"Old Brown Shoe" thread

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by NumberEight, Apr 25, 2017.

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  1. NumberEight

    NumberEight Came too late and stayed too long Thread Starter

    George's Old Brown Shoe is a bit of an oddity in his 1969 output, as it doesn't seem to be about anything he actually cares about.

    It occurs to me that he might have written it for someone else...


    I want a short haired girl

    [​IMG]


    who sometimes wears it twice as long

    [​IMG]


    If I grow up I'll be a singer wearing rings on every finger

    [​IMG]

    Hmm. Any takers?
     
  2. Yes! Now that I think about it, not only the content of the lyrics, but also how the melody sounds, very Ringo!
     
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  3. Vinylfindco

    Vinylfindco The Pressing Matters

    Location:
    Miami
    I can imagine Ringo singing it.
     
  4. jwb1231970

    jwb1231970 Ordinary Guy

    Location:
    USA
    George definitely wanted that short haired girl as is evidenced by the infamous dinner party in 1970, 71. I think this is meant for George.
     
  5. humpf

    humpf Allowed to write something here.

    Location:
    Silesia
    OK, I bite. Was it not around the time when Harrison was close to Maureen?
     
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  6. Haristar

    Haristar Apollo C. Vermouth

    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    I think it might be about George's lust for Maureen. George doesn't care what people think (Not worrying what they or you say), but he'll 'live and love' with Patti and 'maybe someday who knows baby' Maureen may 'comfort me'.
     
    theMess, ccbarr, Bingo Bongo and 3 others like this.
  7. jconsolmagno

    jconsolmagno Forum Resident

    Thank god Ringo didn't sing it, George's vocal is absolutely brilliant.
     
  8. segue

    segue Psychoacoustic Member

    Location:
    Hawai'i
  9. Vinyl Socks

    Vinyl Socks The Buzz Driver

    Location:
    DuBois, PA
    Perhaps George wrote the song about his secret desire for Ringo's wife?
    Hmmmm...
     
  10. NumberEight

    NumberEight Came too late and stayed too long Thread Starter

    Hmm. Maybe his 1978 song Mo wasn't written for Mo Ostin after all...
     
  11. Kim Olesen

    Kim Olesen Gently weeping guitarist.

    Location:
    Odense Denmark.
    One of my fave Beatles songs. Stellar performances all the way around. Quite an unusual groove (though they sometimes did the middle eight of Sure To Fall this way)
    One of the very few Beatle songs that only has 1 mix.
     
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  12. egebamyasi

    egebamyasi Forum Resident

    Location:
    Worcester, MA
    Definitely written for Conan.
     
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  13. DK Pete

    DK Pete Forum Resident

    Location:
    Levittown. NY
    That's really a pretty cool observation...but even lyrics aside, the monotony of the vocal melody (I don't mean that in any bad way...I LOVE the song)opuld very much fit Ringo's singing style. It would have made for the best Beatle-Ringo track, in my opinion.
     
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  14. Bingo Bongo

    Bingo Bongo Music gives me Eargasms

    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    I heard Ringo wrote it for George.....
     
  15. DK Pete

    DK Pete Forum Resident

    Location:
    Levittown. NY
    ...that would explain a lot of things:laughup:
     
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  16. Fullbug

    Fullbug Forum Resident

    Location:
    Seattle
    I heard John helped George with two words from the second verse and he was always resentful George didn't mention that in his book.
     
  17. paul62

    paul62 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Down to Earth
    It's not too late for Paul and Ringo to cook up a tasty cover: Ringo on vocals, drums and piano, Paul on guitars, bass and backing vocals.............
     
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  18. Haristar

    Haristar Apollo C. Vermouth

    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    I'm guessing that was the line "Got me escaping from this zoo"?
    George on bass.
    • Creem: You also told me you played bass on "Old Brown Shoe."
    • George: It’s like a lunatic playing.
    • Creem: It sounds like McCartney was going nuts again.
    • George: That was me going nuts. I’m doing exactly what I do on the guitar.
     
  19. Ignatius

    Ignatius Forum Resident

    A fave of mine since 1970, I always follow the bass rather than the sung melody.
     
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  20. drasil

    drasil Former Resident

    Location:
    NYC
    this quote is nuts. it's really no surprise Harrison felt the way he did about his beatles career. here's this cool thing you said you did. are you sure that's not McCartney? I mean, because McCartney.
     
  21. paul62

    paul62 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Down to Earth
    [QUOTE="Haristar, post: 16339280, member: 50014

    George on bass.
    • Creem: You also told me you played bass on "Old Brown Shoe."
    • George: It’s like a lunatic playing.
    • Creem: It sounds like McCartney was going nuts again.
    • George: That was me going nuts. I’m doing exactly what I do on the guitar.
    [/QUOTE]

    I was suggesting that Paul and Ringo could record a new version.....!
     
  22. Chuckee

    Chuckee Forum Resident

    Location:
    Upstate, NY, USA
    The song works with George's understated vocals, I have a hard time imagining Ringo singing it. George was also singing it during the Let It Be sessions.
     
  23. Lewisboogie

    Lewisboogie “Bob Robert”

    :righton:
    "We're gonna give you
    Mo, love
    Mo, good wishes
    Mo, smiles
    Mo, sweet kisses
    Mo, hits
    And none of them misses, no, no, no.
    Not for our good Mo."
     
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  24. Jose Jones

    Jose Jones Outstanding Forum Member

    Location:
    Detroit, Michigan
    I like this theory quite a bit. There is also the line, " ...now I'm steppin' out..."

    The shuffle beat fits Ringo's groove and personality too. Maybe it was the backup song for Ringo in case "Octopus' Garden" didn't make the cut.
     
  25. Never thought before it was written for Ringo.
    [like the thread tho]
    Old Brown Shoe - Wikipedia
    Always thought it was written for an "Old Brown Shoe"! Luv'd it from 1st AM radio play heard [most likely KFRC/tho could have been KJOY]. Stupid kid, i guess!!
    Next you'll be telling me "For You Blue" isn't bout the "Blues"!!!
    :winkgrin:

    pic at 1:24 has George & Ringo at keyboard; a few pics of them together have no idea of the specific context tho beyond recording "The Beatles" & promo pics.
     
    badfinger54, Zeki and NumberEight like this.
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