John Lennon was the song's composer and singer but the song was credited to Lennon/McCartney. It was originally called "All I Want Is You". Lennon would later comment that he thought the song was "a piece of garbage,"[1] though he has shown similar scorn for many of his songs. It was written for his soon-to-be wife Yoko Ono, and featured a multitude of strange, seemingly nonsense phrases which were strung together, culminating in the chorus "All I want is you", aimed at Yoko.
American copies of Let It Be mistitled this song as "I Dig A Pony."
The song was one of the songs on Let It Be that was recorded at the rooftop concert. It begins with a false start, with Ringo Starr yelling "hold it!" to halt the other band members because he was holding a cigarette and had only one drum stick in his hand. On the Anthology 3 version of this song, the first verse and the end of the song start off with Paul McCartney singing "All I want is...." This phrase appeared in every performance of the song but was cut from the final version by Phil Spector, and subsequently cut from the Let It Be... Naked version.
In rehearsals and takes, the last variation on "dig a pony" was "dog a boney," perhaps a reference to "This Old Man". This is the lyric that appears on Glyn Johns' assembly of Get Back. On the Anthology version, Lennon sang the spoonerism "bog a doney." During the rooftop concert, Lennon substituted what sounds like "roll a lorry," and this is the version that appears on both the Let It Be album and Let It Be... Naked.
Dig a Pony
Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well you can celebrate anything you want
Well you can celebrate anything you want
Ooh.
I do a road hog
Well you can penetrate any place you go
Yes you can penetrate any place you go
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
Because
I pick a moon dog
Well you can radiate ev'rything you are
Yes you can radiate ev'rything you are
Ooh.
I roll a stoney
Well you can imitate ev'ryone you know
Yes you can imitate ev'ryone you know
I told you so, all I want is you.
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
Because
I feel the wind blow
Well you can indicate ev'rything you see
Yes you can indicate ev'rything you see
Ooh.
I dug a pony
Well you can syndicate any boat you row
Yes you can syndicate any boat you row
I told you so, all I want is you.
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
Because
The lyrics of “Dig a Pony” by The Beatles do not have a straightforward meaning, and are quite cryptic in nature. The song mainly deals with the personal desires of a man for his woman, while at the same time making reference to various other facets of life. The opening line, "I dig a pony," is an expression of love, likening his partner to something he finds delightful and pleasant. He then goes on to assert that one can celebrate anything one wishes, no matter how great or small, indicating that he will celebrate his love no matter what.
The song then moves into the next line, "I do a road hog", which can be interpreted as the man being willing to do whatever it takes to be with his woman. He says that "you can penetrate any place you go", meaning that they can go anywhere together and be together no matter what. He asserts that he wants her and needs everything to be just as she wants it to be.
The rest of the lyrics follow a similar theme, with the man saying that he wants to be with his woman no matter what, and that he will do anything it takes to make her happy. It is a love song, although with unusual and cryptic lyrics that give it a poetic quality. The song’s beautiful melody is a perfect complement to the mysterious lyrics, and it goes on to become one of the most beloved tracks in The Beatles’ psychedelic era.
Line by Line Meaning
I dig a pony
I am in search of a great love, a companion, a ride or assist in my journey through life
Well you can celebrate anything you want
You have the freedom to enjoy and live your life the way you want, free from societal or other constraints
Ooh.
An expression of excitement or pleasure
I do a road hog
I ride a motorcycle or other vehicle, enjoying the freedom and power of the open road
Well you can penetrate any place you go
You have the ability to enter and explore any environment or situation
Yes you can penetrate any place you go
A reaffirmation of the previous line
I told you so, all I want is you.
I have previously mentioned, perhaps to the person being addressed, that my desire and focus is on having them in my life
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
I understand and accept that you have your own desires, priorities, and preferences that I will respect and accommodate
Because
Because what has been stated in the lyrics is an explanation or consequence of something, either previously mentioned or self-evident
I pick a moon dog
I choose to be around someone who is unique, perhaps even a bit wild or unconventional, like a moon dog, a term used in the 60s for a type of wandering hippie
Well you can radiate ev'rything you are
You have the ability to project and share your own identity, feelings, and energy with others
Ooh.
An expression of appreciation, realization, or agreement
I roll a stoney
I roll or smoke a joint, enjoying the sensory and psychological effects of marijuana
Well you can imitate ev'ryone you know
You have the ability to mimic or copy the behavior, appearance, or style of others that you admire or aspire to be like
Yes you can imitate ev'ryone you know
A reaffirmation of the previous line
I told you so, all I want is you.
Restatement of the desire to be with the person being addressed
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
Acknowledgment that the person being addressed has the right to have their own expectations and goals
Because
Explanation or consequence
I feel the wind blow
I am aware of the natural world around me and connect with it through my senses and emotions
Well you can indicate ev'rything you see
You have the capability of demonstrating, illustrating or suggesting what you perceive or envision
Yes you can indicate ev'rything you see
A reaffirmation of the previous line
Ooh.
An expression of realization, fascination, or enthusiasm
I dug a pony
I have found or discovered a companion, a support system, or a positive influence in my life journey, referred to metaphorically as a pony
Well you can syndicate any boat you row
You can have influence and impact on any situation, environment or group you are in, no matter how small or big
Yes you can syndicate any boat you row
A reaffirmation of the previous line
I told you so, all I want is you.
Reiteration of the desire to be with the person being addressed
Ev'rything has got to be just like you want it to
Respect and acceptance of the person's right to their own desires and goals
Because
Explanation or consequence
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind