Music legends don’t come any bigger than The Beatles. Whether you’re a devoted fan who grew up with their timeless songs or a newbie just discovering the magic of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, their enormous catalogue of hits contains some of the greatest pop songs ever written. You’ve probably heard most of these tunes at some point — they’re embedded in our culture and continue to influence music today. But have you ever sat down and tried to determine which are the absolute best of the best? We have.
Here are our picks for the 10 best songs by The Beatles. Get ready to scream, swoon, and sing along.
Hey Jude
Hey Jude is arguably one of The Beatles’ most well-known and loved songs. Released in 1968, this ballad was penned by Paul McCartney to comfort John Lennon’s young son Julian during his parents’ divorce.
The over 7-minute track starts slow but builds up to an epic, sing-along ending. McCartney’s heartfelt lyrics and vocals, paired with that iconic melody, make this song special. “Hey Jude, don’t make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better,” he sings. It’s a poignant message of hope that still resonates today.
Yesterday
Yesterday is iconic for a reason. This melancholy ballad from 1965 showcases Paul McCartney at his best.
The nostalgic lyrics and melody evoke feelings of longing for the past and simpler times. McCartney’s vocals are wistful yet tender as he sings about a lost love and “all my troubles seemed so far away”. The minimal instrumentation – mainly acoustic guitar and string quartet – allows his voice to shine through.
Come Together
Come Together is arguably The Beatles’ most iconic song. Released in 1969, it has endured for over 50 years as an anthem of unity and counterculture.
The lyrics are simple yet open to interpretation. “Come together, right now, over me” seems to be a call for togetherness and harmony. However, some believe “over me” suggests the narrator is imagining a scenario where others are uniting against them. The verses reference popular figures like “old flattop”, “monkey finger”, and “one thing” (often speculated to be sex), joining together in some way.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
While My Guitar Gently Weeps is one of George Harrison’s greatest contributions to The Beatles. Released in 1968 on The Beatles (aka The White Album), this rock ballad features a melancholy melody and poetic lyrics.
Harrison wrote the song after returning from India and discovering tensions within the band. The “weeping” guitar is a metaphor for this sadness and disharmony. However, the moving love song also highlights Harrison’s growth as a songwriter, with its intricate layers of acoustic and electric guitars, organ, bass and drums.
I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Want to Hold Your Hand is arguably one of The Beatles’ most well-known and popular love songs. Released in 1963, it launched “Beatlemania” in the UK and signalled the start of the “British Invasion” of America.
When you listen to this catchy tune, you can’t help but tap your foot and sing along. The melody is simple but memorable, with a steady beat and repetitive lyrics like “I want to hold your hand, I want to hold your hand.” The hand-holding imagery and youthful lyrics captured the giddy feeling of new romance and resonated with teens and young adults around the world.
Strawberry Fields Forever
The Beatles’ psychedelic rock song “Strawberry Fields Forever” is a surreal journey into John Lennon’s childhood memories.
“Strawberry Fields Forever” was one of The Beatles’ most experimental and influential songs. The lyrics were inspired by Lennon’s nostalgic reflections on his happy childhood playing in the Strawberry Field gardens near his home. The strange, dream-like quality of the music and words perfectly capture the fuzzy, distorted nature of memory.
A Day in The Life
The Beatles’ psychedelic rock song “A Day in the Life” is a true masterpiece. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, this experimental track closes out their famous Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
“A Day in the Life” is a haunting composition featuring an orchestral crescendo and John Lennon’s dreamy vocals. The lyrics were inspired by two newspaper articles John read about a Guinness heir who died in a car crash and a pothole in Blackburn, Lancashire that needed fixing.
Here Comes The Sun
The Beatles’ 1969 hit “Here Comes The Sun” is an uplifting classic that still brightens our days. Written by George Harrison, the optimistic lyrics and melody capture the feeling of relief after a long, hard winter. The light, cheerful tune and Harrison’s vocals make it nearly impossible not to smile when you hear this song.
With poetic lyrics like “Little darlin’, it’s been a long cold lonely winter, little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here,” the message of rebirth and new beginnings resonates.
Happiness is a Warm Gun
The Beatles were masters of capturing the feeling of joy with their music. “Happiness is a Warm Gun” is a perfect example of this, being one of their most unique and eclectic songs.
The title is a play on the American phrase “happiness is a warm puppy,” but the lyrics are far from wholesome. The song is really three separate parts joined together, each with its own style and sound.
Eleanor Rigby
“Eleanor Rigby” is a Beatles classic. This song tells a tragic story of lonely people in a large city. The woman named Eleanor Rigby “lives in a dream” and “waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door.”
The priest named Father McKenzie “writes the words of a sermon that no one will hear” and “darn[s] his socks in the night when there’s nobody there.” These lines paint a picture of profound loneliness and isolation.
Which is your favourite Beatles song? Let us know in the comments below.