Good Night (Beatles song)

John Lennon wrote the song as a lullaby for his five-year-old son Julian.[1]

The original version of "Good Night" featured George Harrison and John Lennon playing the melody on guitars, Paul McCartney singing the harmony and Ringo taking the lead vocal. Take 10 with a guitar part from take 5 was released on the 2018 50th Anniversary Box Set of The Beatles. A fragment of a rehearsal and take 22 of the song, along with an overdub of the orchestra from the close of the released version is heard on the 1996 Beatles compilation album, Anthology 3.

George Martin's arrangement is lush, and intentionally so. Lennon is said to have wanted the song to sound "real cheesy", like a Gordon Jenkins-esque Old Hollywood production number. The orchestra consisted of 12 violins, three violas, three cellos, one harp, three flutes, one clarinet, one horn, one vibraphone, and one string bass, played by 26 musicians. The Mike Sammes Singers also took part in the recording, providing backing vocals.

Starr became the third member of the group (after Paul McCartney and George Harrison) to record a song credited to the group without the other members performing (Lennon was the fourth with "Julia"). The song ends with Starr whispering the words: "Good night ... Good night, everybody ... Everybody, everywhere ... Good night."

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of its release, Jacob Stolworthy of The Independent listed "Good Night" at number 28 in his ranking of the White Album's 30 tracks. He called the track, "a mediocre song sung by Ringo." He continued "Despite a vibrant orchestral arrangement from George Martin, "Good Night" – like all lullabies – might put you to sleep."[2]

The song has been covered by several artists, including the Carpenters, Kenny Loggins (feat. Alison Krauss), Linda Ronstadt, and the Manhattan Transfer. Barbra Streisand recorded it in 1969 for her album What About Today?. In 2006 Cirque du Soleil included a version in their production Love.

• Ringo Starr – lead vocals
• George Martin – celesta, orchestral arrangements
• The Mike Sammes Singers – backing vocals
• Orchestra – 12 violins, three violas, three cellos, three flutes, clarinet, horn, vibraphone, double bass, harp[3]

• MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). ISBN 1-84413-828-3.
• Sheff, David (2000). All We Are Saying. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-25464-4.

• Alan W. Pollack's Notes on "Good Night"