Martha My Dear

Copyright - 1868 EMI Records Ltd.

"Martha My Dear" is a Beatles song written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) which first appeared on the double-disc album The Beatles (also known as The White Album).

The song features a music hall-inspired piano line that recurs throughout the piece, as well as a brass band. Typical of Beatles songs of the period, the song modulates smoothly through several keys.

The title "Martha My Dear" was inspired by McCartney's Old English Sheepdog. McCartney has said, cryptically, that the song itself is probably about McCartney's longtime love interest Jane Asher. McCartney and Asher broke off their engagement in mid-1968 ("Don't forget me..."), and Asher inspired many of McCartney's songs, including Here, There, and Everywhere and We Can Work It Out ("You have always been my inspiration..."). (McCartney has said, cryptically, that the song is about his "muse", the voice in his head that tells him what words and music to write.)

McCartney's 1993 live album "Paul is Live" features one of Martha's offspring on its cover.

Lyrics:
Martha my dear
though I spend my days in conversation
please remember me
Martha my love don't forget me
Martha my dear

Hold you head up you silly girl
look what you've done
When you find yourself in the thick of it
Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you
Silly girl take a good look around you
Take a good look you're bound to see
That you and me were meant to be
for each other silly girl

Hold your hand out you silly girl
see what you've done
When you find yourself in the thick of it
Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you
Silly girl

Martha my dear
you have always been my inspiration
please remember me
Martha my love don't forget me
Martha my dear