“Ob-La-Da Ob-La-Di” by the Beatles is a reggae-influenced pop song from the 1968 Beatles self-titled double album, also known as the White Album.
Song Facts:
- The song was written by Paul McCartney and is credited under the Lennon/McCartney partnership.
- The song title refers to an appropriated phrase made popular by a Nigerian London-based musician, Jimmy Scott, which ended up becoming the song’s title and chorus. There was a copyright controversy surrounding the origins of the expression Ob-La-Da Ob-La-Di which Scott said was exclusive to his family.
- The recording of the song was fraught with disagreements between Lennon and McCartney. Between Lennon’s dislike for the song initially and McCartney’s perfectionism, the somewhat cheery song had a troubled beginning.
- The song was not initially released in the US or Britain but did make the charts in Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Eventually, the single was released in 1976, and it made the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 49.
- “Ob-La-Da Ob-La-Di” has been credited as the first song ever recorded in a “white ska” style.
- The song was also recorded by the band Marmalade in 1968 and became a number one British hit.
- “Ob-La-Da Ob-La-Di” was given the title “most perfect pop song of all time” by researchers in Germany at the Max Planck Institute.
- Despite what the science says, Lennon was famous for disparaging McCartney-written songs, declaring it to be “granny music.”
- The Beatles never performed the song live because they stopped touring in 1966, but Paul McCartney eventually played it live when he included it in his setlist on his 2010 “Up And Coming” tour.
Lyrics
Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond says to Molly, “Girl, I like your face”
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La-la, how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La-la, how the life goes on
Desmond takes a trolley to the jeweler’s store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring (rin-ring)
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing (sing)
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da (la-la-la-la la-la-)
Life goes on, bra (la-la la-la-la-laaa)
La-la, how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da (la-la-la-la la-la-)
Life goes on, bra (la-la la-la-la-laaa)
La-la, how the life goes on
Yeah
In a couple of years
They have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones (ha ha ha ha)
Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand (arm!) (leg!)
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she still sings it with the band
Yes!
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La-la, how the life goes on
Hey!
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La-la, how the life goes on
In a couple of years
They have built a home sweet home (home: H-O-M-E)
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)
Hey!
Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand (foot!)
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she’s a singer with the band
Yeah!
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La-la, how the life goes on
Hey!
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La-la, how the life goes on (ha ha ha ha)
And if you want some fun (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)
Take Ob-la-di-bla-da (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)
(Ha ha ha ha)
Ahh…
Thank you (ha ha)