Overview
The Beatles performed in a time when many artists could put out several records a year. Thankfully, they had one of the greatest songwriting teams hammering out classics every year. John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote nearly 200 songs – not to mention George Harrison provided some classics.
Songs from The Beatles vary from their early Merseybeat records to later Psychedelia sounds. The Beatles on “playlist shuffle” makes an interesting listen.
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Ranking the Best Beatles Song
The Beatles released 63 singles and 36 EPs. Over the years, demo and alternate versions of Beatle recordings were released on official albums. Many of these songs won’t qualify for ranking, but they are certainly worth a listen if you are a Beatles fan.
| Avg. Score | Name | Album | Todd | Eric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Come Together | Abbey Road | |||
| Something | Abbey Road | |||
| Maxwell's Silver Hammer | Abbey Road | |||
| Oh! Darling | Abbey Road | |||
| Octopus's Garden | Abbey Road | |||
| I Want You (She's So Heavy) | Abbey Road | |||
| Here Comes the Sun | Abbey Road | |||
| Because | Abbey Road | |||
| You Never Give Me Your Money | Abbey Road | |||
| Sun King | Abbey Road | |||
| Mean Mr. Mustard | Abbey Road | |||
| Polythene Pam | Abbey Road | |||
| She Came In Through the Bathroom Window | Abbey Road | |||
| Golden Slumbers | Abbey Road | |||
| Carry That Weight | Abbey Road | |||
| The End | Abbey Road | |||
| Her Majesty | Abbey Road | |||
| Free as a Bird | Anthology 1 | |||
| Hallelujah, I Love Her So | Anthology 1 | |||
| You'll Be Mine | Anthology 1 | |||
| Cayenne | Anthology 1 | |||
| My Bonnie | Anthology 1 | |||
| Ain't She Sweet | Anthology 1 | |||
| Cry for a Shadow | Anthology 1 | |||
| Searchin' | Anthology 1 | |||
| Three Cool Cats | Anthology 1 | |||
| The Sheik of Araby | Anthology 1 | |||
| Like Dreamers Do | Anthology 1 | |||
| Hello Little Girl | Anthology 1 | |||
| Besame Mucho | Anthology 1 | |||
| Love Me Do | Anthology 1 | |||
| How Do You Do It | Anthology 1 | |||
| Please Please Me | Anthology 1 | |||
| One After 909 (sequence) | Anthology 1 | |||
| One After 909 (complete) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Lend Me Your Comb (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| I'll Get You (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| I Saw Her Standing There (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| From Me to You (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Money (That's What I Want) (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| You Really Got a Hold on Me (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Roll Over Beethoven (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| She Loves You (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Till There Was You (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Twist and Shout (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| This Boy (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| I Want to Hold Your Hand (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Moonlight Bay (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Can't Buy Me Love (takes 1 & 2) | Anthology 1 | |||
| All My Loving (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| You Can't Do That (take 6) | Anthology 1 | |||
| And I Love Her (take 2) | Anthology 1 | |||
| A Hard Day's Night (take 1) | Anthology 1 | |||
| I Wanna Be Your Man (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Long Tall Sally (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Boys (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Shout (live) | Anthology 1 | |||
| I'll Be Back (take 2) | Anthology 1 | |||
| I'll Be Back (take 3) | Anthology 1 | |||
| You Know What to Do (demo) | Anthology 1 | |||
| No Reply (demo) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Mr. Moonlight (takes 1 & 4) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Leave My Kitten Alone (take 5) | Anthology 1 | |||
| No Reply (take 2) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Eight Days a Week (sequence) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Eight Days a Week (complete) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! (take 2) | Anthology 1 | |||
| Real Love | Anthology 2 | |||
| Yes It Is | Anthology 2 | |||
| I'm Down | Anthology 2 | |||
| You've Got to Hide Your Love Away | Anthology 2 | |||
| If You've Got Trouble | Anthology 2 | |||
| That Means a Lot | Anthology 2 | |||
| Yesterday | Anthology 2 | |||
| It's Only Love | Anthology 2 | |||
| I Feel Fine | Anthology 2 | |||
| Ticket to Ride | Anthology 2 | |||
