convinced he was considered a not so important member of the group.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyThe line is "Flew in from Miami Beach, BOAC". BOAC was "British Overseas Airways Corporation" which is now just called "British Airways". But this was a playful plug for his home-country's national airline by Paul, BOAC never flew from Miami to Moscow.
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiThe beginning of the Beatles' best Album.
  • N.i. from Baltimore, MdWell, it obviously was a reference to the song "Georgia on my Mind" (made famous by Ray Charles). Maybe you knew that already, but I just thought it was worth clarifying.
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, Ri"Georgia's on my mind"-Hah, you'd think this meant the state Georgia, but I like it how they meant the Georgia that was part of the USSR. (Which is now its own independent country)
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmI know Micheal! Its gross.
    But I would keep that bag even if i really really hate throw up.
    Cos you know Its Pauls!
  • Lissa from Houston, TxKatie from Tallahassee, he definitely says the paper BAG was on his knee, because he had a dreadful flight. It's in the booklet.
  • Katie from Tallahassee, FlHe isn't saying 'a paper bag was on my knee', he's saying 'a paper back was on my knee'.
  • Luke from Camp Hill, PaListen to this song and then immediately listen to Dear Prudence. The airplane in the end carries over to Dear Prudence.
  • Michael from OxfordBianca Sanchez, you're absolutely right about that line. Disgusting, isn't it?
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmHellllooooooooooo? Any one gonna answer my question?
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmI LIKE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)))))
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmI wanna know what "Oh, the way the paper bag was on my knee." means. I Think it means he was throwing up all the way cos after he says "Man I had dreadful flight"
    -Bianca, Alburquerque, NM
  • M.yurlov from Sevastopol, OtherP.S. I would like to ask your WEB-master why there is no Russia, Ukraine or at least the USSR (CIS) in the list?
    If you mark Russia as "other", then there is not much to say
  • M.yurlov from Sevastopol, OtherDear all,

    Just a few remarks from the Ukraine-2007 (former U.S.S.R).

    1. My name is Mikhail Yurlov, 50. Writing from the city of Sevastopol (way down South).
    2. There are so many political-factological-musical - and so on... delusions in the comments around "Back in the U.S.S.R" song, that a Russian (former Soviet) cannot but step into discussions.
    3. Think it should really surprise: is it 2007 or still 1968 (when this song was composed). Anyway I can completely back Mr Dirk from Nashville, TN, who underlines that "after three decades it (this song)still kicks".
    4. And the latter is really a reply to all those who name this song as "ordinary". It might be not the best Beatles song, but the fact that there are so many comments proves that this song makes us all ponder over.
    5. Now, let us go position by position.
    A. Politics. Very interesting to come across "Czechoslovakia events, Soviet Federated Socialist Republic of Georgia (the latter never existed - it was Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic), Stalin and Khruschev policies, I'm backin Britain" (not U.K. -!) campaign and many more of this type.
    Personally, I do not think that Paul or John could even go so deep into politics - there are no any proving indications of them being involved into politics, except for John's "We are now bigger than Jesus Christ" (1966, John was only 26). Later in "The Revolution" (1968, students movement in France, etc) John was singing - "But when you talk about destruction, Don't you know that you can count me out... But when you want money
    for people with minds that hate
    All I can tell is brother you have to wait... you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao... You better free you mind instead" - so, no real participation in all that sort of action... It was only after The Betles split, that John sang about "The Working class hero is something to be..." and Paul reminding "Give Ireland back to the Irish".
    So, finally, "Back in the USSR" could hardly be a campaigning song to promote the USSR, or any deep political hints... rather the Beatles used a catching word-combination (The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which they NEVER visited) to promote THEIR OWN new album, and this was quite a normal thing to sustain at the musical market of that time.
    But yes, of course, there are some intricate things: remember when Paul stumbles, singing Back in U.S., Back in U.S.,, Back in U.S.S.R.? Is that not a specific hint? Or as Mr Blake, Kennesaw, GA, USA pin points: "satirical, poking fun at Western culture/greed, whatever, while emphasizing the plight of citizens under communism (You don't know how lucky you are, boys.)". Very symbolic observation of Mr Blake. We can add - as very many things with the Beatles and all the British humour: ambiguity (like backing Britain - backin' USSR, who knows? By the way why "in", and not "to"?!).
    B. Facts.
    - In the beginning I would definitely omit all that stuff concerning unprintable words ostensibly used by Paul. Just bs. The Beatles were brilliant enough in expressing themselves to the world without this kind of lexics.
    - I do not know whether any of The Beatles songs were banned in the US, but to be exact - The Beatles were NOT banned officially in the USSR. Still, one could not find their music at the shops, only for a few exclusions, like "Girl" (with the indication, that it was a folklore song!!), or a poor edition of "Can't buy me love" or "Lady Madonna"(the songs that critisize capitalism). In the late 60s - early 70s there was also a very popular political TV programme "America in the object-glass", shown at the prime-time on the First Governmental TV channel. And the opener for the programme was "Can't buy me love" with the most important "Much for money". (In fact, absolutely correct.).
    Anyway, The Beatles LPs were not "for sale" officially, but all those who wanted to get their music - did it. Of course not at the extent the fans would love to.

