Two Of Us by The Beatles

Album: Let It Be (1970)

License This Song

songfacts ®

artistfacts

songimage

They first met at the June 1, 1967 launch party for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the relationship blossomed over the next two years. Paul and Linda married at a small civil ceremony at Marylebone Registry Office in March 12th. 1969, while he was still a member of The Beatles. No other Beatles attended the ceremony: John and Yoko said they were working on a project and could not attend, George said he was too busy with business and Ringo and wife Maureen said they were busy with "Domestic matters." Paul adopted Linda's daughter, Heather (from her first marriage), and they went on to have three other children (Mary, Stella, and James) together. They remained married and devoted to each other until Linda's death to breast cancer April 17th, 1998. The couple reportedly spent less than a week apart during their entire marriage.

Comments: 61

Rick Margin from Brick,njThis intentionally stripped down song was produced by Phil Spector. John and Paul played with each other on acoustics (Everly Brothers style),George played a Telecaster and Ringo played only the bass drum.
Lada from Zelenograd , Russia FederationMakes me wonder who this is about. I too think it's about Paul and John or Paul and Linda.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 1st 1970, a video of the Beatles performing "Let It Be" and "Two Of Us" was aired on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
All the performances on the show were Beatles related; Dionne Warwick did "We Can Work It Out", Peggy Lee sang "Something" & "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme's duet was "Fool on the Hill", and the Muppets performed "Octopus' Garden"...
The Peter Gennaro Dancers did a dance production number to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and NY Ballet dancer Edward Villella performed to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"...
Both songs on the video were from their 12th studio album, 'Let It Be', and the "Two Of Us" was not released as a single, but "Let It Be" peaked at #1 (for 2 weeks) on the Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart...
R.I.P. John and George.
Jack from Centerport, NyThese lines "Two of us riding nowhere, Spending someone's, Hard earned pay" Could be a reference to the trip John and Paul took to Paris in the early days. John had rich relatives who gave him 100 quill for his birthday, so he decided to take Paul with him on a trip which involved hedge hiking around Europe. They stopped in Paris and stayed the week and got come hair cuts.
Norman from Jakarta, IndonesiaTo eric, covina, CA, I have never had a thought that the whistle was from Hello Goodbye, but, yeah, you are absolutely right.
To George, poopville, IA, I read that the "Hela, heba hello-a" part was actually written by John. http://thecurvature.com/2009/02/14/top-5-lennonmccartney-collaborations/
To richard, Toledo , OH, you must have not heard the rocker version of the song. I think it fits more to White Album
Nikolai from Los Angeles, CaDeaf Aids was the nickname the Beatles gave to the large speakers that John used in order to make his guitar sound louder.
Julia from Rio De Janeiro, BrazilThis one is a very beautiful song. I, too, think it was written for John. You know, Paul and Linda didn't have much of a past when it was written since they only started dating 'round 68. I always got that feeling. Maybe Paul sat down to write a song about Linda but it took a different way and turned into a song about John.
Sara from Silver Spring, MdKenny Loggins covered this on his recent children's album as a Loggins and Messina duet-
their first in 30 years.
Catresse from Lawrenceville, GaI want to go on a trip and listen to this on the way home aha this is one of my favorites on Let it Be.
Bob from Marinette, WyThe lyrics are standing so long... not standining solo.
Richard from Toledo , OhI read one time that this is a "Rubber Soul" sounding song. I couldn't agree more. Two Of Us could easily be a perfect fit on Rubber Soul.
Scooter from Baltimore, MdTo Bob, Long Beach: Deaf Aids is a British term for a hearing aid - it was the nickname the Beatles used for their amplifiers. Get it? Typical John humor.
Chloe from St. Louis, Moi dont know, to me it sounds more like its about paul reminscing about his early memories with john. "chasing papers, getting nowhere" seems like its about songwriting, doesnt it? and the part about their memories and the road that lies ahead. it just seems more like a song about old friends than two people in love. and i just watched the video clip on this page- george is most definately playing a bass. the way he holds the neck, the position of his fingers over the pickups, the length of the neck...thats a bass, im positive. and i wouldnt have noticed if somebody hadnt pointed it out- john's whistling "hello goodbye" at the end! strikes me as funny, not sure why...
Barry from Covington, KyI swear I remember a tape of this being played on the Ed Sullivan Show? I think it was in the Spring of '70. I've yet to find anyone that remembers this taking place. Does anyone else out there remember this or was I dreaming?
Chris from Bishan, SingaporeActually, George plays bass on Hey Jude (at least on the now-famous TV broadcast)
Chris from Bishan, SingaporeActually, there is some question about whether George plays bass on the tracks on Abbey Road, since many live takes feature bass, piano and drums on tracks when John wasn't in the studio. Also the Tichy, Micky reference is about another band called Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. George says, "Y'all would have read that Dave Dee is no longer with us, but Micky, Tich and I would like to carry on the good work that's always gone down at Number Two" (That's Abbey Road's studio 2)
Matt from Kenntt, MoRichard watch the you tube video its pretty obvious that george is playing his telecaster not a bass. Other than in the HELP movie, when george was fooling around with a bass during Another Girl, have you ever seen or heard george seriously playing a bass? oh yeah to all of you guys who say this is a bad beatles song i would like to say, every beatles song was and is a masterpiece!