| Yesterday | Anthology 2 | |||
| Help! | Anthology 2 | |||
| Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby | Anthology 2 | |||
| Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) | Anthology 2 | |||
| I'm Looking Through You | Anthology 2 | |||
| 12-Bar Original | Anthology 2 | |||
| Tomorrow Never Knows | Anthology 2 | |||
| Got to Get You Into My Life | Anthology 2 | |||
| And Your Bird Can Sing | Anthology 2 | |||
| Taxman | Anthology 2 | |||
| Eleanor Rigby (strings only) | Anthology 2 | |||
| I'm Only Sleeping (rehearsal) | Anthology 2 | |||
| I'm Only Sleeping (take 1) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Rock and Roll Music | Anthology 2 | |||
| She's a Woman | Anthology 2 | |||
| Strawberry Fields Forever (demo sequence) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Strawberry Fields Forever (take 1) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Strawberry Fields Forever (take 7 & edit piece) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Penny Lane | Anthology 2 | |||
| A Day in the Life | Anthology 2 | |||
| Good Morning Good Morning | Anthology 2 | |||
| Only a Northern Song | Anthology 2 | |||
| Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (takes 1 and 2) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (take 7) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds | Anthology 2 | |||
| Within You Without You (instrumental) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise) | Anthology 2 | |||
| You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) | Anthology 2 | |||
| I Am the Walrus | Anthology 2 | |||
| The Fool on the Hill (demo) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Your Mother Should Know | Anthology 2 | |||
| The Fool on the Hill (take 4) | Anthology 2 | |||
| Hello, Goodbye | Anthology 2 | |||
| Lady Madonna | Anthology 2 | |||
| Across the Universe | Anthology 2 | |||
| A Beginning | Anthology 3 | |||
| Happiness Is a Warm Gun | Anthology 3 | |||
| Helter Skelter | Anthology 3 | |||
| Mean Mr. Mustard | Anthology 3 | |||
| Polythene Pam | Anthology 3 | |||
| Glass Onion | Anthology 3 | |||
| Junk | Anthology 3 | |||
| Piggies | Anthology 3 | |||
| Honey Pie | Anthology 3 | |||
| Don't Pass Me By | Anthology 3 | |||
| Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da | Anthology 3 | |||
| Good Night | Anthology 3 | |||
| Cry Baby Cry | Anthology 3 | |||
| Blackbird | Anthology 3 | |||
| Sexy Sadie | Anthology 3 | |||
| While My Guitar Gently Weeps | Anthology 3 | |||
| Hey Jude | Anthology 3 | |||
| Not Guilty | Anthology 3 | |||
| Mother Nature's Son | Anthology 3 | |||
| Glass Onion | Anthology 3 | |||
| Rocky Raccoon | Anthology 3 | |||
| What's the New Mary Jane | Anthology 3 | |||
| Step Inside Love / Los Paranoias | Anthology 3 | |||
| I'm So Tired | Anthology 3 | |||
| I Will | Anthology 3 | |||
| Why Don't We Do It in the Road? | Anthology 3 | |||
| Julia | Anthology 3 | |||
| I've Got a Feeling | Anthology 3 | |||
| She Came In Through the Bathroom Window | Anthology 3 | |||
| Dig a Pony | Anthology 3 | |||
| Two of Us | Anthology 3 | |||
| For You Blue | Anthology 3 | |||
| Teddy Boy | Anthology 3 | |||
| Medley: Rip It Up / Shake, Rattle and Roll / Blue Suede Shoes | Anthology 3 | |||
| The Long and Winding Road | Anthology 3 | |||
| Oh! Darling | Anthology 3 | |||
| All Things Must Pass | Anthology 3 | |||
| Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues | Anthology 3 | |||
| Get Back | Anthology 3 | |||
| Old Brown Shoe | Anthology 3 | |||
| Octopus's Garden | Anthology 3 | |||
| Maxwell's Silver Hammer | Anthology 3 | |||
| Something | Anthology 3 | |||
| Come Together | Anthology 3 | |||
| Come and Get It | Anthology 3 | |||
| Ain't She Sweet | Anthology 3 | |||
| Because | Anthology 3 | |||
| Let It Be | Anthology 3 | |||
| I Me Mine | Anthology 3 | |||
| The End | Anthology 3 | |||
| Back in the U.S.S.R. | The Beatles | |||
| Dear Prudence | The Beatles | |||
| Glass Onion | The Beatles | |||
| Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da | The Beatles | |||
| Wild Honey Pie | The Beatles | |||
| The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill | The Beatles | |||
| While My Guitar Gently Weeps | The Beatles | |||
| Happiness Is a Warm Gun | The Beatles | |||
| Martha My Dear | The Beatles | |||
| I'm So Tired | The Beatles | |||
| Blackbird | The Beatles | |||
| Piggies | The Beatles | |||
| Rocky Raccoon | The Beatles | |||
| Don't Pass Me By | The Beatles | |||
| Why Don't We Do It in the Road? | The Beatles | |||
| I Will | The Beatles | |||
| Julia | The Beatles | |||
| Birthday | The Beatles | |||
| Yer Blues | The Beatles | |||
| Mother Nature's Son | The Beatles | |||
| Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey | The Beatles | |||
| Sexy Sadie | The Beatles | |||
| Helter Skelter | The Beatles | |||
| Long, Long, Long | The Beatles | |||
| Revolution 1 | The Beatles | |||
| Honey Pie | The Beatles | |||
| Savoy Truffle | The Beatles | |||
| Cry Baby Cry | The Beatles | |||
| Revolution 9 | The Beatles | |||
| Good Night | The Beatles | |||
| No Reply | Beatles for Sale | |||
| I'm a Loser | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Baby's in Black | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Rock and Roll Music | Beatles for Sale | |||
| I'll Follow the Sun | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Mr. Moonlight | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Kansas City | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Eight Days a Week | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Words of Love | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Honey Don't | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Every Little Thing | Beatles for Sale | |||
| I Don't Want to Spoil the Party | Beatles for Sale | |||
| What You're Doing | Beatles for Sale | |||
| Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby | Beatles for Sale | |||
| She Loves You | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| From Me to You | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| We Can Work It Out | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Help! | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Michelle | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Yesterday | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| I Feel Fine | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Yellow Submarine | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Can't Buy Me Love | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Bad Boy | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Day Tripper | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| A Hard Day's Night | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Ticket to Ride | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Paperback Writer | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| Eleanor Rigby | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| I Want to Hold Your Hand | A Collection of Beatles Oldies | |||
| A Hard Day's Night | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| I Should Have Known Better | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| If I Fell | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| I'm Happy Just to Dance With You | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| And I Love Her | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| Tell Me Why | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| Can't Buy Me Love | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| Any Time at All | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| I'll Cry Instead | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| Things We Said Today | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| When I Get Home | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| You Can't Do That | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| I'll Be Back | A Hard Day's Night | |||
| Help! | Help! | |||
| The Night Before | Help! | |||
| You've Got to Hide Your Love Away | Help! | |||
| I Need You | Help! | |||
| Another Girl | Help! | |||
| You're Going to Lose That Girl | Help! | |||
| Ticket to Ride | Help! | |||
| Act Naturally | Help! | |||
| It's Only Love | Help! | |||
| You Like Me Too Much | Help! | |||
| Tell Me What You See | Help! | |||
| I've Just Seen a Face | Help! | |||
| Yesterday | Help! | |||
| Dizzy Miss Lizzy | Help! | |||
| Can't Buy Me Love | Hey Jude | |||
| I Should Have Known Better | Hey Jude | |||
| Paperback Writer | Hey Jude | |||
| Rain | Hey Jude | |||
| Lady Madonna | Hey Jude | |||
| Revolution | Hey Jude | |||
| Hey Jude | Hey Jude | |||
| Old Brown Shoe | Hey Jude | |||
| Don't Let Me Down | Hey Jude | |||
| The Ballad of John and Yoko | Hey Jude | |||
| Two of Us | Let It Be | |||
| Dig a Pony | Let It Be | |||
| Across the Universe | Let It Be | |||
| I Me Mine | Let It Be | |||
| Dig It | Let It Be | |||
| Let It Be | Let It Be | |||
| Maggie Mae | Let It Be | |||
| I've Got a Feeling | Let It Be | |||
| One After 909 | Let It Be | |||
| The Long and Winding Road | Let It Be | |||
| For You Blue | Let It Be | |||
| Get Back | Let It Be | |||
