Two of Us

The story behind Two of Us, a song written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership, takes us to a moment of profound transition for The Beatles. Recorded on January 31, 1969, this piece became the opening track of the album Let It Be, released in 1970. Its genesis dates back to McCartney's experiences during his travels with Linda Eastman, who would become his wife in March 1969. Amidst the group's dissolution, the song took on a new nuance, also being interpreted as a gesture of affection towards John Lennon. Originally titled On Our Way Home, some suggest that the lyrics, such as "you and I have memories/longer than the road that stretches out ahead," could allude to contractual tensions and the relationship between McCartney and Lennon, a theme that also appears in You Never Give Me Your Money from the album Abbey Road. Furthermore, it is perceived as a tribute to the harmonies of the Everly Brothers, a key influence for the songwriting duo.

The way Two of Us evolved is fascinating. An early version, which can be seen in the film Let It Be and the series The Beatles: Get Back, featured a more rocking style with prominent guitars. However, McCartney considered it "chunky" and unsatisfactory. Therefore, the band restructured the song, giving it a more intimate focus centered on acoustic guitars. This definitive version was performed live at Apple Studios on January 31, 1969, and was included in both the film and the album Let It Be. Curiously, a fragment of this session, where the band improvises a version of the traditional Maggie Mae, also ended up being part of the album Let It Be. Phil Spector's production for the album Let It Be included a spoken introduction by John Lennon, a peculiar phrase that was omitted in the later reissue Let It Be... Naked. A January 1969 take of the song also saw the light of day on Anthology 3.