    - One more important fact. I do not know how Paul came to know about all these things (maybe from Linda, whos distant origin was from Russia), but he was absolutely correct stating that the Ukrainian girls leave the West behind, and how specific are Moscow babes... I wonder why he is mentioning Georgian ones - nothing to be compared to the Ukrainian ones...

    And what is final: we all can discuss a lot what Paul and his friends thought when composing this song, but the only truth could come from Paul (Sir Paul McCartney). If he would wish to do so.

  • Alan from Milwaukee, WiWhat the heck is a "Miami BOAC"? Something to do with Miami Vice?
  • John from Grantham, EnglandThe campaign was not "I'm backing the UK", it was "I'm backing Britain" and there was a Labour (socialist) government at the time, not a Conservative one.

    And I've got a feeling that this song was written by the beatles
  • Dmytro from Kharkiv, Europe"the Ukraine girls really knock me out, they leave the West behind" - I am from Ukraine, I fully agree with John Lennon ;))
  • Krissy from Boston, MaI think it's a great song. At first I thought it was the Beach Boys but then not.
  • Michelle Harris from Littleton, CoI had a social studies teacher this past year who loved the Beatles and Europe. He played this song alot. When I hear this song on my Ipod, I always think of it as a tribute to my favorite teacher.
  • Poop from Poopville, MoHah.. thats funny I always thought this sounded like a beach boys song. Anyways, great tune.
  • Krista from Elyria, OhGREAT SONG I LOVE IT! When they sing about the girls, it confused me at first. I was listening 2 it on my mp3, and I thought it skipped to a Beach Boy song! LOL LOL
  • N.i. from Baltimore, MdAnyone who interprets this song as pro-Soviet isn't thinking straight. The Beatles were no friend of the USSR--their music was banned there! The main underlying point of this song is the absurdity of advertising the USSR using rock 'n' roll, a genre that would never have been permitted to develop under such a repressive government.
  • Paul from Adelaide, AustraliaNot one of my favorite songs on a very ordinary album. History will make it better than it really is.
  • Jade from Sacramento, CaOne of the basic problems with the drum track on U.S.S.R was "mannerism". The band sorely missed Ringo's 'feel and soul' for a song, even Paul admits this in Anthology. All three had to patch together a composite drum track in order to make it 'listenable'.
  • Ben from Hamilton, CanadaMaybe you guys should hear this the beatles have never been to the Ussr so the play on words is the only option for the title
  • Teri from Chicago, IlHey Austin,
    CBGB stands for Country, Blue Grass and Blues.
    When we walked in to set up, It was so messy looking, I thought the real club was in the back. It's long and narrow. I remember them having movie theater seats up 2 steps on the left but, of course that was back in the late 70's. Many great bands got their start there.
  • Chuck from Joppa, Md, MdThis was a big inspiration for David Bowie's "Suffragette City."
  • Jay from Manassas, Vapaul doesn't drop the f-bomb at the end of this song.

    taking the DE MFSL vinyl bootlegs and doing some clever tricks using FFT and phase reduction...i removed all the stereo content, leaving the middle..similar to the "remove vocals" effect on many mp3 players...only reverse.

    now, yes, it sounds like paul drops the f-bomb at the end..only because of the way things were mixed. the end of the song is pretty phase-busy (lots of stuff going on left/right) it drowns out his voice..so..what does he say?

