I Don't Want to Spoil the Party - This song is another example of John's depressed state of mind.
Yes It Is - This was intended by John to be another "This Boy;" it again features the beautiful three-part harmonies by John, Paul and George.
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - John's "Dylan" period: during this time he had become increasingly interested in the folk syles of Bob Dylan, and this all-acoustic track is John's response to his frequent interest.
I Need You - George wrote this song for his girlfriend, British model Pattie Boyd, whom he would marry a year later.
Ticket To Ride - John felt that this was the first heavy metal song ever written because it was the first entirely-electric guitar song released.
Yesterday - Entitled "Scrambled Eggs" before suitable lyrics were penned, Paul awoke one night with this tune in his head. He later dedicated the song to his late mother. This was the first Beatles song done solely by one band member (with the strings scored by George Martin).
We Can Work It Out - Paul wrote this after he and his girlfriend Jane Asher had a quarrel.
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - John wrote this song as a "confession" to his wife Cynthia because of his frequent extramerital affairs. She had no idea this was the meaning until one night on the way back home from India when he drunkenly confessed. This was the first pop song to ever contain the sitar, which George had become fond of.
You Won't See Me - Paul wrote this with then-girlfriend Jane Asher in mind, who went to do an acting job instead of staying with Paul.
Nowhere Man - This is an autobiographical song written by John while he was depressed. This was the first non-love related Beatles song written.
Think For Yourself - George wrote this song about his wife Pattie after an argument.
Michelle - During this time Paul would frequently attend high-class parties and would often sit at the piano and play early renditions of this song, pretending he knew French.
What Goes On - This was the first song ever penned and released by Ringo, written with a little help from his friends, John and Paul.
I'm Looking Through You - Paul wrote this song about his girlfriend Jane Asher, who was frequently working as an actress and rarely had time to spend with Paul.
In My Life - This song, written by John, was inspired by his memories of Penny Lane. The original lyrics The "some are dead" bit refers to deceased best friend Stuart Suttcliffe, who died suddenly from a brain hemmorage. John always felt responsible for Stu's untimely death as he believed it was caused by a kick to the head he received after an early Beatles gig in Hamburg. It also applies to his mother, Julia, who died when he was 17.
Paperback Writer - This song, written by Paul, is said to have been inspired by John's recently released books, In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works.
Rain - This John penned song was the first of many Beatle recordings to include a backwards tape. Ringo has said on numerous occasions that he feels he did his best drumming on this track.
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds - Yes, this song was inspired by John's young son Julian's painting of a classmate named Lucy. While I do not believe John originally intended the song's title to be an acronym for LSD (though I bet he found it funny when it was realized), it's rich, mystycal lyrics cannot help but refer to the psychadelic era John was heavily into.
Getting Better - Paul was walking his famous sheepdog Martha one day with George Martin, and Paul was remarking on the weather, that it was "getting better...yes indeed, it's getting better all the time." Pretty soon he began humming the tune, and by the time they got back to the studio he had managed to come up with the song.
An interesting note on just how well the Beatles worked together: Paul was singing this new tune to George Martin, and just as he finished the line "It's getting better all the time", John walked in the room and sang "It can't get no worse!" in perfect timing with the song he had never heard before.
Fixing a Hole - While repairmen were working on Paul's leaky roof at home, this song was born.
She's Leaving Home - This was the first song to feature instrumentals not composed by George Martin's orchestra. Martin has said he was very hurt that Paul wouldn't wait for him to finish working with another client, Mary Hopkins.
Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite! - John took the inspiration - and nearly every lyric for the song - from an old circus poster he had purchased.
Within You Without You
When I'm Sixty-Four - Paul wrote this when he was about 15 or 16. The lyrics were written years later in honor of his father's 64th birthday.
Lovely Rita - Paul found it quite amusing that in America female parking attendants were called meter maids and was inspired to pen this song.
Good Morning Good Morning - After hearing a famous Kellog's commercial which repeatedly said "good morning," John wrote this number.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
A Day in the Life - After reading the morning paper about 1000 counted potholes in Blackburn, Lancashire, and about the tragic suicide of a trafficer, John wrote this song. John has also said that the man who "blew his mind out in a car" actually refers to himself, recounting a time when he dropped acid and attempted to drive home. The line "I'd love to turn you on" is a drug reference. The middle part song by Paul was in fact an entirely different song. The boys combined the two incomplete songs as they so often did to make a whole song.
Magical Mystery Tour
Magical Mystery Tour
The Fool on the Hill
Flying - This was the only instrumental ever to be released by the Beatles. They had recorded one entitled "Cry For A Shadow" 1961 and "12-Bar Original" in 1965, intended to be included on Rubber Soul.
