Who lived "in the Black Mountain hills of Dakota," according to the Beatles?

"Rocky Raccoon" is a song by the Beatles from the double-disc album The Beatles (also known as The White Album(1968)). The song was primarily written by Paul McCartney, who was inspired while playing acoustic guitar with John Lennon and Donovan in India (where the Beatles had gone on a retreat).In Mojo magazine in October 2008, McCartney acknowledged that the style of the song is a pastiche, saying: "I was basically spoofing the folksinger." Lennon attributed the song to Paul, saying: "Couldn't you guess? Would I have gone to all that trouble about Gideon's Bible and all that stuff?" The Old West-style honky-tonk piano was played by producer George Martin, and the song is notable as the last Beatles song to feature John Lennon's harmonica playing.

Now somewhere in the Black Mountain Hills of Dakota

There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon,

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.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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37 Comments

William Laughlin

Bob Menefee, The word "who" is correct. Rocky Raccoon is a person. Refer to the line in the beginning of the song which states, "There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon".

Dennis E Ivy

One of my very favorite Beatles songs.

Lydia Coutts

krkyates, The Beatles weren't being "arrogant" or "mocking" anyone. Other styles of music inspired them to experiment and thus helped shape their evolution. For instance, they were not mocking Ravi Shankar and other Indian musicians when George Harrison began using the sitar; quite the contrary. Songs like Rocky Raccoon are tributes rather than mockeries. (Good question, albeit easy for a Beatlephile like me!)

Jakob Gerber

It’s rather interesting that a song with this much wit,and intelligence would never be accepted for a single , yet if it was ANY other group, it would have been a smash hit. The Beatles set the bar so high,their album tracks would be A Sides for any other band. I’ve always maintained that the lyrics to this song,and the production was perfect . I would bet ninety percent of Americans had no idea where the Blacks Hills are . They’ll never be another group to come close to what this band did in seven shorts years,and fourteen albums. Rememeber in the UK there were fourteen songs on a Beatles album,and they refused forbthe most part to put their singles on the albums, until much later when the record labels knew they had a “ goldmine “ making an album ,then another of just the singles ,and another with the number one hits,which was the top selling album fifty years apres the band first released an album.

DannyBoy

Instant recall! Got it! Great song, great time for music too! Now all we have is, Illumintti satanic Katy Perry devil worshiper music! I need a Time Machine, NOW!!!

Tom McKenna

One of my favorite songs

Ben

In spite of so many bands during their time i.e. Dave Clark -5, the beach boys, the zombies, the hollies, the rolling stones and many others. The Beatles songs remain the best of the 60s. Two of the greatest song writers are in the Beatles.

TERENCE GEORGE DAY

great song off the white album

james parrillo

Gery Tillmanns, I have never heard that song, or anything about a Prudence. Thank you, Christine, James's wife

Lynne Winter

And it's Father McKenzie. I know I'm being a Grammar Nazi but it IS a quiz after all lol.

missme

I have the white album in pristine condition! That was one of my favorites! Wish I had a record player!

Lindsay Fussell

Good grief, DannyBoy! Get with the program. There’s great music from every era. Am guessing you miss hearing a lot of it what with having “dinner” at 4pm, being in bed before 8 and closing your mind to new things. Keeping an open mind keeps you young!