All Things Must Pass

In Nov 1968 after completing the White Album, George went to Woodstock to stay with Bob Dylan, spending time with The Band. He played this song during the Beatles recording in Jan 1969 and then recorded it alone in Feb to attempt to capture the feeling that The Band had in their single The Weight. However this song was not included in Let it Be or Abbey Road albums. Instead it became the title track of George's debut solo album in Dec 1970, reaching no 4 in British and topping the US chart.

LyricsSunrise doesn't last all morning,
a cloudburst doesn't last all day.
Seems my love is up
and has left you with no warning.
It's not always going to be this grey.

All things must pass,
all things must pass away.

Sunset doesn't last all evening,
a mind can blow those clouds away.
after all this my love is up
and must be leaving.
It's not always going to be this grey.

All things must pass,
all things must pass away.

All things must pass
none of life's strings can last.
So I must be on my way,
face another day.

Darkness only stays at nighttime,
in the morning it will fade away.
Daylight has a habit of arriving at the right time.
It's not always going to be this grey.

All things must pass,
all things must pass away.
All things must pass,
all things must pass away.

uploaded from Youtube

The End

The End was the final proper track on the last album, Abbey Road, recorded by The Beatles. It signed off their studio career.
LyricsOh yeah, all right
Are you going to be in my dreams
Tonight?

And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make.

Uploaded from Youtube

A day In the Life

Another song from the Sgt Pepper's album, this was John's effort in combining his unfinished song with one of Paul's. there were references to drugs, marijuana, heroin. It was banned from the airwaves in many countries.

LyricsI read the news today oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grave
And though the news was rather sad
Well I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn't notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They'd seen his face before
Nobody was really sure
If he was from the House of Lords.

I saw a film today oh boy
The English Army had just won the war
A crowd of people turned away
but I just had to look
Having read the book
I'd love to turn you on

Woke up, fell out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late.
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in second splat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke,
and Somebody spoke and I went into a dream

I read the news today oh boy
Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.
I'd love to turn you on

uploaded from Youtube

And I Love Her

Paul's love for ballads made his write this song in Feb 1964. It was the first song which featured acoustic instruments only. Ringo played the bongos. It was hard to believe that this song was not for Jane Asher.

Lyrics
I give her all my love
That's all I do
And if you saw my love
You'd love her too
I love her

She gives me everything
And tenderly
The kiss my lover brings
She brings to me
And I love her

A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me

Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her

Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her

An original video

She Loves You

Though they have already had two no 1 hits in Britain in 1963, it was this song which brought them to the 'toppermost of the poppermost'. This song distilled the essence of everything that made them fresh and exciting.... the driving beat, the fine harmonising and the girlish woooo sounds. The distinctive 'yeah yeah yeah' became a famous catch phrase.
LyricsShe loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

You think you lost your love,
Well, I saw her yesterday.
It's you she's thinking of
And she told me what to say.

She says she loves you
And you know that can't be bad.
Yes, she loves you
And you know you should be glad.

She said you hurt her so
She almost lost her mind.
But now she said she knows
You're not the hurting kind.

She says she loves you
And you know that can't be bad.
Yes, she loves you
And you know you should be glad. Ooh!

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
And with a love like that
You know you should be glad.

You know it's up to you,
I think it's only fair,
Pride can hurt you, too,
Apologize to her

Because she loves you
And you know that can't be bad.
Yes, she loves you
And you know you should be glad. Ooh!

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah

with a love like that
You know you should
Be Glad!

with a love like that
You know you should
Be Glad!

With a love like that
You know you should
be glad!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah Ye-ah.

1963 Live : downloaded from Youtube

All My Loving

All My Loving was in the 'With The Beatles' album, written by Paul who was inspired by actress, Jane Asher.

LyricsClose your eyes and I'll kiss you,
Tomorrow I'll miss you;
Remember I'll always be true.
And then while I'm away,
I'll write home ev'ry day,
And I'll send all my loving to you.

I'll pretend That I'm missing
the lips I am missing
And hope that my dreams will come true.
And then while I'm away,
I'll write home ev'ry day,
And I'll send all my loving to you.

All my loving I will send to you.
All my loving, darling I'll be true.

