Rocky Raccoon

Copyright - 1968 EMI Records Ltd.

"Rocky Raccoon" is a Beatles song from the double-disc album The Beatles (also known as The White Album). The song was primarily written by Paul McCartney, who was inspired while playing guitar for John Lennon and Donovan Leitch in India (where the Beatles had gone on a retreat). Some claim that the song is a parody of a Bob Dylan ballad, much in the same way "Back in the U.S.S.R." is a parody of The Beach Boys.[1]

The song, titled from the character's name, was originally "Rocky Sassoon," but McCartney changed it to Rocky Raccoon because he thought "it sounded more like a cowboy."[2] The song is about a man (Rocky) who tries to shoot the man who stole his lover, but is wounded by the rival instead. The Old West-style honky-tonk piano was played by producer George Martin.

Lyrics:
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota,
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon(na)
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye
Rocky didn't like that he said I'm gonna get that boy
so one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon

Rock Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with the gun
to shoot off the legs of his rival

His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girls of his fancy
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy

Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe-down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a show down

Daniel was hot he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner
Da, da, da, da, da

Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better
I'll be better doc as soon as I am able

And now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival
Ah, oh yeah, yeah
Da, da, da, da