    "ohhh let me tell you honey. hey i'm back! back in the ussr. hey it's so good to be here...........back in the ussr"

    listen to the original all you want..it'll either fit in or not make sense..but i've got the clip.
  • Philip from Widnes, EnglandPaul McCartney wrote this song because he hated the "American Dream" sugary lyrics used in California Girls
  • Ken from Louisville, KyThis was orginally written as "I'm Backing The U.S.S.R.", Paul's parody of the British PR campaign "I'm Backing the U.K.". But when it became time to record the song, the orginial campaign had evaporated and Paul was afraid no one would remember it. John suggested that Paul re-write this as a send-up of Chuck Berry's "Back In The USA", and Paul threw in the Beach Boys' "California Girls" bit as a freindly shout-out to them (he was quite friendly with the Wilson brothers and Mike Love).
  • Pete from Sherman Oaks, Ca"Stereo" was NOT "relatively new" when this song was put together, in 1968; there were many innovative things done with stereo in the midfifties, for example. In fact, the technology, itself, was developed, I would assume, long before that (in the 40's or earlier?). But, this is not to take away from the overall great quality of the song or even the excellence of the use of stereo in it - it just wasn't that new, that's all. - Pete Pearlman
  • Peter from Calgary, CanadaI think they may be mentioning Georgia as the Georgian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (or GSFSR for short) because that's where Stalin came from. While Khrushchev did try and reverse much of the Stalinization of the USSR during his time, he was removed from office in 1964 and replaced with Brehznev, a much more ardent supporter of Stalin's policies. At a time when the USSR was becoming much more outwardly hostile, images of Stalin may have been in the public psyche (either by association or placement), hence the reference.
  • Adrian from Kingston, Canadacbgb is a bar in NY (i think) where alot of new wave bands got their start like the talking heads. he is saying u like c/rap music
  • Greg from Victoria, CanadaA great song by a great band. I believe it as stated elsewhere that it had a Beachboy influence. Good old Rock and Roll. If the Beatles where trying to do their best Beachboys imitation..they suceeded. Great song!I play it regularly.
  • Tom from North Attleboro, MaAustin in Boston, define "much better." If "much better" means barely discernible vocals, guitar solos that make no sense, and overall mediocrity, you're right, it is "way" better than the original. Go back to CBGB.
  • Austin from Boston, MaThe Dead Kennedy's cover of this song is much better than the original.
  • Ryan from Bfe, MiTo Hank in NJ...