Blue Jay Way - George owned a residence in Los Angeles on the street Blue Jay Way. One day while waiting for friends Derek Taylor and his wife to arrive, he became impatient and started fooling around on the piano, resulting in this song.
Your Mother Should Know
I Am the Walrus - John loved reading Lewis Carol, author of Through the Looking-Glass, which tells the tales of Alice in Wonderland. John was reading the story within about the Walrus and the Carpenter, which spawned this song. John was later dismayed when he learned that the walrus was the evil one who ate all the oysters. The line "yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog's eye" came from a common schoolyard rhyme he used to recite as a child.
Hello Goodbye
Strawberry Fields Forever - Undisputably one of the Beatle's (and music in general's) greatest milestones, this song, written by John, got it's initial inspiration from memories of Strawberry Field, an abandoned orphanage near John's home when he was a boy. At the end of this song John appears to by saying "I buried Paul," one of the major clues of the whole "Paul is dead" theory. He is in fact saying cranberry sauce.
Penny Lane - This was Paul's attempt at a psychedelic song. It included various images of Penny Lane, which he used to frequently walk down.
Baby You're a Rich Man - This song was actually two separate songs, one penned by John and the other by Paul. They combined their two incomplete songs and made this whole one.
All You Need is Love - The Beatles performed this song for the "Our World" TV special, the first television program to ever be broadcast worldwide via sattelite.
1 9 6 8
Lady Madonna - Paul wrote this song with fond memories of his mother in mind.
The Inner Light - George was inspired to write this after reading a Japanese poem, in which most of the lyrics within are derived.
Hey Jude - Originally to be called "Hey Jules", Paul dedicated this song to John's son Julian after his father's divorce with Cynthia and marriage to Yoko.
Revolution - This is a remake of John's song "Revolution 1" found on the White Album. John wanted it released as a single at the slower tempo, but the other Beatles and George Martin won and John succumbed to recording it faster.
The Beatles (aka The White Ablum)
Back in the U.S.S.R. - This was inspired by Mike Love who said to Paul over breakfast in Rishikesh "Wouldn't it be fun to do a Soviet version of back in the USA?"
Dear Prudence - John wrote this while in Rishikesh for Mia Farrow's sister, Prudence. She would stay in her room all day meditating, rarely coming out with the others.
Glass Onion - As mentioned above, John had become frustrated with the world tearing the Beatle's songs apart looking for a deep spiritual meaning and wrote this to confuse and riducule them.
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Wild Honey Pie - This portion of the song was included on the White Album solely because George's wife, Pattie, liked it.
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill - The odd name of the character in this song was John's combination of Buffalo Bill and Jungle Jim, whom he always confused names with. You can hear Yoko and Pattie singing the chorus.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Special guest, George's best friend Eric Clapton, is lead guitarist on this song. Due to contract restrictions, Eric played using an alais.
Happiness is a Warm Gun - Beatles roadie Mal Evans actually penned most of the lyrics to the first part of the song, namely "she's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand, like a lizard on a window pane / the man in the crowd with the multi-colored mirrors on his hobnail boots."
Martha My Dear - This song's lovely subject is Paul's favorite pet, his sheepdog named Martha.
I'm so tired - Written during one of John's frequent insomnia attacks.
Blackbird
Piggies
Rocky Raccoon
Don't Pass Me By
Why don't we do it in the road?
I Will
Julia - This is John's beautiful ode to his mother Julia, who died when he was only 17. He combines Julia and Yoko in this song, Yoko meaning "ocean child." He frequently called Yoko "mother" for the rest of his life.
Birthday - this was written by Paul with Linda Eastman in mind; she was coming to see him the next week and her birthday was six days away.
Yer Blues - This was written by John in Rishikesh. He became frustrated and discouraged with his troubles meditating.
Mother Nature's Son - Written in Rishikesh, this was Paul's response to John's song "Child of Nature," which he would later release in 1971 as "Jealous Guy."
Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Written while in Rishikesh, John got the first part of the title from the Maharishi's frequent saying, "everybody has something to hide."
Sexy Sadie - John became quite discouraged and angry at the Maharishi after he made a pass at Mia Farrow, as in his teachings people were not supposed to succumb to earthly pleasures. This song is dedicated to him.
Helter Skelter - After reading that the Who were being called the best rockers in the music industry, Paul tried to prove that the Beatles could rock just as well as them.
Long, Long, Long - At the end of this Harrison penned number, you can hear a bottle of "Blue Nun" wine vibrating on top of a Leslie speaker cabinet.
Revolution 1
Honey Pie
Savoy Truffle - George drew the inspirating for this song while watching friend Eric Clapton eating from a box of Mackintosh's "Good News" chocolates.
Cry Baby Cry - John considered this a "nothing song," who's lyrics mean absolutely nothing.