| Get Back | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| Dig a Pony | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| For You Blue | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| The Long and Winding Road | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| Two of Us | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| I've Got a Feeling | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| One After 909 | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| Don't Let Me Down | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| I Me Mine | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| Across the Universe | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| Let It Be | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| Fly on the wall (studio 1-1969) | Let It Be...Naked | |||
| Long Tall Sally | Long Tall Sally | |||
| I Call Your Name | Long Tall Sally | |||
| Slow Down | Long Tall Sally | |||
| Matchbox | Long Tall Sally | |||
| Because | Love | |||
| Get Back | Love | |||
| Glass Onion | Love | |||
| Eleanor Rigby / Julia (transition) | Love | |||
| I Am the Walrus | Love | |||
| I Want to Hold Your Hand | Love | |||
| Drive My Car / The Word / What You're Doing | Love | |||
| Gnik Nus | Love | |||
| Something / Blue Jay Way (transition) | Love | |||
| Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! / I Want You (She's So Heavy) / Helter Skelter | Love | |||
| Help! | Love | |||
| Blackbird / Yesterday | Love | |||
| Strawberry Fields Forever | Love | |||
| Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows | Love | |||
| Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds | Love | |||
| Octopus's Garden | Love | |||
| Lady Madonna | Love | |||
| Here Comes the Sun / The Inner Light (transition) | Love | |||
| Come Together / Dear Prudence / Cry Baby Cry (transition) | Love | |||
| Revolution | Love | |||
| Back in the U.S.S.R. | Love | |||
| While My Guitar Gently Weeps | Love | |||
| A Day in the Life | Love | |||
| Hey Jude | Love | |||
| Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise) | Love | |||
| All You Need Is Love | Love | |||
| Magical Mystery Tour | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| The Fool on the Hill | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| Flying | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| Blue Jay Way | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| Your Mother Should Know | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| I Am the Walrus | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| Hello Goodbye | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| Strawberry Fields Forever | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| Penny Lane | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| Baby You're a Rich Man | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| All You Need Is Love | Magical Mystery Tour | |||
| Love Me Do | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| From Me to You | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Thank You Girl | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| She Loves You | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| I'll Get You | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| I Want to Hold Your Hand | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| This Boy | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Komm, gib mir deine Hand | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Sie liebt dich | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Long Tall Sally | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| I Call Your Name | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Slow Down | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Matchbox | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| I Feel Fine | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| She's a Woman | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Bad Boy | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Yes It Is | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| I'm Down | Past Masters, Volume One | |||
| Day Tripper | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| We Can Work It Out | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Paperback Writer | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Rain | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Lady Madonna | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| The Inner Light | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Hey Jude | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Revolution | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Get Back | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Don't Let Me Down | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| The Ballad of John and Yoko | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Old Brown Shoe | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Across the Universe | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| Let It Be | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) | Past Masters, Volume Two | |||
