The lyric from The Beatles' “Let It Be” finishes with “be.” The phrase appears in the song’s recurring chorus, which presents acceptance and patience as responses to difficulty.
Paul McCartney wrote the song during a stressful period for the Beatles. He later said that he dreamed about his mother, Mary, who had died when he was fourteen, and that the dream inspired the song’s comforting image of “Mother Mary.” The wording also echoes the expression “let it be,” meaning to leave something alone or accept it as it is.
The Beatles recorded the song during the sessions that became the Let It Be album. George Martin produced the original recording, while Phil Spector later produced the album version released in 1970. A separate single version appeared in March 1970.
A common mix-up is assuming the song’s title is a religious command. Its meaning is broader: the lyric uses a calm, memorable phrase to suggest endurance. “Let It Be” became one of the Beatles’ best-known songs and reached number one in several countries.