One After 909

This song, *One After 909*, has an atmosphere that transports us to the beginnings of American rock and roll, much more so than other pieces from that same session. It is one of the first creations by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, written when they were barely teenagers. Lennon recounted that the idea emerged in 1957, or perhaps a little later, in 1960, and that the number nine held a special significance for him, linked to his birth date and his address at 9 Newcastle Road. McCartney remembers it fondly, not so much for being a masterpiece, but for the connection he felt with John when trying to compose a song with a train rhythm, something very common at that time with themes like *'Midnight Special'* or *'Freight Train'*. The idea was to tell the story of someone who didn't arrive at 9:09, but at the hour that came after.

The story of *One After 909* is a journey through time. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison first recorded it in 1960, when they were still called The Quarrymen, although that version is not preserved. Later, in 1963, they recorded another take during the same session that produced their third single, but they were not satisfied and discarded it. It wasn't until 1969, during the sessions for the *Get Back* project, that the song regained prominence. The version we hear on the album *Let It Be*, released in 1970, is precisely the live performance they gave at the famous rooftop concert. This same performance can also be seen in the film *Let It Be*. Subsequently, in 2003, a remixed and remastered version was included in *Let It Be... Naked*, and in 2021, a studio take from January 1969 saw the light of day as part of the reissue of *Let It Be*.