This list contains the best Beatles songs of all time.
The Beatles are one of the best-selling bands of all time, with over 800 million records sold. They also have a huge fan base that continues to grow even in their absence. Choosing the best songs can be challenging with so many pieces in their repertoire, but we’re here to help. Here’s our list of the 55 best Beatles Songs!
1. In My Life
The song is one of the best-Beatles songs of all time, held in high regard by both fans and critics. Many Beatles songs bestow upon you a warm feeling of nostalgia, but this song best encapsulates that feeling in a single track.
Next: Easiest Beatles songs to learn on guitar
2. She loves You
The song is about a man who’s trying to convince a woman that he loves her. It was the first Beatles song by Capitol Records, and it best displays the group’s early musical style and best-Beatles songs. She Loves You is one of the best-Beatles songs ever, primarily due to its catchy melody. It best shows off the group’s best Beatles songs, one of their most famous singles.
Next: Best love songs of all time (greatest ever)
3. Something
Something was released in 1969 and is a George Harrison composition. It best shows off the group’s skills, with its soulful lyrics and heartfelt delivery. The song’s original intent was supposed to be a devotion to Lord Krishna.
4. I Want To Hold Your Hand
This was among the first Beatles song that American audiences heard, and it helped spark the British Invasion that brought rock n’ roll to mainstream America. The song’s beats are incredibly catchy, with a chorus with an unforgettable “Whoa ohh” hook. This is one of the best-Beatles songs ever recorded.
Next: Best classic rock songs ever (greatest all time list)
5. Hey Jude
The song’s release was in the album Past Masters, Vol.2 1969. It best shows off Paul McCartney’s skills as a songwriter and vocalist, with lyrics still ring true today. The song was to encourage Julian amidst his parent’s divorce.
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6. Yesterday
The song’s release was in 1965, and it best shows off Paul McCartney’s songwriting skills, as he is the only Beatle to appear on the track. It was also among the first Beatles songs that American audiences heard, and it helped spark the British Invasion. McCartney wrote the song as a way to cope with his mother’s death.
Next: Top songs about death to grieve to (great list)
7. Here Comes the Sun
Written by George Harrison, the song is best known for its use in The Hard Day’s Night. It’s considered one of his finest compositions and is a staple of his solo career. This is one song that best shows off George Harrison’s songwriting and guitar skills.
8. Penny Lane
Paul wrote the song while sitting at a bus shelter waiting for John, with the song’s inspiration coming from the houses and all he could see around him. It best shows off their more psychedelic style and is a great song.
9. A Hard Day’s Night
The title of the song was from an expression that Ringo used to say. It has some Irish influences and is a staple of the early years of The Beatles. This song best shows off the upbeat style that they became known for.
10. Strawberry Fields Forever
Strawberry was a real place that John Lennon grew up near, and the song is about his childhood. The song is about the memories of that place and how much the area meant to him.
11. Norwegian Wood
Harrison wrote the lyrics. The use of a sitar was also unique to pop music at the time, and this is one of their most covered Beatles songs. It took a lot of effort from Harrison to perfect using the sitar.
Next: The best cover songs ever (great list of covers)
12. I Saw Her Standing There
The song created the perfect songwriting partnership between Lennon and McCartney. It is considered one of the first true rock n’ roll songs, with both uptempo music and more relatable lyrics to teens.
13. Twist and Shout
The music’s release was in 1963, but it wasn’t until The Beatles recorded it that it became a hit. It was one of their most famous songs, and they performed the song in many concerts during the early years.
Next: The best songs of all time (MG greatest songs list)
14. Revolution
The song was written by John while in India at a meditation camp. The music is available in two versions: the album version and a more extended, more jam-oriented live version. They have based the song around three chords played on guitar, bass, and drums.
The original album version is in the key of D major, and the live performance transposes it to E-flat Major. The chord progression is unusual for a pop and rock song in that the verses do not follow the standard chord progression of I-V. The chords used are D, A, and E-flat. The chorus uses an I–III–IV chord progression (D major – E Minor – F major).
15. Let it be
The song was part of their last album, and it talks about leaving things in the hands of fate. The lyrics talk about moving on with life and leaving problems behind. Many people thought Mother Mary was the biblical one, but it was referencing Paul’s mother.
