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Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Lyrics

Desmond has a barrow in the market place
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond says to Molly, "Girl I like your face"
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on

Desmond takes a trolley to the jewelry store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on

In a couple of years they have built a home, sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones

Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she still sings it with the band

Yeah, ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on

In a couple of years they have built a home, sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones, hey

Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band

Yeah, ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on
Yeah, ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on

And if you want some fun take ob-la-di-bla-da
62 Meanings

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Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

Paul did indeed make an error at the end, and the other three Beatles liked it enough that the kept it in. The phrase Ob-la-di Ob-la-da means "life goes on". Also, Paul actually heard the phrase from a Nigerian congo player in a group called Bad Manners named Jimmy Anonmuogharan Scott Emuakpor. Jimmy actually tried to sue him for using that phrase, a lot of events followed, and Jimmy dropped the case after Paul payed the support money that Jimmy owed his ex-wife and they both became close friends afterward.

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

paul screwed up in the end of the song: "Happy ever after in the market place Molly lets the children lend a hand. Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face And in the evening she’s singer with the band."

they felt it went along with the general silliness of the choon, so they kept the take.

...at least that's the story i heard.

Correct! I heard an old version that they never meant to release when they had both times "Desmond lets the children lend a hand, Molly stays at home and does her pretty face".

@roger wilco Especially in today's political climate

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

i dont know how anyone can h8 this song, its so upbeat and cherpy

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

Bad Manners? Surely not the same Bad Manners that had a string of Ska hits in the early 1980s, fronted by a huge skinhead named Buster Bloodvessel? Which coincidentally was also the name of the bus driver in Magical Mystery Tour...

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

This song is totally the funnest song every written!! It's awesome! I want to make a fun song like that.

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

worst song ever

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

An error in the following comment I made:

Its not the "Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face", which is correct, but the "And in the evening he's a singer with the band" line which should read "And in the evening SHE'S a singer with the band"

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

Paul actually wrote this song after being in Rishi Kesh (not sure if that's the spelling). It's a very happy song, I enjoy it lots.

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

wasnt this the theme song to a show?

@shenry10 yes! It was a show in the late 80’s or early 90’s about a family with an autistic son. I can’t remember the name of the show. Maybe Life Goes On?

Cover art for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da lyrics by Beatles, The

Roger is right. And after Paul sings "...lend a hand" you can hear John shouting "Foot!" and George yelling "Leg!".

Musically, a completely incompetent attempt at white Reggae (see also Simon & Grfunkel's "Why Don't You Write Me?") but a great singalong standard.

Paul had a Jamaican friend who was a bandleader, and he was the originator of the phrase "Ob-la-di Ob-la-da life goes on bra".

 
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