Sexy Sadie – Song by The Beatles

Main Writer: Lennon
Recorded: July 19 and 24, August 13 and 21, 1968
Released: November 25, 1968
Not released as a single

About The Song

Sexy Sadie is a song by the English rock band The Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as the “White Album”). It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is a scathing attack on the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a spiritual leader who had been teaching the Beatles meditation in India. Lennon was disillusioned with the Maharishi after he had allegedly made a sexual advance on actress Mia Farrow, who was attending a course the Maharishi was teaching at his ashram in Rishikesh, India.

Lennon originally wanted to title the song “Maharishi”, but changed the title to “Sexy Sadie” at George Harrison’s request. Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Cynthia Lennon later said that they thought the story, which had come from Alexis Mardas, also known as “Magic Alex”, had been fabricated. Lennon once said of the song: “That was inspired by Maharishi. I wrote it when we had our bags packed and were leaving.”

The song is a hard-rocking number with a driving beat and a biting guitar riff. Lennon’s vocals are scathing and sarcastic as he sings about Sadie’s duplicity and hypocrisy. The song’s lyrics are full of vivid imagery and biting metaphors, such as “Sexy Sadie, what have you done? You made a fool of everyone.”

“Sexy Sadie” was one of the most controversial songs on the White Album, but it has also been praised as one of Lennon’s most powerful and honest compositions. It is a testament to the Beatles’ creativity and fearlessness that they were willing to release such a scathing attack on a figure who had been so influential in their lives.

The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Patti Smith, Elton John, and Radiohead. It remains a powerful and moving indictment of hypocrisy and spiritual abuse.