Close your eyes and I'll kiss you,
Tomorrow I'll miss you:
Remember I'll always be true.
And then while I'm away,
I'll write home ev'ry day,
And I'll send all my loving to you

All my loving I will send to you.
All my loving darling I'll be True.
All my loving All my loving ooh
All my loving I will send to you

downloaded from Youtube

Girl

"Girl" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney based on an original idea by Lennon and performed by The Beatles on their 1965 album Rubber Soul. "Girl" was the last complete song recorded for that album

Lyrics of GirlIs there anybody going to listen to my story
All about the girl who came to stay?
She's the kind of girl you want so much
It makes you sorry
Still you don't regret a single day.
Ah girl
Girl

When I think of all the times I've tried so hard to leave her
She will turn to me and start to cry;
And she promises the earth to me
And I believe her
After all this time I don't know why
Ah girl
Girl

She's the kind of girl who puts you down
When friends are there, you feel a fool.
When you say she's looking good
She acts as if it's understood.
She's cool, ooh, ooh, ooh,
Girl
Girl

Was she told when she was young that pain
Would lead to pleasure?
Did she understand it when they said
That a man must break his back to earn
His day of leisure?
Will she still believe it when he's dead?
Ah girl
Girl

downloaded from Youtube

I Got a Feeling

'I Got a Feeling' (Let It Be 1970) was another collaboration between Lennon and McCartney except that the first part was written by Paul while the rest from 'Everybody had a hard year' section by John. By now the Beatles 'divorce' was very clear especially bitter between Paul and John.
This video captured the last public performance by the fab 4 at the roof of the Apple Building on 30 Jan 1969. Breaking up was eminent.

LyricsI've got a feeling, a feeling deep inside
Oh yeah, Oh yeah. (that's right.)
I've got a feeling, a feeling I can't hide
Oh no. no. Oh no! Oh no.
Yeah! Yeah! I've got a feeling. Yeah!

Oh please believe me, I'd hate to miss the train
Oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah.
And if you leave me I won't be late again
Oh no, oh no, oh no.
Yeah Yeah I've got a feeling, yeah.
I got a feeling.

All these years I've been wandering around,
Wondering how come nobody told me
All that I was looking for was somebody
Who looked like you.

I've got a feeling that keeps me on my toes
Oh yeah, Oh yeah.
I've got a feeling, I think that everybody knows.
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah.
Yeah! Yeah! I've got a feeling. Yeah!

Ev'rybody had a hard year.
Ev'rybody had a good time.
Ev'rybody had a wet dream.
Ev'rybody saw the sunshine.
Oh yeah, Oh yeah. Oh Yeah.
Ev'rybody had a good year.
Ev'rybody let their hair down.
Ev'rybody pulled their socks up. (yeah.)
Ev'rybody put their foot down.
Oh yeah. Yeah! WOOOOHOO!

repeat with both parts.

[Oh my soul...it's so hard.]

Let It Be

In March 1970, the single 'Let It Be' a Paul McCartney's epic was released before the album (May 1970). It was deliberately recorded as the Beatles' swansong. However it was recorded in Jan 1969 and no one had any idea that it was going to be the last single. Paul wrote it out of the general feeling of despair as the Beatles began to fall apart. John preferred to spend more time with Yoko Ono, George was discouraged that his songs were rejected and Ringo even took off for a holiday during the recording of the White Album. John Lennon described it as 'hell to go through the six weeks of misery' in completing the album. In the 'Let It be' film, the last performance of the Beatles on the roof of Apple's office was recorded. As usual John in his pointed sense said " I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and i hope we pass the audition."

LyricsWhen I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Yeah, There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
(instrumental break)

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me.
Shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be no sorrow, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. hoooo' hoooo'

Do You Want To Know a Secret?

Do You Want to Know a Secret? from album 'Please Please Me' (1964) was written by John shortly after he married Cynthia Powell who was pregnant. the 'secret' was John's realisation that he was really in love. The flushing sound at the end was John's doing as he
making a demo in the toilet. Billy J Kramer made it a hit, the first time another artiste sang a Lennon-McCartney song.
Lyrics
You'll never know how much I really love you.
You'll never know how much I really care.

Listen,
Do you want to know a secret?,
Do you promise not to tell?, whoa oh, oh.

Closer,
Let me whisper in your ear,
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

Listen,
Do you want to know a secret?,
Do you promise not to tell?, whoa oh, oh.

Closer,
Let me whisper in your ear,
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

I've known the secret for a week or two,
Nobody knows, just we two.

Listen,
Do you want to know a secret?,
Do you promise not to tell?, whoa oh, oh.