16. Here There and Everywhere
The song’s inspiration partly came from the Beach Boys song “God Only Knows.” When they were in Rishikesh, the Beatles took part in a lecture by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who said that after meditation, one would feel as if they weres in a “world of pure thought,” and the words came to Lennon.
The song was a favorite of the Beatles, and McCartney said it would have been his choice as a single from that album. The song’s final version, which became one of their best-known songs and its release as a single in 1966, is notably different from earlier versions.
17. Come Together
The song was written for Timothy Leary when he wanted to run for governor. It was his campaign song and a dance song to do with the whole hippy movement thing. The lyrics’ meaning is that everybody comes together over their beliefs and nobody else’s.
Next: Best songs about peace (MG top list)
18. Tomorrow Never Knows
The song was inspired by the book “The Psychedelic Experience” by Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, and Richard Alpert. John Lennon wrote the song after he took LSD and listened to George Harrison’s “Within You Without You.” The song is a psychedelic rock and roll song.
19. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Eric played the guitar solos for this song by George Harrison. He was the first to do a guitar solo on a Beatles record, and it turned out so well that George decided to keep it.
After all the other parts of the song, they recorded the guitar solo that had been put down on tape, so Harrison could learn to play the solo in time with the music.
20. Help!
The movie filming was in England, and it started the Beatles on their second wave of success after they stopped touring. They used the song as the title for their second movie. The song is one of John’s most covered songs, and there are over 200 different covers of the song.
21. Can’t buy me, Love
The song performed well in the US charts and was one of their more upbeat songs. Paul McCartney wrote it after they had stopped touring, and he wanted to write something that would get the fans interested in them again. He also wanted to try something different because it was a happy song with an upbeat tempo, unlike most of their songs.
Next: The best Beatles love songs ever made
22. She Said She Said
They recorded the song in nine hours during the sessions for Revolver. They wrote it during an acid trip at a party, and it is one of the first songs to use backward instrumentation.
23. Rain
This is one of the best Beatles songs ever, due in part to its soulful lyrics and heartfelt delivery that perfectly captures the song’s mood. John wrote it, and he was highly stoned. The producer didn’t think the backward recording would be good for the music.
Next: Top songs about water (our list)
24. Eleanor Rigby
Paul McCartney wrote this song, and it is one of the best-Beatles songs ever. It tells a sad story about loneliness in life. The lyrics’ inspiration was from a newspaper article McCartney read about an elderly spinster who had died, and no one attended her funeral.
Next: Top sad songs of all time (Music Grotto’s list)
25. Please Please Me
This song was the very first single that The Beatles released, and it is one of their best. It was a major hit in England, but it struggled to get noticed when they released it in the US. The song is also one of John’s favorites, and he said that people would be surprised at how he wrote many of his songs on the guitar.
26. Long, Long, Long
This seems like a love song but it’s actually a love song for a higher power. The meaning may be lost on some fans, but it doesn’t stop it from being beloved by audiences around the world
27. Dear Prudence
This song was a single from their album “The White Album,” and it has been covered by many other artists since. It is one of John’s songs, and he wrote it for his friend Prudence after she went into a trance-like state while meditating. John wanted to bring her back to reality.
Next: Best songs about dreams and dreaming states
28. Ticket to Ride
John Lennon wrote this song, and it is one of their best works ever. It has a big sound with lots of instruments, and it was also one of their first songs to use the Mellotron.
29. I am the Walrus
This song doesn’t have a set chorus or verse, and it is considered one of the Beatles’ most experimental pieces. John’s reason for writing it was to mess with those trying to have an in-depth knowledge of their music.
30. Money (That’s What I want)
This song is one of their best, and Berry Gordy Jr. wrote it. The Beatles version didn’t do so well in the UK charts, but it did well in the US. The song is about money and wanting to buy everything you see.
31. Nowhere Man
This is one of the Beatles’ best songs ever, and John Lennon wrote it. The song has a very catchy guitar riff in the background that makes it stand out, and the lyrics tell a tale of someone who leads an unfulfilled life.
32. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
This song is one of their most popular songs ever, and John Lennon wrote it about his son’s friend who had a drawing that he made which was a strange combination of a picture and her name. The lyrics have been the subject of much speculation about what they mean, but no one knows for sure.
Next: Best songs that everyone knows the lyrics to (our top list)
33. She Loves You
This was one of their earlier songs, and it reached #l on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard charts. The song is about a girl who loves you unconditionally, but it has received criticism for its simplistic lyrics, which sound like they are for children.
34. Blackbird
The song is about the civil rights struggle in the United States, McCartney said this in an interview with “Melody Maker.” magazine: Later on, I was sitting around thinking about a blackbird sitting on a blackberry bush and how beautiful they are. Suddenly, my head filled with these psychedelic colors like the ‘blue’ in Tomorrow Never Knows, and I began to write this song.
Next: Best songs with colors in the title (our list)
35. The End
This is the only song that Ringo performs drum solos. The last line is also on their previous album. This was a great song, and Ringo can drum despite hating solos.
36. I Feel Fine
The guitar riff for this song inspired many musicians to play the electric guitar similarly, including The Byrds, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. This song is one of John Lennon’s personal favorites.
Next: Top electric guitar songs of all time (our list)
37. Taxman
The song depicts bitterness towards a system that was making them pay heavy taxes. The song was no. 17 on the US charts.
38. With a Little Help from My Friends
They never released the song as a single, and many people thought it was about illicit substances. It hit the UK charts no. 1 three times and the US charts no. 17.
39. Lovely Rita
In this song, Paul and Martin played the piano, and Ringo played drums. They used combs and paper to create sound effects. The song is quite catchy.
40. Day Tripper
They wrote the song after their company demanded a new single. This is one of the best songs on their album.
41. Helter Skelter
Paul wanted this song recognized as one of their best. The beats are like a speedy rock song.
42. All You Need is Love
More than 400 million people watched this event all around the world. They first played the song live on Our World, the first live global television link. This song shows that love is what you need.
43. I’m Only Sleeping
John Lennon wrote the song about the time he spent sleeping during an acid trip. They recorded this song in one take with no overdubs, an impressive feat for any recording artist of the era.
Next: Best songs about sleeping ever made
44. Girl
The song is about a dream girl that John Lennon thought he had found. His wife thought the song was about her.
Next: Top songs for a first dance at your wedding
45. Happiness is a Warm Gun
The title came from an article in the magazine ‘The American Rifleman. The song involves different time signatures skillfully combined to make the whole song complete.
46. If I Fell
The song’s intro has no musical instruments, which was a scarce thing for this time. The body of the music also has no chorus and contains large intervals in between the verses.
47. Julia
John dedicated this song to Yoko and his mother. He did the recording himself with an acoustic guitar, but added a string quartet later to help give it the mood he wanted.
48. I feel Fine
John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote this song in 1964. The two of them were working together on a writing session when they wrote this song. Paul McCartney came up with the song’s melody while Lennon wrote the lyrics. The two of them were inspired by Bobby Parker’s “Watch Your Step.”
49. We Can Work it Out
The song was about Paul’s girlfriend at the time, Jane Asher. The music was played in a primary key, emphasizing minor chords, sounding more sad than happy.
Next: Top breakup songs of all time (MG’s list)
50. I’ll Cry Instead
The song has an extra verse in the US album and was initially written by McCartney for Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas, but the band didn’t like it, so Paul took it back and recorded it.
51. Drive My Car
The song is about a guy meeting an aspiring actress and taking her for a ride in his car. Paul McCartney wrote the music, and he also sang it as well as playing piano on it. He truly was one of the most successful and prolific musicians in history.
52. Eight Days a Week
They released the song after a long silence from the band. The song is a unique mixture of their usual sound and country music, which they hadn’t done before.
Next: Top country songs of all time (Music Grotto’s list)
53. I Should Have Known Better
Lennon wrote this song and initiated a hammer effect. Lennon insists the song is just that, a song with no hidden meanings.
54. Paperback Writer
The song was the first time in history that one had heard a bass guitar part on an intro. It was released in 1966 and was part of the album ‘Yesterday and Today.’
55. There’s A Place
The song is among John’s first attempts at writing a piece of music. The song is about the places he has been to, and its recording was part of a successful session.
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