Rocky Raccoon
Beatles · The Beatles (The White Album)
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon(na)
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
Rock Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with the gun
to shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girls of his fancy
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe-down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a show down
Daniel was hot he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner
Da, da, da, da, da
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better
I'll be better doc as soon as I am able
And now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival
Ah, oh yeah, yeah
Da, da, da, da
Rocky Raccoon
Rocky Raccoon stands as a distinctive narrative ballad within the Beatles' expansive discography, appearing on their 1968 self-titled double album. Written by Paul McCartney, the track showcases the band's willingness to experiment with folk and country influences during a period of intense creative divergence. The song tells the story of a fictional character through a spoken-word style delivery, highlighting the group's ability to blend storytelling with complex musical arrangements. As part of a landmark recording session that produced some of the most varied material in rock history, the track reflects the band's exploration of character-driven songwriting. It remains a celebrated example of their versatility, demonstrating how they could seamlessly integrate storytelling elements into their broader musical identity without relying on traditional pop structures.