“Get Back” by Paul McCartney

Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it couldn’t last
Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
For some California grass

Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Jojo

Go home

Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged, yeah
Oh, get back, Jo

Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
But she was another man
All the girls around her say she’s got it coming
But she gets it while she can

Oh, get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Loretta, woo, woo

Go home

Oh, get back, yeah, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Yeah, get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged

Ooh
Ooh, ooh
Get back, Loretta
Your mommy’s waitin’ for you
Wearin’ her high-heel shoes
And a low-neck sweater
Get back home, Loretta

Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Oh, get back, get back
Get back, oh yeah

Listen to “Get Back” by The Beatles on Spotify

About the poet Paul McCartney

At first listen, “Get Back” seems like a catchy, rollicking tune about two characters—Jojo and Loretta—both of whom find themselves out of place and in need of a return to their roots. But beneath its bluesy guitar riffs and laid-back energy lies a song with deeper cultural and lyrical resonance, not to mention a surprising connection to the Arizona desert.

A Story of Displacement and Return

The lyrics open with Jojo, “a man who thought he was a loner,” who leaves his home in Tucson, Arizona in search of “some California grass.” The reference to Tucson is not incidental; it offers a starting point that’s grounded, familiar, and earthy, in contrast to the vaguer, more dreamlike California destination. The phrase “California grass” may be interpreted as either literal pasture or a thinly veiled reference to the 1960s counterculture and its association with marijuana and idealism. Jojo’s journey to California—and the subsequent chorus urging him to “Get back to where you once belonged”—seems to caution against losing oneself in the pursuit of something that may be more illusion than reality.

The second verse introduces Loretta Martin, who bends gender norms and challenges societal expectations. Her presence is rebellious and provocative, and she too is told to “get back.” In both verses, the refrain functions like a grounding mantra, reminding each character—and perhaps the listener—to return to what is real, authentic, and rooted in identity.

Satire, Rebellion, and Social Commentary

The Beatles were known for embedding humor and social critique in their lyrics, and “Get Back” is no exception. While it began as a satirical commentary on anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK, it evolved into a more playful and universal story of people who lose their way—or who are seen as out of place—being encouraged to return home. That invitation to “get back” could be heard as both nostalgic and ironic, depending on the listener’s perspective.

Paul McCartney’s casual vocal delivery and the band’s jam-like energy lend the song a sense of spontaneity and familiarity. It feels less like a polished studio track and more like a snapshot of a moment in time—fitting, since it was famously captured during The Beatles’ final rooftop concert in 1969.

Tucson’s Place in Beatles Lore

For fans in Arizona, Jojo’s roots in Tucson offer a special link to Beatles history. The lyric gives Tucson a place in the band’s legacy and hints at a real-life connection that goes far deeper. Paul McCartney later made Tucson a second home, purchasing a 150-acre ranch there in 1979 with his wife Linda. The couple shared many years in the Sonoran Desert, and Linda ultimately passed away at the Tucson ranch in 1998. Her ashes were scattered on the property, binding the McCartney family forever to Arizona soil.

So when Paul sings of Jojo leaving Tucson in “Get Back,” it’s easy to imagine his own emotional journey—a man forever navigating between the global spotlight and the grounded quietude of his desert home.

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Want to explore more about Paul McCartney’s surprising and deeply personal ties to Arizona?
👉 Visit his poet bio page on AZPoetry.com to discover the full story behind one of the world’s most celebrated musicians and his meaningful connection to the Grand Canyon State.