McCartney said he had the idea of "Let It Be" after he had a dream about his mother during the tense period surrounding the sessions for The Beatles ("the White Album") in 1968.

McCartney explained that his mother – who died of cancer when he was fourteen – was the inspiration for the "Mother Mary" lyric.

He later said: "It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing 'Let It Be'."

He also said in a later interview about the dream that his mother had told him, "It will be all right, just let it be".