| I Saw Her Standing There | Please Please Me | |||
| Misery | Please Please Me | |||
| Anna (Go to Him) | Please Please Me | |||
| Chains | Please Please Me | |||
| Boys | Please Please Me | |||
| Ask Me Why | Please Please Me | |||
| Please Please Me | Please Please Me | |||
| Love Me Do | Please Please Me | |||
| P.S. I Love You | Please Please Me | |||
| Baby It's You | Please Please Me | |||
| Do You Want to Know a Secret | Please Please Me | |||
| A Taste of Honey | Please Please Me | |||
| There's a Place | Please Please Me | |||
| Twist and Shout | Please Please Me | |||
| Taxman | Revolver | |||
| Eleanor Rigby | Revolver | |||
| I'm Only Sleeping | Revolver | |||
| Love You To | Revolver | |||
| Here, There And Everywhere | Revolver | |||
| Yellow Submarine | Revolver | |||
| She Said She Said | Revolver | |||
| Good Day Sunshine | Revolver | |||
| And Your Bird Can Sing | Revolver | |||
| For No One | Revolver | |||
| Dr. Robert | Revolver | |||
| I Want To Tell You | Revolver | |||
| Got To Get You Into My Life | Revolver | |||
| Tomorrow Never Knows | Revolver | |||
| Drive My Car | Rubber Soul | |||
| Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) | Rubber Soul | |||
| You Won't See Me | Rubber Soul | |||
| Nowhere Man | Rubber Soul | |||
| Think for Yourself | Rubber Soul | |||
| The Word | Rubber Soul | |||
| Michelle | Rubber Soul | |||
| What Goes On | Rubber Soul | |||
| Girl | Rubber Soul | |||
| I'm Looking Through You | Rubber Soul | |||
| In My Life | Rubber Soul | |||
| Wait | Rubber Soul | |||
| If I Needed Someone | Rubber Soul | |||
| Run for Your Life | Rubber Soul | |||
| Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| With a Little Help From My Friends | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| Getting Better | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| Fixing a Hole | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| She's Leaving Home | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| Within You Without You | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| When I'm Sixty-Four | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| Lovely Rita | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| Good Morning Good Morning | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise) | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| A Day in the Life | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | |||
| It Won't Be Long | With The Beatles | |||
| All I've Got to Do | With The Beatles | |||
| All My Loving | With The Beatles | |||
| Don't Bother Me | With The Beatles | |||
| Little Child | With The Beatles | |||
| Till There Was You | With The Beatles | |||
| Please Mister Postman | With The Beatles | |||
| Roll Over Beethoven | With The Beatles | |||
| Hold Me Tight | With The Beatles | |||
| You Really Got a Hold on Me | With The Beatles | |||
| I Wanna Be Your Man | With The Beatles | |||
| Devil in Her Heart | With The Beatles | |||
| Not a Second Time | With The Beatles | |||
| Money (That's What I Want) | With The Beatles | |||
| Yellow Submarine | Yellow Submarine | |||
| Only a Northern Song | Yellow Submarine | |||
| All Together Now | Yellow Submarine | |||
| Hey Bulldog | Yellow Submarine | |||
| It's All Too Much | Yellow Submarine | |||
| All You Need Is Love | Yellow Submarine |
Ten of the Best Beatles Songs
It’s possible that you are a Beatles fan but prefer one of the distinct sounds. Early British Invasion Beatles are not the same as the band that played on top of the roof at Abbey Road. Subjectivity and preference will ultimately determine if you have more early Beatles in your top ten or if you simply ranked the entire Abbey Road album as your favorite songs.
We provide you with a healthy mix of classic Beatle songs – singles that you should absolutely give a try.
"Eleanor Rigby"
Released on Revolver and later featured in Yellow Submarine, “Eleanor Rigby” is two minutes of Beatles’ brilliance.
Paul McCartney experimented on his piano and (several sessions later) developed the haunting sound that would soon become this classic Beatles song.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Baroque Pop
- Album: Revolver
- Length: 2:08
- Release: 1966
- Written: Lennon/McCartney
Song Rating
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
What could possibly be George Harrison’s greatest song, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was released on The White Album in 1968. Rolling Stone magazine ranks it as the 136th greatest song of all time.
