Back In The USSR

By John T. Marck

The recording for this song began on August 22, 1968. When The Beatles gathered together in the studio to begin, tempers flared between Ringo and Paul, and Ringo walked out, announcing he was quitting The Beatles. In his place on this song, Paul played the drums, and with John and George, the entire track was completed without Ringo.

During this time, The Beatles had a friendly relationship and rivalry with the Beach Boys. The longest time spent with them was on one of their trips to Rishikesh, India to visit the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During this time, The Beatles and Beach Boys, along with Donovan, would jam and write songs together. Paul wrote "Back In The USSR," as a medley based on the Beach Boys and Chuck Berry. It was derived from a song by Berry in 1959 called "Back in The USA." Berry's song expressed his joy of being back in America with all its drive-ins, hamburgers, juke boxes, etc. Then Paul combined this with the Beach Boys song "California Girls," changing the love interest to Georgia girls and the Ukraine, speaking of them as if it was California.

It was perceived by many Americans as a song that promoted the Russians in a time when the United States was at war with the Russian supported Viet Cong. But it wasn't this at all. It was merely a parody using the USSR in place of familiar settings like California.

Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC, didn't get to bed last night

Oh, the way the paper bag was on my knee, Man, I had a dreadful flight

I'm back in the USSR,

You don't know how lucky you are, boy, Back in the USSR

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 USSR,

You don't know how lucky you are, boy Back in the US,

Back in the US, Back in the USSR

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 my my mind

Oh, come on,

Hu Hey Hu, hey, ah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah I'm back in the USSR,

You don't know how lucky you are, boys, Back in the USSR

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 my my mind

Oh, show me round your snow peaked mountain way down south

Take me to you daddy's farm, Let me hear you balalaika's ringing out

Come and keep your comrade warm, I'm back in the USSR,

Hey, You don't know how lucky you are, boy Back in the USSR,

Oh, let me tell you honey

NOTE: All lyrics contained herein are ©Copyright Northern Songs. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. The lyrics contained herein are for the sole use of educational reference for the readers of this article. All other uses are in violation of international copyright laws. This use for educational reference, falls under the "fair use" sections of U.S. copyright law. Copyright © 2000-2022 by John T. Marck. All Rights Reserved. This article and their accompanying pictures, photographs, and line art, may not be resold, reprinted, or redistributed for compensation of any kind without prior written permission from the author, or the registered copyright holders. Except as otherwise stated above, all information contained in this article, EXCEPT song titles, lyrics, and photographs © John T. Marck.