Dig a Pony

When you dive into Dig a Pony, you encounter a piece that defies conventions. The song, written by John Lennon, was born with the idea of being "All I Want Is You," but evolved into something more abstract. Lennon described it with a certain irony as "garbage," a self-criticism he often directed at his own creations. The lyrics, inspired by the style of Bob Dylan, weave together phrases that seem disconnected but which, according to author Ian MacDonald, celebrate the idea that traditional values were fading and that life and art were a playground without fixed rules, where words could mean whatever one wanted them to.

The recording of Dig a Pony has its own story. It was one of the first pieces The Beatles tackled in January 1969, as part of the filmed rehearsals for a return to the stage. On January 2nd, Lennon presented it to George Harrison at Twickenham Film Studios. The version we know from the album Let It Be was recorded on January 30th, 1969, during the famous rooftop concert at the Apple Corps building in London. In that take, an abrupt start is heard with Ringo Starr shouting "Hold it!" because he was putting out his cigarette and had both drumsticks in one hand. Shortly after, the sound of someone blowing their nose is perceived, which Mark Lewisohn attributes to Lennon.

A studio take from January 22nd, which appeared on Anthology 3 in 1996, was considered by Glyn Johns for an early album called Get Back. When Phil Spector prepared the album Let It Be for release in March 1970, he chose the live rooftop version but shortened the song by removing the introductions and endings with the phrase "All I want is...". Initial American copies of Let It Be even mistakenly titled the song I Dig a Pony.