In part one of this mini-series, I’ve covered the 10 best Paul McCartney songs with The Beatles. In part two, we’re going over the best John Lennon songs with The Beatles. The ranking is mostly based on personal preference, but cultural importance was taken into consideration too. Let’s dive into the list!
Part 1: The 10 Best Paul McCartney Songs With The Beatles
10. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
I start this list with “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”. The song is John Lennon in his self-described ‘Bob Dylan period’. “I am like a chameleon, influenced by whatever is going on”, Lennon later commented. But “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” isn’t some cheap Dylan mimic, as it is easily one of the best tracks on Help! and one of Lennon’s finest with The Beatles.
9. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” was inspired by a drawing Lennon’s son Julian brought home from school, although many claim the song has a different inspiration. The dream-like verses and imaginative lyrics are peak Beatles psychedelia and feature on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which many consider to be the band’s magnum opus.
Read more: Ranking The Beatles Albums From Worst To Best
8. Help!
Who knew that crying out for help could sound so catchy? Well, that must be a mixed blessing of being one of the greatest songwriters of all time. “I meant it – it’s real,” John Lennon later told Rolling Stone. “The lyric is as good now as it was then. It is no different, and it makes me feel secure to know that I was aware of myself then. It was just me singing ‘help’ and I meant it.” The song is considered a John Lennon essential and ranked among his personal favorites, so who am I to not include it on this list?
7. I Am The Walrus
The people who seek meaning out of John Lennon’s lyrics should dive into “I Am The Walrus”. Let’s see what they find! Personally, I think the song is a perfect mix of nonsense, absurdity, and musical experimentation. Sounds pretty meaningful to me!
6. Nowhere Man
For number 6, I’ve picked “Nowhere Man”. The song is the first of three songs from Rubber Soul on this list, the album where John Lennon – in my opinion – truly shines. The song was a departure from the band’s common themes and is seen as the first Beatles song completely unrelated to love or romance.
5. Norwegian Wood
“Norwegian Wood”, just like “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”, is John Lennon in his Bob Dylan period. The song is known for its introspective and humorous lyrics, its folk-rock sound, and George Harrison’s use of the sitar, which was one of the first times the instrument was used in pop music. All things combined, “Norwegian Wood” easily ranks as one of Lennon’s very best songs.
4. Across The Universe
In my opinion, “Across The Universe” is one of John Lennon’s most underrated songs. Lennon himself, however, disliked the recording of the song and blamed McCartney for ‘subconsciously destroying’ it. Though he did like the lyrics of the song. “It’s one of the best lyrics I’ve written. In fact, it could be the best,” Lennon told Rolling Stone. “It’s good poetry, or whatever you call it, without chewin’ it. See, the ones I like are the ones that stand as words, without melody. They don’t have to have any melody, like a poem, you can read them.”
3. Tomorrow Never Knows
“Tomorrow Never Knows” was released 6 decades ago, and still sounds 6 decades ahead of its time to this very day. Lennon wrote the lyrics of the song based on the book The Psychedelic Experience, which contained the opening lines of the song ‘Turn off your mind / Relax and float down stream’. “Tomorrow Never Knows” is basically a meditation session bundled up in one of the most absurd arrangements of all time. And magically enough – as is often the case with The Beatles – it works.
2. In My Life
John Lennon considered “In My Life” to be his ‘first real major piece of work’ because it was the first song he consciously wrote about his life. The song is often seen as a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but also clearly addresses a present love who makes ‘memories lose their meaning’. George Harrison and Paul McCartney considered the song one of their Beatles favorites, and so do I.
Read more: The Story Behind “In My Life” by The Beatles
1. Strawberry Fields Forever
In my opinion, “Strawberry Fields Forever” is John Lennon’s very best song. The song is engaging from start to end, starting with the iconic Mellotron introduction. Lennon wrote “Strawberry Fields Forever” about his childhood in Liverpool, specifically the garden of Strawberry Field Salvation Army children’s home, where he used to play as a kid.
Lennon called the song ‘psychoanalysis set to music’ and considered it one of his most honest songs. “Strawberry Fields Forever” was released as a double A-side single in 1967 together with McCartney’s “Penny Lane” (which he wrote in reply to “Strawberry Fields”). The single is easily the most iconic ever released.
That wraps up my list of the greatest John Lennon songs with The Beatles! I, without a doubt, forgot to mention songs that could’ve easily ranked on this list. I’m thinking of “Don’t Let Me Down”, “Come Together”, “Happiness Is a Warm Gun”, and “Girl”, among others. What are some of your favorites from John Lennon with The Beatles? What would your personal top 10 look like? Please let me know in the comments below!