Closer,
Let me whisper in your ear,
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

Lucy In the Skies with Diamonds

"Lucy in the Skies with Diamonds" from Sgt Pepper's was the most controversial pyschedelic song the Beatles had ever recorded. John Lennon would want the world to believe that its title was not drug related (LSD) but from his son. Julian's art work. However, the lyrics, on deeper reflection and reading was a 'bad acid trip'

Lyrics of Lucy In the Skies with Diamonds

{VERSE 1}
Picture yourself in a boat on a river,
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies.
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly,
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green,
Towering over your head.
Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes,
And she's gone.

{CHORUS}
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Ah... Ah...

{VERSE 2}
Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain,
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies.
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers,
That grow so incredibly high.

Newspaper taxis appear on the shore,
Waiting to take you away.
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds,
And you're gone.

{CHORUS}

Picture yourself on a train in a station,
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties.
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile,
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes.

{CHORUS}

{CHORUS FADEING}

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

George with Eric Clapton

 



While My Guitar Gently Weeps - George Harrison at his top. On the invitation of George, Eric Clapton became the first non-Beatle who featured in a Beatle song. He played lead while George was on rhythm. It was recorded in Sept 1968 though George started it in July as the rest of the Beatles weren't interested in his songs.

Lyrics of My Guitar Gently Weeps

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know why nobody told you how to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you.

I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you.

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all . . .
Still my guitar gently weeps.

I Feel Fine

The Beatles completed the album 'A Hard day's Night' in June 1964 and by mid August were back to start work on 'Beatles For Sale'. The song, written by John, had a guitar riff inspired by Bobby Parker's 'Watch Your Steps'

Lyrics of I Feel Fine

Baby's good to me you know,
She's happy as can be you know,
She said so
I'm in love with her and I feel fine
Baby says she's mine you know,
She tells me all the time you know,
She said so
I'm in love with her and I feel fine
I'm so glad that she's my little girl
She's so glad, she's telling all the world
That her baby buys her things you know.
He buys her diamond rings you know,
She said so
She's in love with me and I feel fine, MMM
Baby says she's mine you know,
She tells me all the time you know,
She said so
I'm in love with her and I feel fine
I'm so glad that she's my little girl
She's so glad, she's telling all the world
That her baby buys her things you know.
He buys her diamond rings you know,
She said so
She's in love with me and I feel fine
She's in love with me and I feel fine, MMM

Live at Shea Stadium 1965

Eight Days a Week

John claimed that this song was written by Paul as a potential title track for the Beatles followup film to 'A Hard day's Night'. Director Dick Lester pointed out that it wa srecorded in October 1964 where as 'Help' started filming in Feb 1965. Originally they thought of calling it "Eight Arms to Hold". Paul then heard the phrase 'Eight Days a Week' from a chauffer who drove him to John's home in Weybridge one day."Busy? I 've been working eight days a week" said the chauffer to Paul. It is the first song which has a fade-in. It was made the followup single to 'I Feel Fine' and made it to no 1 spot.

Lyrics
Ooh I need your love babe,
Guess you know it's true.
Hope you need my love babe,
Just like I need you,Ooo.

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.
I ain't got nothin' but love babe,
Eight days a week.

Love you ev'ry day girl,
Always on my mind.
One thing I can say girl,
Love you all the time,ooh


Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.
I ain't got nothin' but love girl,
Eight days a week.

Eight days a week
I love you.
Eight days a week
Is not enough to show I care.

Ooh I need your love babe,
Guess you know it's true.
Hope you need my love babe,
Just like I need you.

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.
I ain't got nothin' but love babe,
Eight days a week.

Eight days a week
I love you.
Eight days a week
Is not enough to show I care.

Love you ev'ry day girl,
Always on my mind.
One thing I can say girl,
Love you all the time.

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.
I ain't got nothin' but love babe,
Eight days a week,
Eight days a week,
Eight days a week.

 

Octopus's Garden

'Octopus's Garden' was one of the few songs featuring Ringo Starr's vocals

LYRICS

I'd like to be, under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade
He'd let us in, knows where we've been
in his octupus' garden, in the shade.

I'd ask my friends to come and see
An octopus' garden with me
I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade.