Richard from Tustin, CaIt's John's Fender Bass VI! Ricky - Tustin, Ca
Alyson from Beaver Dam, WiI love how they put Two of Us in I am Sam, because that is my favorite movie, and Aimee Mann and Michael Penn did a wonderful job. Me and My father even sang that song and put it on a c.d.!
The movie made me cry, from being happy. I'm so glad the Beatles wrote it!
Rosario from Naples, FlI love this song! it's funny when paul and john sing it in Let It be and they keep meesing up the lyrics. ("wearing postcards...")
John from Florida, FlI think that the line;
The two of us have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead
is about the fact that Paul saw it was coming to an end, not that he knew John would be shot in the back by a psicho that I will not even remember the name of.
Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmIt sounds lik thy were stealing money cos they say "Spending someones hard earned pay." I danno just a thought.
Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, Nmgood song. Amazin'
Colin from Melbourne, AustraliaThe Charles Hawtrey bit by John was not an intro to "Two of Us". The two items are unrelated and separate recordings. John was fooling around in the studio and the producer, in his wisdom, decided to use it as a lead piece to the album.
Doug from Vernon, CanadaA great track. John and Paul sharing the vocals and sharing the same microphone - in so doing they created a very intimate sounding folksong, and was one of the more bittersweet moments leading up to the breakup.
Krista from Elyria, OhStephanie from Ellicott City, MD, I agree. It sounds more like it's more about John and Paul. This is one of my favorite Beatles songs! <3
Michael from Carbondale, IlThe faster rock n roll rehersal takes from the Twickenham bootlegs and the Let It Be film are better I think.
Colin from Melbourne, AustraliaSorry for the error about Charles Hawtrey being a jazz bandleader. There was no such person. Only the famous, flamboyant actor of the Carry On fame who died in 1988.
Colin from Melbourne, AustraliaThe Deaf Aids...means nothing but Charles Hawtry was a real famous UK jazz bandleader in the 50s and 60s.
This is my favourite Beatles song but somehow I feel it's not the best. At the time John and Paul weren't getting on too well and there seemed a lack of committment in the voices of both singers. the cover by Amy Mann I thought, was pretty lame. I reckon the Wreckers, with Michelle Branch being a Beatles fan and a fine singer, helped along by the equally talented Jessica, could turn the song into a real boppy fun piece. it might even become a hit if released!
Bob from Long Beach, CaOK everybody, but what are the "Deaf Aids"?
Mark B. Stoned from Desperate Hot Springs, CaWow, Bobbi, I always thought of that line in a more figurative manner, that they had what seemed like infinite memories together; but looking at it in that sense, that they had known each other for a longer timeframe than John had left in his life, really puts things into another perspective.
Bobbi from Newington, CtPaul said he wrote this song on one of his long Sunday drives with Linda early in their relationship, and that it started out being about them but ended up being about him and John. ?Burning matches, lifting latches? recounts their semi-hoody exploits as kids together in Liverpool; "two of us chasing paper, getting nowhere" is a sad commentary on their legal/financial squabbles at the time. And the line "you and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead" always gives me a little chill. It was true, though I don't know how Paul could have known it at the time: he and John had known each other longer than John had left to live. Very sad, and just a bit spooky.
Apb from Farmington, CtProbably the greatest graduation song of all time...
Chris from Memphis, TnWasn't this song featured in some movie or soundtrack? I'm *not* thinking of 'I Am Sam' since I've never seen that, but something else I thought... Any help?
Zoloft from Milton, WvAs Mike in New Point, VA, pointed out, this song was originally a rocker. I've heard some of the sessions where the Beatles were practicing the songs for Let It Be and "Two Of Us" was faster, electric and a much better song than what ended up on the album.
Calum from Edinburgh, ScotlandCharles Hawtrey was an actor famous in the Carry On films series. 'Getting your oats' is an earthy but not particularly crude way of saying 'getting laid'. And a deaf aid's a deaf aid.
Steve from Fenton, MoThis seems to be a bittersweet song. Paul is fondly reflecting back on his and John's childhood memories, but the song seems contentious when it's focus is on the present. Even on the fadeout it sounds like to me that John and Paul are bickering at each other...I'm going home...you better believe it...it's a great song though.
Linus from Hamilton, On, CanadaI have two versions.. a skippy one, and one that John says something obscure in in the beginning. The skippy one sounds more professional..which is the right one?
Jon from Danville, CaThe Lennon into is "I Dig a Pygmy by Charles Hortrey and the Deaf Aids, Phase One in which Doris gets her oats", just some comedic banter with a parody of the title of lennon's song "Dig a Pony".
Josh from Erlanger, KyGreat song. I like to think it's about John and Paul. There are already enough McCartney songs about Linda anyway. Great end to THE great band
Joe from Vancouver, Canadai thought that he was saying "gets her horse"
Jordan from Wilmette, IlI think at the beginning of this song they say "I ain't dig a pigmey by Charles Horseraddish (something like that) and the deathaids (or deafaids) (laugh) phase one where (or when) Shily (something like that) gets her own (but sounds more like oats).
George from Poopville, Ia"What John is whistling in the outro sounds familiar does it" well it does because it's the end of "Hello Goodbye" by Paul, you know the Hawaiian part.
- eric, covina, CA"