Revolution 9 - John's inspiration for this was then girlfriend (and constant companion) Yoko Ono's idea, and she helped him mix the many tapes used.
Good Night - John wrote this song for his son Julian as a lullaby.
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Get Back - Originally intended by Paul to be about discrimination in America, it was first titles "No Pakistanis." The original lyrics include the line "Didi-a-do-ran was a Pakistani living in another ohh, All the folks around don't dig no Pakistanin talkin' all the people's jobs, get back, get back, get back to where you once belong...". A bootleg of this song surfaced in 1986, and the press had a field day saying Paul McCartney was racist. However, Paul was merely reflecting the discriminatory nature of the world.
Don't Let Me Down - John wrote this song for his newfound love, Yoko Ono.
The Ballad of John and Yoko - The only two Beatles who recorded on this track were John and Paul, with Paul on drums.
Old Brown Shoe
Across the Universe - John awoke one night and had the first verse for this song stuck in his head. He said that he almost felt possessed by this song and was forced to arrange the music on the piano and finish the lyrics before he was able to go back to sleep.
Yellow Submarine
Only a Northern Song - George wrote this out of frustration with his music publishing company, Northern Songs Ltd.
All together Now - This was an attempt by Paul to keep the group together. They would split a year later.
Hey Bulldog - This song was written simply as a song to add to the Yellow Submarine soundtrack.
It's all too much - George wrote this after some realizations he had after an acid trip. It was inspired by his wife Pattie. Included were some lyrics from the Mersey's hit "Sorrow" - 'with your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue' (a reference to Pattie).
Let It Be:
(Although released in 1970, it was recorded prior to Abbey Road, which is why I have included it under 1969 for those of you wondering.)
Two of Us - Although many believe this song was written about Paul and John's relationship, it was written by Paul for Linda Eastman.
Dig a Pony
Across the Universe - John awoke one night and had the first verse for this song stuck in his head. He said that he almost felt possessed by this song and was forced to arrange the music on the piano and finish the lyrics before he was able to go back to sleep.
I Me Mine
Dig It
Let It Be - Though it sounds like a reference to the Virgin Mary, Paul wrote this song in memory of his mother Mary, who died when he was only 14.
Maggie Mae - This is a common Liverpudlian folksong.
I've Got a Feeling
One After 909 - The Beatles had actually written this song six years prior to releasing it. Although it was intended for release, a suitable take was never brought forth.
The Long and Winding Road - The master tape for Let It Be was handed over to legendary Phil Spector for mixing. Known for his "wall of sound," Phil added strings and a chorus to the song, to the less than delightful surprise of Paul. In fact, Paul is still upset about it.
For You Blue
Get Back - Originally intended by Paul to be about discrimination in America, it was first titles "No Pakistanis." The original lyrics include the line "Didi-a-do-ran was a Pakistani living in another ohh, All the folks around don't dig no Pakistanin talkin' all the people's jobs, get back, get back, get back to where you once belong...". A bootleg of this song surfaced in 1986, and the press had a field day saying Paul McCartney was racist. However, Paul was merely reflecting the discriminatory nature of the world.
You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
Abbey Road
Come Together - this was originaly written by John as Timothy Leary's campaign theme song as he ran for governor of California against Ronald Regean.
Something - Widely regarded as George's finest composition, this song was written while James Taylor was recording his song "Something in the Way She Moves."
Maxwell's Silver Hammer - Paul desperately wanted this to be a hit single, and was worked on longer than any other song on the album, driving the other's crazy with constant retakes. It never ended up being released as a single.
Oh! Darling
Octopus's Garden - Ringo wrote this song after the captain on a ship he was on told him a story of how octopus's build undersea gardens.
I Want You (She's so Heavy) - This was the first song John wrote for Yoko.
Here Comes the Sun - One day while in Eric Clapton's garden, George picked up a guitar and came up with this song.
Because
You Never Give Me Your Money - Paul wrote this out of frustration about the horrendous financial situaion the Beatles were in: all of their money was tied in the record company. Instead of getting money they would receive "funny paper" saying how much they had earned.
Sun King
Mean Mr.Mustard
Polythene Pam - John was inspired to write this because he knew a girl who liked to eat polythene.
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window - this was written about some apple scruffs who broke into Paul's house through his bathroom window.
Golden Slumbers - One day at his father's house Paul was at the piano and was looking through his sister Ruth's piano book, which included the classic song "Golden Slumbers." Since he could not read music, he made up his own tune for it and decided to record it.
Carry That Weight
The End
Her Majesty
If you think I have made a mistake on any of the above, have something to add, or would simply like to comment on this page, feel free to email email me "indicating precisely what you mean to say."
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Arms To Hold You
