THE BEATLES, "Get Back,” 1969

By Karen Bliss 12/6/21 | www.samaritanmag.com

Hardcore Beatles fans are familiar with the many bootleg versions of “Get Back,” and its lyrical evolution, originally addressing the anti-immigration stance of British MP Enoch Powell, as well as similar views in America. In the highly touted new documentary, Get Back, we see Paul McCartney improvising many of these lyrics — including “we don’t need Pakistanis” and “don’t need no Puerto Ricans living in the USA.” Director Peter Jackson flashes the screen with newspaper headlines of the day, and makes it clear "Get Back" was conceived as a protest song, denouncing white nationalism.  Buy the single from the album, Let It Be, here. — Karen Bliss