Why would John whistle Hello Goodbye if he hated that song?
Mandy from Calgary, CanadaAll of the songs in/ on the I am Sam soundtrack are Beatles songs (correct me if I am wrong). They were performed by other people though, which I found was kind of a sad rip-off as far as music goes. I would have loved to hear the originals on the soundtrack! But at least they had the Beatle's music in that film. By the way- I am Sam is an outstanding film which you must see!
Brian from Oklahoma City, OkThis is my favorite Beatle's song... Amy Man (Til Tuesday lead singer) did a nice cover of this song a few years ago.
Niki from Chicago, IlEven if this song is about Paul and Linda, I think it fits better with Paul and John.."memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead" something like that..but it fits better! Either way its a great song!! One of my favorites on Let It Be
Ken from Louisville, KyI always though this was Paul singing about his time with John as teenagers in Liverpool and later in Hamburg ("You and I have memories/Longer than the road that stretches out ahead...")
Henry from Victoria, CanadaYou can try eBay. All DVD versions are copies usually made from the official laserdisc version. There is no official dvd version.
Calum from Edinburgh, ScotlandSo where does one get hold of the film so we can all check out which guitar George plays?
Henry from Victoria, CanadaGeorge doesn't play the Fender Bass VI on this track, he's clearly seen playing his custom rosewood Telecaster.
Antonio from Brugge, Belgium"2 of us" by Suede (aja The London Suede) is about a woman who listens to this song.
George from Yonkers, Nyi can see it is posted that georeg harrson played the fender bass vi on this song....is that a fact?
Eric from Covina, CaWhat John is whistling in the outro sounds familiar does it" well it does because it's the end of "Hello Goodbye" by Paul, you know the Hawaiian part.
Mike from New Point, VaThis song was a real rocker in its first incarnation. They slowed it down later for the final recording.
Loretta from Liverpool, Englandwas "let it be" really just produced from tapes of their rooftop concert, rehearsals, etc. as seen in the movie, or was some of it besides "i me mine" totally studio.

also, does anyone know where to find the movie, I'd love to see it!

and Alexandre, do you know what john means by that? was it part of the whole joke with "micky" and "titch" or whatever george calls john and ringo on the "i me mine" intro on anthology 3?
AnonymousIs the electric instrument that sounds like a guitar actually the Fender VI? also, I love the drum transition between the "you and i have memories" bridge thingy and the main verse that can be heard on anthology 3.
Alexandre from SÃ£o Paulo, BrazilJohn introduces this song saying "I dig a Pygmy by Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids... Phase One in which Doris gets her oats."
John Doe from Anytown, AlLinda McCartney said that this is about her and Paul but Im not sure whether Paul ever said anything about its meaning.
Aaron from New Glasgow, CanadaGeorge Harrison actually plays a Fender Bass VI, which was more like a guitar in the bass range rather than a "bass guitar" so there is actually a bass line. This can be seen in the film Let it Be.
Stephanie from Ellicott City, Mdi always got the feeling that this song was more about John and Paul instead of Paul and Linda, particularly the part about "you and i have memories, longer than the road that stretches out ahead..."
Carolyn from P'ville, Ca(2001) Aimee Mann and Michael Penn sang this song for the 'I Am Sam' soundtrack

see more comments

More Songfacts:

BubblyColbie Caillat

Colbie Caillat sang "Bubbly" when she auditioned for American Idol in 2004, but was sent packing. Three years later it became a big hit when she released it as her first single - the song spent 19 weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Midnight RiderThe Allman Brothers Band

A roadie for the Allman Brothers came up with the line "The road goes on forever" for "Midnight Rider," and got a songwriting credit for his contribution.

No More DramaMary J. Blige

The Mary J. Blige song "No More Drama" samples the theme to the appropriately dramatic soap opera The Young And The Restless.

Space OddityDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Space Oddity" tells the story of an astronaut who cuts off communication and floats into space. The BBC used it extensively in their coverage of the 1969 moon landing - an odd choice considering the lyrics.

If I Could Turn Back TimeCher

Cher was 43 in 1989 when she landed one of her biggest hits: "If I Could Turn Back Time." It made her an unlikely MTV star thanks to a video shot on the battleship USS Missouri where she's entertaining the troops in fishnet stockings and a thong.

StrongerKanye West

A 2011 Gold's Gym poll found "Stronger" by Kanye West the best song to work out to. Second place was the Rocky theme.