On This Day in Beatles History: Recording Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da – 4 July 1968

Q: When was Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da recorded?

Multiple sessions in July 1968 at Abbey Road. The 4 July session added vocal overdubs but was ultimately unused.

July 4, 2026

On This Day in Beatles History: Recording Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da – 4 July 1968

On 4 July 1968, The Beatles returned to Studio Two at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, for the second recording session for 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da'. The session focused on vocal overdubs, with Paul McCartney adding lead vocals and John Lennon and George Harrison contributing backing vocals. Despite the work done on this day, the version recorded would ultimately be set aside — the song required two further remakes before it was considered ready for release on The Beatles, the double album known as the White Album.

What Happened on 4 July 1968?

The session took place in Studio Two at Abbey Road, with George Martin producing and Geoff Emerick engineering. Paul McCartney began the session by adding lead vocals to take four of the backing track. A reduction mix was then made and labelled take five. McCartney then double-tracked his lead vocals. John Lennon and George Harrison added backing vocals, and during the final verse McCartney sang a harmony part alongside his earlier lead vocal recording.

The Troubled Recording History of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' became one of the most contentious songs recorded during the White Album sessions. John Lennon was openly dismissive of the song, reportedly referring to it as 'granny music'. On one occasion, Lennon arrived late to a session, sat down at the piano, and played the opening chords at double speed in a deliberately provocative manner. McCartney adopted the faster tempo, and that version became the basis for the final recording.

Paul McCartney and Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Despite the internal friction, 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' was one of the most commercially successful songs to emerge from the White Album sessions. The Beatles did not release it as a single in the UK. Instead, it was covered by Marmalade, whose version reached number one in January 1969.

The song also contains a celebrated error that McCartney chose to keep: in the final verse, the lyrics swap the names of Desmond and Molly, reversing the arrangement established earlier in the song. McCartney has said he noticed the mistake but decided it added to the song's charm.

Abbey Road Studios, 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, London NW8 9AY — where The Beatles recorded 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' across multiple sessions in July 1968 during the White Album recordings.

On This Day in Beatles History

Date: 4 July 1968
Event: Second recording session for 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da'; vocal overdubs added
Studio: Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin | Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Outcome: Version unused; song remade twice before final version selected for the White Album

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da recorded?

Across multiple sessions in July 1968 at Abbey Road. The 4 July session added vocal overdubs by McCartney, Lennon, and Harrison, but this version was ultimately unused.

Who wrote Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da?

Paul McCartney, credited to Lennon–McCartney. The title phrase was borrowed from Nigerian musician Jimmy Scott, meaning 'life goes on' in Yoruba.

Why did John Lennon dislike Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da?

Lennon reportedly called it 'granny music'. On one occasion he arrived late and played the opening chords at double speed — a tempo McCartney adopted for the final recording.