The Only Beatles Track Paul McCartney Didn’t Play On
The Beatles at the press launch for their new album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', held at Brian Epstein's house at 24 Chapel Street, London, 19th May 1967. Left to right: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon (1940 - 1980) and George Harrison (1943 2001). (Photo by John Downing/Getty Images)
In 1966, The Beatles released Revolver, a game-changing album filled with psychedelic vibes and a mix of raga, experimental rock, pop-soul, and baroque pop. One of the standout tracks is “She Said She Said,” a John Lennon creation with incredible guitar work from George Harrison. An acid trip inspired the song with actor Peter Fonda, who kept telling Lennon, “I know what it’s like to be dead,” reflecting his own psychedelic experience.
Beatles Weren’t Thrilled With Fonda’s Excitement
Fonda wrote about the event for Rolling Stone, recalling how he managed to join the group despite not being invited. “I finally made my way past the kids and the guards. Paul and George were on the back patio, and the helicopters were patrolling overhead,” he shared. After they dropped acid, the party lasted all night and well into the next day, with the original Byrds joining them. Fonda added:
“We eventually ended up inside a huge, empty and sunken tub in the bathroom, babbling our minds away.”
Though Fonda enjoyed the vibe, The Beatles weren’t thrilled with his constant babble about death. George Harrison later explained, “We didn’t want to hear about that. We were on an acid trip, and the sun was shining, and the girls were dancing… and this guy—who I really didn’t know—kept coming over, wearing shades, saying, ‘I know what it’s like to be dead.’” Harrison admitted that they tried to avoid him because his morbid talk was ruining the mood.
“It was scary. You know… when you’re flying high, and someone’s whispering, ‘I know what it’s like to be dead, man.’”
Revolver Track Became a Hit Despite Conflicts
Despite the awkwardness, Fonda’s strange musings eventually helped the band when they needed one last song to finish Revolver. Interestingly, Paul McCartney was credited on “She Said She Said,” but later admitted, “I think it was one of the only Beatle records I never played on.” McCartney recalled that he had a disagreement with the band that day and walked out, leaving George to fill in on bass.
Though the origins of the argument remain unclear, it’s possible the song’s themes played a role. Regardless, “She Said She Said” became one of Revolver’s most memorable tracks, making it a legendary album by the Fab Four.
