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Released in 1999

I Got Stung

Written by Aaron SchroederDavid Hill

Last updated on September 21, 2016


Album This song officially appears on the Run Devil Run Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1999

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interviews

From Wikipedia:

I Got Stung” is an upbeat, bouncy rock and roll song written by Aaron Schroeder and David Hill and performed by Elvis Presley, which was recorded and released in 1958. Clocking in at under two minutes, it features some of Elvis’ most rapid-fire vocals alongside humorous and catchy lyrics, and was released as double A-side with “One Night“, reaching No. 1 in the UK. Presley recorded this, his final song of the 1950s, on June 11, 1958, when he went to Nashville during his army stint, as he was preparing to set sail for Germany. […]

Paul McCartney recorded it for his album Run Devil Run (1999). From the liner notes of “Run Devil Run“:

A 1959 No.1 single for Elvis. “It was not my favourite Elvis song, but I kept hearing “Holy smoke landsakes alive, I never though this would happen to me.” That intro kept grabbing me. I though I’ll do it a bit more raucous than Elvis.”

From an interview with Laura Gross (promotional interview for “Run Devil Run” in 1999):

Paul McCartney: I Got Stung. After Elvis got out of the army I Got Stung was one of the ones he did then. And I remember us not being too keen on it. But recently I just sort of remembered the opening. Holy smoke landsakes alive, I never thought this could happen to me. A-ha-ha. Doov, doov, doov, doov. I just loved that intro. So I thought, got to do it, you know. Just ’cause of that intro. So I take it down, got the words. I couldn’t get most of them off the record. I finally actually got a lyric sheet on that one. So I did it. And we just did more of a shouty version than Elvis’s version.

On January 31st 1969, The Beatles recorded “I Got Stung” during the Get Back Sessions.


Lyrics

Holy smokes, land sakes alive

I never thought this would happen to me

Ah-ha, yeah, ah-ha, yeah


I got stung by a sweet honey bee

What a feelin' came over me

Well, it started in my eyes, crept up to my head

Flew into my arms, 'til I was stung dead


I'm done, ah-ha, I got stung

Ah-ha, yeah, ah-ha, yeah


She had all that I wanted and more

I've never seen honey bees before

Well, she started through my ears, buzzing in my brain

Got stung all over but I feel no pain


I'm done, ah-ha, I got stung


Well, don't think I'm complainin'

Because I'm might pleased that we met

'Cause you gimme just one little peck

On the back of my neck

And I break out in a cold cold sweat


If I live to a hundred and two

I won't let nobody sting me but you

I'll be buzzin' 'round your hive

Every day at five

And I'm never gonna leave once I arrive


I'm done, ah-ha, I got stung

I got stung, yeah, I got stung, yeah


Well, don't think I'm complainin'

Cause I'm might pleased that we met

'Cause you gimme just one little peck

On the back of my neck

And I break out in a cold cold sweat


If I live to a hundred and two

I won't let nobody sting me but you

I'll be buzzin' 'round your hive

Every day at five

And I'm never gonna leave once I arrive


I'm done, ah-ha, I got stung, yeah

I'm done, ah-ha, I got stung, yeah

Because I'm done, ah-ha, I got stung


Hey, ah-ha, yeah, ah-ha, yeah, ah-ha, yeah

I got stung, yeah, I got stung, yeah

I got stung, yeah, I got stung, yeah

Yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah


I got stung, yeah, I got stung, stung, stung yeah, yeah

I got stung, stung, stung, stung, yeah, yeah

I got, yeah, yeah

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.


Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012

This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.

The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.

Read our exclusive interview with Luca Perasi

Buy on Amazon

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