FLEW IN FROM MIAMI BEACH B.O.A.C....

Didn't get to bed last night...

The beginning of one of the best Beatles songs ever (and thus by definition, one of the best songs overall) - Back in the U.S.S.R.

The song mentions Ukraine girls and their Beatle-K.O. capabilities (...really knock me out") as well as how inspiring girls from Moscow are ("make me sing and shout"), but there's also a fantastic play on Ray Charles's famous "Georgia On My Mind" - "That Georgia's always on my my my my my my my mind."

In an interview with Playboy (one of several notable interviews with the publication - go figure), McCartney discussed the song, saying:

"I wrote that as a kind of Beach Boys parody. And 'Back in the USA' was a Chuck Berry song, so it kinda took off from there. I just liked the idea of Georgia girls and talking about places like the Ukraine as if they were California, you know? It was also hands across the water, which I'm still conscious of. 'Cuz they like us out there, even though the bosses in the Kremlin may not. The kids do. And that to me is very important for the future of the race."

You couldn't have been more right about the kids, Paul.





He says SOMETHING in Ukrainian at the beginning. All I can make out is "history" at the end.

Lyrics:

Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC
Didn't get to bed last night
On the way the paper bag was on my knee
Man i had a dreadful flight
I'm back in the U.S.S.R.
You don't know how lucky you are boy
Back in the U.S.S.R.

Been away so long I hardly knew the place
Gee it's good to be back home
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case
Honey disconnect the phone
I'm back in the U.S.S.R.
You don't know how lucky you are boy
Back in the U.S.
Back in the U.S.
Back in the U.S.S.R.

Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the West behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
That Georgia's always on my my my my my my my mind.

I'm back in the U.S.S.R.
You don't know how lucky you are boy
Back in the U.S.S.R.

Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the West behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
That Georgia's always on my my my my my my my mind.

Show me round your snow peaked mountains way down south
Take me to your daddy's farm
Let me hear your balalaika's ringing out
Come and keep your comrade warm.
I'm back in the U.S.S.R. hey
You don't know how lucky you are boy
Back in the U.S.S.R.