George returned from the famous India retreat and wrote this classic as a writing exercise (opening a book and using the first words he saw). George’s friend and guitar legend Eric Clapton overdubbed some of the lead guitar on this track but was uncredited on the album.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Rock
- Album: The Beatles
- Length: 4:46
- Release: 1968
- Written: George Harrison
Song Rating
"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"
Written by John Lennon, but credited to the partnership between him and Paul, “Norwegian Wood” is considered a milestone for The Beatles as songwriters.
George Harrison added the sitar, a stringed instrument popular in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Rolling Stone magazine credits “Norwegian Wood” as being the 83rd Greatest Song of All Time.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Folk Rock
- Album: Rubber Soul
- Length: 2:05
- Release: 1965
- Written: Lennon/McCartney
Song Rating
"A Day in the Life"
The final track on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the exclamation point in one of the best albums of all time.
Many of the lyrics were pulled from newspaper articles by John, while the middle segment comes from Paul’s memories as a youth.
“A Day in the Life” is often featured in “best of” lists featuring influential and breakthrough songs.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Rock
- Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
- Length: 5:35
- Release: 1967
- Written: Lennon/McCartney
Song Rating
"Taxman"
Quite possibly George Harrison’s most notable Beatles song, “Taxman” was released in 1966 and is a direct blast against the United Kingdom government.
“Taxman” was the sixth George Harrison song that appeared on a Beatles album. Lennon suggested using prime minister Harold Wilson and Edward Heath (who were the first living people named in a Beatles song).
Guitar World ranked “Taxman” as number 3 in their list of “Beatles’ Greatest Guitar Moments”.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Psychedelia
- Album: Revolver
- Length: 2:39
- Release: 1966
- Written: Harrison
Song Rating
"Get Back"
“Get Back” was released as a single in 1969 but then included on the Let It Be album in 1970. Billy Preston, electric piano, was credited on the track – a first for The Beatles.
The Beatles performed “Get Back” during their rooftop performance, with the video recording featured in documentaries – including Get Back (released in 2022).
The song reached number one in the United States, UK, and several other notable countries.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Rock
- Album: Let It Be
- Length: 3:09
- Release: 1969
- Written: Lennon/McCartney
Song Rating
"Penny Lane"
Released on a double A-side in 1967 (with “Strawberry Fields Forever”), “Penny Lane” resurfaced on Magical Mystery Tour. Originally recorded to be on Sgt. Peppers, McCartney was the primary writer – paying homage to a street in Liverpool.
“Penny Lane” was a #1 hit in the United States, but didn’t hit the top spot in the UK. Mojo ranked “Penny Lane” as the 9th greatest Beatles song.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Psychedelic Pop
- Album: Magical Mystery Tour
- Length: 3:03
- Release: 1967
- Written: Lennon/McCartney
Song Rating
"I Am The Walrus"
Featured in Magical Mystery Tour, “I Am The Walrus” is an obscure Beatles song that is possibly inspired by a Lewis Caroll poem and psychedelic drug trips. The track was released as a single, along with “Hello, Goodbye” in 1967.
There’s been many that tried to interpret the lyrics to the song, but there is nothing definite. The song features violins, cellos, horns, and a 16-voice choir.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Psychedelic Rock
- Album: Magical Mystery Tour
- Length: 4:33
- Release: 1967
- Written: Lennon/McCartney
Song Rating
"In My Life"
Although there are disagreements on who contributed what, “In My Life” was a Lennon/McCartney classic released on Rubber Soul. Producer George Martin added the piano solo, speeding the tape to create a sound like a harpsichord.
“In My Life” might be viewed as a sleeper Beatles classic, it was also voted as the best song of all time in 2000 by Mojo magazine.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Pop Rock
- Album: Rubber Soul
- Length: 2:28
- Release: 1965
- Written: Lennon/McCartney
Song Rating
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer"
A song about murder is not something you would expect from Paul McCartney, but this upbeat song was released in 1969 on the Abbey Road album.
The song was originally recorded during the Get Back sessions. John, George, and Ringo have all made unfavorable comments about the song/session.
