The Beatles – Martha My Dear

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Martha, my dear
Though I spend my days in conversation, please
Remember me
Martha, my love
Don't forget me
Martha, my dear

Hold your 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
With each other
Silly girl

Hold you're 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, be good to me
Martha, my love
Don't forget me
Martha, my dear.

Send "Martha My Dear" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 02:26

"Martha My Dear" as written by John Winston Lennon, Paul James Mccartney

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Martha My Dear song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think it's about Jane Asher. They kept a relationship for about 5 years, and she was an inspiration for him indeed, since he wrote many songs for her. Jane broke up with him because of his infidelity. So, I think Paul wrote this song and he meant: "Look what you've done (about breaking up), when you find yourself in the thick of it help yourself to a bit of what is all around you, silly girl (when you are involved in a situation, all you have to do is benefit from what you can benefit and forget about the bad aspects of it, you've been dating a beatle, look at how much you could enjoy and benefit from that, but you care about fidelity, that' so silly!), "take a good look around you" (see what you've missed). At the end he does a "mea culpa", he feels kind of guilty and recognizes her value: "you have always been my inspiration" and asks "be good to me" and "don't forget me". When the white album was released, he had been already dating Linda, so that he used his doggie's name to disguise it. I think that is what this song is all about.
    Flag anadinaon November 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is probably apocryphal -- but I heard eons ago that "Martha My Dear" was, indeed about Paul's sheepdog, with the added twist that he wrote it after coming home one day and finding that she'd made a mess of the house. The lyrics bear this out ("Hold your head up, you silly girl, look what you've done..."), but one never knows, what with all the urban legends circulating out there in this big, wide world.
    Flag firstofthe7thon June 22, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Martha was paul's scottish sheepdog, and the song was a "ode " to her....beautiful little song

    Flag just4davidon December 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:absolutely adore this song..
    no one talks about it very much though..
    the bridge section is very catchy (listened to this song some 9 times in a stretch)..
    Flag battyboutbeatleson June 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hey theres a bealtes book about there that explains in detail what each song was written about or inspired by. and in it i remember it said that martha was a lady paul mccartney was dating who moved on to do acting or something public of that nature. 'when you find yourself in the flick of it, help yourself to a better world' sounds like she tried to do something ambitious and leave him behind. well it doesn't matter, i think she was musing kind of girl to him. astrologers see that paul mccartney and his deceased wife were prototypes of soul mates.
    Flag GrungyBeatleon May 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Memory:love this song
    dog or not, it feels like when my friend franny is giggling and scolding me. "silly girl."
    Flag wind-up*sushion March 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My name is Martha ha ha (I don't like it too much.)
    Flag madi1127on August 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is very underrated. i treasure it nonetheless. the different instruments add color to the mood of the song, its impeccable. The entire song is sonically flawless to its unique style :)
    Flag GrungyBeatleon May 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I believe this song is about Pauls dog that liked to roll around in its own shit! Paul cant help but notice that his life is no different than his dogs. That is why they belong together.
    Flagged ThreeCamelson September 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:martha my dear is one of the beat songs in the album, so underrated if you ask me. Its about asher indeed
    Flag lunacy_fringeon June 07, 2007   Link

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