The Beatles recorded the rhythm track for this and Polythene Pam as one on 25 July 1969. It took them 39 attempts, after which they added lead vocals and re-recorded the drums and bass guitar parts.
On 28 July they added more vocals, guitar, percussion and piano. The song was completed two days later with additional guitar and percussion.
This song was performed directly after "Polythene Pam", the song on the preceding track, without pause. John Lennon and Ringo Starr assume their usually respective roles on the acoustic rhythm guitar and the drums. Allegedly, McCartney plays lead guitar on this song, while George Harrison plays the bass part.
At the very beginning of the song, John Lennon says, "We'll listen to that now...Oh, look out!" Lennon then says, "You should".
A slower, ethereal version of this song, recorded during the Let It Be sessions, can be heard on Anthology 3.
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, look out, it's
She came in through the bathroom window
Protected by a silver spoon
But now she sucks her thumb and wanders
By the banks of her own lagoon
Didn't anybody tell her?
Didn't anybody see?
Sunday's on the phone to Monday
Tuesday's on the phone to me
She said she'd always been a dancer
She worked at fifteen clubs a day
And though she thought I knew the answer
Well, I knew what I could not say
And so I quit the police department
And got myself a steady job
And though she tried her best to help me
She could steal but she could not rob
Didn't anybody tell her?
Didn't anybody see?
Sunday's on the phone to Monday
Tuesday's on the phone to me
Oh yeah
"She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" is a song by The Beatles from their album, "Abbey Road", released in 1969. The song is a tribute to a fan who broke into Paul McCartney's house and stole some of his personal belongings, including photographs and some of his clothing. The song is written in a narrative style and is a combination of several incidents that happened to the members of the band.
The opening verse of the song speaks about the girl coming through the bathroom window with a silver spoon, which refers to her privileged background. However, she now sucks her thumb and wanders by the banks of her own lagoon, which means that she has lost her way in life and seems to be aimlessly drifting. The next verse talks about how nobody informed her of the consequences of her actions, and Sunday and Tuesday seem to be on the phone to each other, not understanding how to help each other.
The girl who broke into McCartney's house claimed to have been a dancer and had worked for fifteen clubs a day but had never been paid. The lyrics "she said she'd always been a dancer, she worked at fifteen clubs a day" may be referencing this woman's admission. The next verse talks about how Paul may have known the answer to her problems but wasn't able to say, hinting that life may be complicated, and the issues women face may not be easily resolved.
The song ends with the verse about quitting the police department and getting a steady job. The girl tried to help, but she could only steal and not rob, indicating that she wasn't able to provide real assistance. The last two lines speak of the futility of trying to help, with Sunday and Tuesday still talking on the phone. The song's overall message seems to be one of disappointment, with the girl's life taking a wrong turn, and nobody able to help her.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, listen to that now
An exclamation to grab attention
Oh, look out, it's
A warning of something or someone approaching
She came in through the bathroom window
A description of the woman's unconventional route of entry
Protected by a silver spoon
Suggests that the woman had a privileged upbringing
But now she sucks her thumb and wanders
A sign of the woman's regression and aimless behavior
By the banks of her own lagoon
A metaphorical image of the woman's isolated and stagnant life
Didn't anybody tell her?
A rhetorical question about the woman's lack of guidance
Didn't anybody see?
A rhetorical question about the woman's unnoticed struggles
Sunday's on the phone to Monday
A personification of time passing
Tuesday's on the phone to me
Emphasizes the artist's personal connection to the woman and her life
She said she'd always been a dancer
The woman's claim to a certain identity or pastime
She worked at fifteen clubs a day
Reveals the woman's chaotic and exhausting lifestyle
And though she thought I knew the answer
Hints at a past connection between the singer and the woman
Well, I knew what I could not say
Suggests a painful or taboo truth that the singer is withholding
And so I quit the police department
Describes the singer's change in career and priorities
And got myself a steady job
Further emphasizes the artist's newfound stability
And though she tried her best to help me
Acknowledges the woman's previous attempts at support
She could steal but she could not rob
A wordplay commenting on the woman's abilities and limitations
Oh yeah
An exclamation of agreement or emphasis
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mugsy
on I Am A Walrus
The title is I Am THE Walrus. As for “everybody’s got one,” I think it’s “Everybody smoke pot,” eventually leading to “Everybody’s f_____d up.”
Lisa Ayers I believe it is "the black MINING hills
on Rocky Raccoon
Now somewhere in the Black Mountain Hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guyHit young Rocky in the eye
Rocky didn't like that
He said, "I'm gonna get that boy"
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon
Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's Bible
Rocky had come, equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems, had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy
Now she and her man, who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe down
Rocky burst in, and grinning a grin
He said, "Danny boy, this is a showdown"
But Daniel was hot, he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner
Now the doctor came in, stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said, "Rocky, you met your match"
And Rocky said, "Doc, it's only a scratch
And I'll be better, I'll be better, Doc, as soon as I am able"
Now Rocky Raccoon, he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon's Bible
Gideon checked out, and he left it, no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival
Philip Kassabian
on Mother Nature's Son
A really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on The Night Before
A really splendid Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on P.S. I Love You
Now this is a really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on There's a Place
A seriously underrated Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Do You Want to Know a Secret
A fantastic song by The Beatles.
Philip Kassabian
on When I'm Sixty-Four
A very tuneful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
An excellent Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on I'm Looking Through You
A beautiful Beatles song.