Paul wrote “The Long and Winding Road” at his farm in Scotland in 1968, inspired by the emotional strain of the Beatles breaking apart.
The version we all know? Wasn’t approved by McCartney.
Phil Spector added lush orchestration — 18 violins, 6 cellos, a harp, and a choir — without Paul’s permission.
That decision was a major breaking point. In fact, Paul cited it directly in the legal papers when he sued to dissolve the Beatles in 1970.
The original version was much sparser and gentler, with no strings — you can hear it on Let It Be… Naked.
John Lennon reportedly called it “Paul’s granny music,” but George Martin had wanted to keep it simple.
It became the Beatles’ final U.S. No. 1 hit, released just days after their official breakup.
The studio footage from the Let It Be film shows Paul visibly frustrated during takes — signaling real-time tensions.
And that title? It’s not just metaphor. There’s an actual winding road near Paul’s farm — symbolic of the Beatles’ difficult journey.
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