We would be warm, below the storm
In our little hideaway beneath the waves
Resting our head, on the sea bed
In an octopus' garden near a cave

We would sing and dance around
because we know we can't be found
I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade

We would shout(out) and swim about
The coral that lies beneath the waves
(Lies beneath the ocean waves)
Oh what joy for every girl and boy
Knowing they're happy and they're safe
(Happy and they're safe)

We would be so happy you and me
No one there to tell us what to do
I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden with you
In an octupus' garden with you
In an octupus' garden with you.

Norwegian Wood

Although John was famous as the married Beatle, he was not happily married. He was not faithful as he took advantage of the backstage groupies and had confessed to Cynthia that he had been unfaithful. This song was about him boasting about a girl he has 'had'. She took him home and asked him to admire furnishings made from cheap Norwegian pine.

John began the song in Feb 1965. He later asked Paul for help and Paul suggested that he should develop a story about a girl who leads a man on and ends with a man setting the apartment on fire as an act of revenge.

The song stood out in the 'Rubber Soul' album fro its use of the sitar. The Indian influence was beginning to show through George Harrison.

Lyrics of Norwegian Wood

once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me;
She showed me her room, isn't it good, Norwegian wood?

She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere,
So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair.

I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine,
We talked until two and then she said, "It's time for bed"

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh.
I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath

And when I awoke I was alone, this bird had flown
So I lit a fire, isn't it good, Norwegian wood.

downloaded from Youtube

Till There Was You

'Till There was You' captivates your attention with its holiday sound .

Lyrics of Till There Was YouThere were bells on a hill
But I never heard them ringing
No I never heard them at all
Till there was you

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No I never saw them at all
Till there was you

Then there was music and wonderful roses
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and dew

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No I never heard it at all
Till there was you

Then there was music and wonderful roses
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and dew

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No I never heard it at all
Till there was you

Till there was you

year 1963 downloaded from Youtube

From Me To You

'From Me to You' was the third Beatles hit, top selling for 6 weeks in 1963 to become their 2nd no 1 in Britain. It was written in Nov 1963 while travelling by coach from York to Shrewsbury on the Helen Shapiro tour. The title was suggested from the From You to Us column in the weekly New Musical Express.

Lyrics If there's anything that you want,
If there's anything I can do,
Just call on me and I'll send it along
With love from me to you.

I've got everything that you want,
Like a heart that is oh, so true.
Just call on me and I'll send it along
With love from me to you.
I got arms that long to hold you
And keep you by my side.
I got lips that long to kiss you
And keep you satisfied, oooh.

If there's anything that you want,
If there's anything I can do,
Just call on me and I'll send it along
With love from me to you.
From me, to you.

From me. To You.

Just call on me and I'll send it along
With love from me to you.

I got arms that long to hold you
And keep you by my side.
I got lips that long to kiss you
And keep you satisfied, oooh.
If there's anything that you want,
If there's anything I can do,
Just call on me and I'll send it along
With love from me to you.
To you, to you, to you.

Performance at the 1963 Royal Variety Show, London downloaded from Youtube

All You Need is Love

1967 was a year when conflicts were aplenty. The Vietnam War and the anti-war protests, ghetto rebellions, Six-day war in the mid-east. The Beatles were approached by BBC to take part in the first ever global TV link. The Beatles were asked to write a simple song that would be understood by viewers of all nationalities. John's All You Need is Love was chosen. Thus 'All You Need Is Love' was released during this troubled time, viewers saw it on June 25 1967. It was a re-creation of a Beatles recording session. It was released on July 7 and became the anthem of flower power.

25 June 1967

 

Lyrics of All You Need Is Love
Love, Love, Love.
Love, Love, Love.
Love, Love, Love.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.
It's easy.

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.
It's easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

Nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love (All together, now!)
All you need is love. (Everybody!)
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
(love is all you need) (love is all you need)
(love is all you need) Yesterday (love is all you need)
(love is all you need) (love is all you need)

Yee-hai!
Oh yeah!
love is all you need, love is all you need,love is all you need, love is all you need, oh yeah oh hell yea! love is all you need love is all you need love is all you need.

My Bonnie

My Bonnie was the very first Beatles recording in 1961, used for demo to Decca records which rejected them.

Lyrics
My bonnie lyes over the ocean
my bonnie lyes over the sea
my bonnie lyes over the ocean
please bring back my bonnie to me

Fast pace singing

(repeat above)

The early Beatles June 22 1961 at Hamburg, Germany, a few months after the death of Stuart Stutcliffe. Performed with Tony Sheridan (downloaded from Youtube)