DOWNLOAD THE SONGSHEET
Paperback Writer (WORD)
Paperback Writer (PDF)
Paperback Writer (Vocal harmonies)
YOU CAN PLAY ALONG WITH THE VIDEOS! The lyrics may vary ever so slightly than the original 1966 lyrics - I used the lyrics from their more recent recordings. Also, I added a G7sus4 to capture the vocal harmony at that point however you can just play G7 if you prefer. I decided to add chords to the vocal harmonies at the beginning and throughout just to help us with singing notes!
Written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership, "Paperback Writer"was released as the A-side of their eleventh single in May 1966. McCartney based the lyrics on a challenge made to him by his Aunt Lil. McCartney said in 1966: "Years ago, my Auntie Lil said to me, 'Why do you always write songs about love all the time? Can't you ever write about a horse or the summit conference or something interesting?' So, I thought, 'All right, Auntie Lil.' " It topped singles charts in the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. On the US Billboard Hot 100, the song was at number one for two non-consecutive weeks, being interrupted by Frank Sinatra's "Strangers in the Night".
"Paperback Writer" was the last new song by the Beatles to be featured on their setlist for their final tour in 1966. Their inability to reproduce the layered vocal effect of the studio recording was a source of embarrassment for the group, however. In addition to moulding their characters and sound on the Beatles, the Monkees used "Paperback Writer" as the basis for their debut single, "Last Train to Clarksville".