Let It Be – The Beatles | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1970
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
By 1969, The Beatles were nearing the end of their time as a group. Amid internal tensions and business disputes, Paul McCartney wrote Let It Be, one of the band’s most reflective recordings.
McCartney has stated that the song was inspired by a dream about his mother, Mary McCartney, who died when he was a teenager. In the dream, she reassured him during a difficult period, telling him to “let it be.” The phrase became the foundation for the lyric.
Recorded during the sessions that produced both the Let It Be album and portions of Abbey Road, the track was produced by George Martin, with a later single version produced by Phil Spector. Released in March 1970, the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Built around McCartney’s piano and vocal, the recording gradually adds organ, guitar, and a gospel-influenced chorus. The lyric centers on reassurance and acceptance during troubled times, offering a message of calm rather than confrontation.
Let It Be became the title track of The Beatles’ final studio album and remains one of the group’s most enduring singles.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
George Martin
Phil Spector
Lyrics Written by:
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Awards:
Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for the film Let It Be (1971)
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.