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"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by the songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and was first released on the album ''Rubber Soul'', on 3 December 1965. Musically influenced by the introspective lyrics of Bob Dylan, "Norwegian Wood" was a contributing factor to the Beatles' progression as complex songwriters. In addition, the recordings of studio musicians during the ''Help!'' filming sessions, and Ravi Shankar inspired lead guitarist George Harrison to incorporate the sitar into the song.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Beatles and India )〕 Although "Norwegian Wood" was not the first song to feature an Eastern-inspired sound in a rock composition, or even the first Beatles track, it is credited as influential in the development in raga rock and psychedelic rock. Not long afterwards, Indian classical music became popularised in mainstream Western society, and several Western musical artists integrated the style. Accordingly, "Norwegian Wood" is recognised as a bona fide raga-rock song, as well as fundamental in the early evolution of the genre later regarded as world music. Since its initial release, the song has been released on several compilation albums and cover versions. ==Composition== The song's lyrics are about an extramarital affair that John Lennon was involved in, as hinted in the opening couplet: "I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me". Though Lennon never revealed whom he had an affair with, it is speculated that it was either close friend and journalist Maureen Cleave, or Sonny Freeman. Paul McCartney explained the term "Norwegian Wood" was a parody on the cheap pine walls in guitarist Peter Asher's bedroom. McCartney continues with the conclusion of the song, saying, "In our world the guy had to have some sort of revenge. It could have meant I lit a fire to keep myself warm, and wasn't the decor of her house wonderful? But it didn't, it meant I burned the fucking place down as an act of revenge, and then we left it there and went into the instrumental".〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) )〕 According to Lennon, the lyrics were primarily his creation, with the middle eight being credited to McCartney. In 1980, Lennon changed his claim, saying it was "my song completely". Since Lennon's death, however, McCartney has contended that he conceived the initial idea for "Norwegian Wood", and contributed lyrics to Lennon's unfinished draft.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=100 Greatest Beatles Songs )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The 25 Greatest Rock Memoirs of all Time )〕 Regardless, it was Lennon who began writing the song in February 1965, while on vacation at St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps with his wife, Cynthia Lennon, and record producer, George Martin. Over the following days, Lennon expanded on an acoustic arrangement of the song, and showed it to Martin while he recovered from a skiing injury. Before Lennon began writing "Norwegian Wood", between 5 April and 6 April 1965, while filming the second Beatles movie, ''Help!'', at Twickenham Film Studios, George Harrison first encountered the sitar, a prominent feature in the song. A group of Indian session musicians sparked Harrison's interest when they performed the instrumental "Another Hard Day's Night", a medley of three Beatles compositions – "A Hard Day's Night", "Can't Buy Me Love" and "I Should Have Known Better" – arranged to feature the sitar, among other instruments. It was not the first instance in which Indian influence was evident, the raga-like drone was found in The Kinks' rare foray into psychedelic rock with the song "See My Friends". The Yardbirds also created a similar sound with a distorted electric guitar on their composition "Heart Full of Soul". On 25 August 1965, during the Beatles' American tour, Harrison's friend David Crosby of The Byrds discussed in detail about Indian classical music, and the work of sitar maestro Ravi Shankar. Harrison became enamoured with Shankar's recordings and purchased his first sitar, soon immersing himself in learning how to play the instrument.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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