 Though there exists also the more literal interpretation of a war pigeon, as they were most commonly used to carry urgent messages in a small capsule affixed to the leg with metal bands, and carried on the backs of soldiers in small cages with a single wire door for the pigeon to look out of.In 1972, John re-recorded the song with his band (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone) during the sessions for "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player".The new recording used piano instead of harpsichord, and strings and oboe arranged by Paul Buckmaster.