    The beatles weren't mocking the beach boys... in fact Mike Love suggested it...
  • Or from Holon, IsraelIn the end of the song Paul says "Ohhhhh yeah I tell you honey, I'm back F**k the, S.S.R!"
  • Jeanette from Irvine, Cathat would be funny if all along it was about sex even though everyone thought it was about the cold war.
  • Jon from Pittsburgh, PaPhish does a cover the White Album on Halloween night. The album is sick definently look for it
  • Hank from Hillsborough, NjThe Beatles had a song called "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." John Fred & His Playboy Band did a lyrical parody with "Judy in Disguise with Glasses." That song was a double parody b/c musically it was a bubble gum song but the Playboys were not a bubble gum band. McCartney liked the idea of a double parody: lyrically Back in the USSR mocks communism, musically it mocks the Beach Boys and surf rock.
  • Lisa from Sf Valley, CaAs the song is ending, you can hear Paul go: "...Back in the U.S.S.R. Oh let me tell you honey, hey I'm back, f**k yeah (or) that!" I've asked a couple of people and they agree with me. I'm probably wrong, but it's amusing.
  • Ben from Cheverly, MdThis ones not he best song in the world, but its OK, not that good.
  • Dirk from Nashville, TnYou guys are missing the most salient point about this song (other than the fact that after three decades it still kicks). The Beatles were always looking for an outlet for thumbing their noses at B.S. At the time this song was recorded, there was a major political campaign in England (sort of like the USA in 2000, only uglier). The British conservatives had a huge re-take-the-government campaign with the slogan "I'm Backing the UK"... Paul twisted that into "Im Back In (backin') the USSR." Instead of sounding like the conservative capitalists, he is mischieviously taunting the right-wingers by praising the "snow-peaked mountains" and beauty of the great wicked empire and its beautiful women. It's the Beatles tweaking the nose of the political establishment.... (not to mention the fact that a plane flying from Miami Beach to Russia in 1968 would have shot out of the sky.) End of history lesson. Sorry to drone on like an old fart.
  • Laura from Santa Fe, NmAt the time, Russian women had a Babushka--Mrs. Kruschev--image in the US and perhaps the UK. Sort of the polar opposite of the 'California Girl' stereotype. We were so, so, misinformed.
  • Ash from Cary, NcThis song is about one thing and one thing only. Sex. Just sex. I am not joking.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyJohn played a six-string bass on this recording. At this point in the Beatles John and George would occasionally play bass instead of Paul (while Paul played keyboards) to break the monotony of studio recoding.
  • Mistik from Sydney, AustraliaThis is a cool song, one of my favs by the Beatles, "im back in the USSR, you don't know how lucky you are boy" is this anti- USSR? or promoting it, i guess it goes both ways. The lyrics are the typical 60's stuff i guess.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI saw Paul McCartney parform this on a special he did in Moscow a few years ago, and when he did the line "And Moscow girls make me sing and shout," rhere were a bunch of screams from the audience. It was pretty funny.
  • Nessie from Sapporo, JapanBlake, you're right.
  • Joseph from Manteca, CaCommunism is awesome. CLASS MOT KLASS! "Workingmen of all countries, unite!" - Marxx & Engels
  • Martijn from Helmond, NetherlandsOooooh! Promoting communism! What a terrible thing to do! I sometimes wonder if there are any Americans who realize why the powers that be in their country were (and probably still are) so afraid of communism?
  • Roy from Little Rock, ArAt first I thought the song was about the devil, because when he said Georgia, I thought he was talking referring it to "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" by Charlie Daniels
  • Rudolpho from Waverly, MoStrangely enough my dentist (at the UMKC dental college is from the Ukraine, and yes, she did, literally "knock me out"! Rudy....
  • Gary from Auckland, New ZealandIn approach it's really a cross between 'California Girls' and 'Help Me Rhonda' (with Mike Love-style bass-note "doh-doh-doh-doh"s -- and so it's ironic it's the favorite of a lot of Beatle fans!
  • Blake from Kennesaw, Ga, UsaI was under the assumption that this song was sort of satirical, poking fun at Western culture/greed, whatever, while emphasizing the plight of citizens under communism (You don't know how lucky you are, boys.)
  • Jason from Mesa, AzActually Paul never said Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the beatles. It was John who said it when he was asked in an interview is Ringo the greatest rock drummer in the world. In which he replied, "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles."
  • Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, CanadaI would really like to go to Russia one of these days.
  • Don from Philadelphia, PaWhenever I see a Moscow girl, I sing and shout. Whenever I see a Ukranian girl I pass out. This can make tourism in Russia rather conspicuous.
  • Michael from Gso, NcNice Monty Python allusion with "wafer thin"!!
  • AnonymousThe Beatles never were in the USSR, but their plane flew over it during one of their tours. McCartney didn't write about "all the girls he met in the USSR". Just the country was talked about so much, and the band wanted to do a rebellious song.
    -Jamieree,Edmond,OK
  • Mike from London, EnglandBecause this was recorded when Ringo had walked out of the sessions for a while, Paul played drums on it. When he heard himself on the recording he bragged: "Ringo can't be the best drummer in the world, he's not even the best drummer in the Beatles!"
    A real rock classic, topical and cleverly satirical. The Beatles' humour and subtle wit is often underrated. During the "Get Back" sessions when George walked out for a while, the rest of the band started to play the Who's 20 minute classic, "A Quick One While He's Away," which can be found on certain bootlegs.
  • AnonymousLOVE THIS SONG!!!
    This is one of paul's most famous songs, and rightfully so. The song is a wonderful parody of the beach boys that incorperates a little beatles texture. The song is amazing and if you don't already have the white album, it is worth buting if not just for this song. It also helps this song that is is on the same album as "while my gitar gently weeps.
  • Charles from Charlotte, NcOriginally titled 'I'm Backing the UK' as a response to a pro-British industry ad campaign. Song was recorded as Soviet tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia.
  • Matthew from New York, NyThe song not only immitated the Beach Boys, it was written in part by a Beach Boy!! While in India at a retreat with the Maharishi, Paul McCartney was strumming a few chords while writing the song. Mike Love, one of the Beach Boys, told Paul to write about all the girls he met in the USSR, just like the Beach Boys would write. Together, the wrote the "Ukraine Girls Really Knock Me Out.." section as if it was a Beach Boys song.
  • Tyler from Murfreesboro, TnThis song was banned from many radio stations upon the release of The White Album. People thought the lyric 'U.S.S.R' promoted communism.
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