Not everyone loved “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”, but there certainly wasn’t another band that could make an iconic song like it.
Album Metadata
- Genre: Pop
- Album: Abbey Road
- Length: 3:27
- Release: 1969
- Written: Lennon/McCartney
Song Rating
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Beatles Songs - Honorable Mentions
It’s tough to designate just 10 songs that are truly the best. Most lists often end up being subjective favorites. When the group had 20 songs that hit #1 on the Billboard chart, you are bound to leave off someones favorite. Even if they aren’t your personal favorite, here are some additional songs that most music fans can appreciate.
"Don't Let Me Down"
Although there were several iconic videos from the famous rooftop concert in 1969, “Don’t Let Me Down” captures the atmosphere perfectly. It’s possibly the best Lennon late-style Beatles track.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand”
George Martin refers to “I Want to Hold Your Hand” as the “apex of Phase One of the Beatles’ development” – and he couldn’t be more right. Beatlemania was off and the classics were in motion.
"Strawberry Fields Forever"
“Strawberry Fields Forever” acts as a true music video (not just a recording of the band playing live). The produced video is perfectly in sync with experimental songs The Beatles were releasing at the time.
Beatle Song Documentaries & Videos
Many have been fascinated by The Beatles’ song creation process. How did John and Paul create the lyrics? What did George Martin do to make the song sound that way? Do the lyrics of “Come Together” mean anything? Thankfully there are documentaries and videos covering and answering a lot of these questions.
The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One
This television documentary spends two hours breaking down Beatles songs and interviewing popular British personalities. Besides getting a glimpse of some rare footage, you consume 27 of the best Beatle songs as voted by “the nation”.
Paul McCartney Breaks Down His Most Iconic Songs
GQ, the magazine, brings us a great YouTube interview/clip of Paul McCartney discussing many of his famous songs (“Yesterday”, “Eleanor Rigby”, “A Day in the Life”, and “Hey Jude”.)
Get Back
This documentary gives you a close-up look at the making of many of the songs on Let It Be. It’s great to see how the lyrics of “Get Back” changed and how some songs “All Things Must Pass” never even make it on the album.
Podcasts About Beatles Songs
Beatlemania still runs wild. There are dozens of podcast series dedicated to the Fab Four. Some of the podcasts take a deep dive into individual songs – documenting the writing process, the mixing and recording, and a lot of the backstory that went along with the band at the time of release.
Ranking The Beatles
Much like this website, the creators of Ranking The Beatles take the time to listen to and review each and every Beatles song. Each episode has a special guest and they break down a different track – with backstories and opinions.
Looking Through the Glass Onion
Hosts and Musicians Billy and Jay look at individual Beatles songs in each episode. They take a deep look into the creation of each song, as well as the instruments and techniques used by The Beatles during the recordings.
My Favourite Beatles Song
Each podcast episode features a new Beatles song and a new guest host – giving their opinion and analysis of the song. Host Tim Tucker brings on musicians, journalists, and Beatles fans to get expert opinions.
You Might Also Like These Related Songs
The Beatles song catalog introduces many fans to different styles and genres. I know many of us heard sitar for the first time by listening to a Beatles song. If you like The Beatles and many of their records, you might find interest in some of their solo work or artists that were inspired by the group.
"Sowing The Seeds of Love"
Tears For Fears, popularized by “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” managed to create a pseudo-Beatles track – “Sowing the Seeds of Love” in 1989. Maybe there were inspired by the 1988 Past Masters release – or just years of listening to awesome Beatles tracks.
"You Can't Catch Me"
There’s no doubt that Chuck Berry had a direct impact on early Beatles records, but his tune “You Can’t Catch Me” is comparable to one of the final tracks recorded by The Beatles – “Come Together”.
"Mr. Blue Sky"
“Mr. Blue Sky” is a famous song by Electric Light Orchestra and frontman Jeff Lynne. Jeff Lynne is very familiar with the Beatles’ work. In fact, he was the producer of “Free as a Bird” in 1995 on Anthology 1.