Number 6 - Give Me Some Truth

Beatle involvement: 

John and George

Listenability: 5 out of 5

This song, in unfinished form, was rehearsed briefly by The Beatles during their Get Back sessions on 3rd January and 7th January 1969. According to biographer Bill Harry this song was written in India and John indicates this in his handwritten notes about the song. John also says in his written notes that he wrote the 'middle eight' section of the song with Paul. It then became one of several of John's older songs that he "polished off" for his Imagine album in 1971. John gives a powerful vocal delivery on the finished version and George backs this up well with some nice slide guitar work which is integral to the overall sound of the song.

What they said about it:

John:

Another 'oldie' with words finished recently (if you think ah ha! he's running out of songs - no chance) The middle eight was written with Paul - he's getting half the money anyway and vice versa. I was wondering what truth I was after in India. George does a sharp solo with his steel finger (he's not proud of it - but I like it). I like the overall sound on this track tho' I'm not sure if I'd go out and buy it. 

John's handwritten notes. Taken from: Letter 150. The John Lennon Letters. Edited by Hunter Davies. 

 

If you’d like one verse of one, I’ve got one, Give Me Some Truth…in me guitar case. 

Taken from a tape of the Get Back Sessions.

There’s only three I’ve written this year, all the rest I’d written before and polished them off you know. 

A comment about the songs on John's Imagine album. Taken from 'Gimme Some Truth' which is a documentary filmed during the recording the Imagine album in 1971.  

We always were egocentric. But look, George is on half of my new album playing guitar. The only reason Ringo wasn't on it was because he was abroad, making his movie. So then the three of us would have been on, but then it wouldn't have been the Beatles. It would have been Plastic Ono because I would have the final say. There would be no decision making by George or Ringo, other than if I liked an idea I'd take it -- which is what happened with the Beatles -- but then it was more diplomatic.So yes, it's quite possible about the Beatles working as a unit, because I might play on George's or Ringo's if they wanted my style of playing. But imagine how we've flowered since then. George is suddenly the biggest seller of all of us. I think my music's improved a million fold lyric-wise and everything. And Ringo's coming out and writing 'It Don't Come Easy' and now he's going to write the title song for this cowboy thing he's in, and he's playing a really tough guy and all that. It's really beautiful.The fact is, the Beatles have left school... and we have to get a job. That's made us work -- really work harder. I think we're much better than we ever were when we were together. Look at us today. I'd sooner have 'Ram,' John Lennon Plastic Ono Band, George's album, and Ringo's single and the movies than 'Let It Be' or 'Abbey Road.' 

Hit Parader magazine, February 1972

Bits and Pieces

• Was 'Give Me Some Truth' written in India? Many internet sites and some books (eg. 'The John Lennon Encyclopedia' by Bill Harry) state that this song was written in India. John's handwritten notes indicate that this is probable.
• Is the song called 'Give Me Some Truth' or 'Gimme Some Truth'? When originally released on the Imagine album the song was listed as 'Give Me Some Truth'. When it was reissued on the film called 'Gimme Some Truth' and the CD box set titled 'Gimme Some Truth' the track was listed as 'Gimme Some Truth'.  
• Which part of 'Give Me Some Truth' was co-written by Paul McCartney? John in his handwritten notes on the album said that he wrote the 'middle eight' with Paul. The term 'middle eight' is one John, Paul and George often used when referring to the 'bridge' of the song. Presumably John is referring to the part that lyrically starts with 'No short haired, yellow bellied, son of Tricky Dicky...' In the Get Back footage this is the part that Paul can be seen singing with different words. Paul sings, 'No freaked out yellow bellied son of Gary Cooper...'    Beatles historian Peter Doggett claims that Paul wrote this whole section in his book 'The Art and Music of John Lennon'. He wrote 'At the same time, Lennon began work on 'Gimme Some Truth', the title of which rapidly became a manifesto for his work over the next two years or more. The words had yet to come, as had all of the middle section beyond the phrase "money for rope" - and as the tapes made by the film crew prove, that entire sequence was composed by McCartney, not Lennon, though he was never credited for his contribution.' (The Art of John Lennon by Peter Doggett. P. 151).