Best of The Beatles : With a Little Help From My Friends

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Best of The Beatles

The Band, the enigma

The pop icons of the 1960s, who heralded the new era in music, The Beatles turned 50 recently. The band comprising of John Lenon, George Harrsion, Ringo Star and Paul McCartney had a humble beginning playing gigs in clubs in Liverpool. The band got a new lease of life when small time record store owner Brian Epstein decided to become the manager of the band. Epstein got the band a much needed visibility and got the band to sign its fist individual album contract with record label Parlophone. There was no looking back from then.

While the band started of with mainstream pop music, they later experimented with soft and psychedelic rock, slow ballads and blues. The Beatles acquired a cult status with almost all of their songs. We pick out our favourite 15. In no particular order

Nowhere Man

Lenon and Harrison’s lyrics and surreal words make this one a favourite amongst many.

Don’t let me down

It was a love song written by John Lennon for his second wife Yoko Yono. Band mate Paul McCartney interpreted it as a ‘genuine plea’.

Hey Jude

Paul McCartney’s words of support for Julian Lennon after his parents John and Cynthia Lennnon separated. The song went on to become one of the most popular number of the band.

I want to hold your hand

Paul McCartney’s lyrics were written to please the American audience as the British band were yet to find success in America. The song eventually debuted at number forty five on the Billboard Hot 100.

Penny Lane

The song`s title was derived from the name of a street near Lennon`s house, in the band`s hometown, Liverpool. McCartney and Lennon would meet at Penny Lane junction in the Mossley Hill area to catch a bus into the centre of the city.

Love Me Do

First single of the band. The song was primarily written by McCartney when he was 16 years old and later Lennon worked upon the lyrics and added his bit.

We Can Work It Out

One of the best pop numbers by the band , the song has an intresting sing-along quality attached to it.

Norwegian Wood

The beautiful infusion of guitar and sitar makes the song beautiful. This was the first song where George Harrison introduced to fans of the band the sound of sitar.

Yellow Submarine

Ringo Starr’s vocals on Lenon-McCartmey’s lyrics. Lennon talked about the song: "`Yellow Submarine` is Paul`s baby. Donovan helped with the lyrics. I helped with the lyrics too. We virtually made the track come alive in the studio, but based on Paul`s inspiration. Paul`s idea. Paul`s title... written for Ringo."

Can’t Buy Me Love

When someone had asked who or what was the true inspiration behind the song, McCartmey had said, "I think you can put any interpretation you want on anything, but when someone suggests that `Can`t Buy Me Love` is about a prostitute, I draw the line."

Let It Be

This classic has a hymn like quality to it. The perfect rock ballad is probably a soothsayer for whoever is in aguish, till date.

A Hard Day’s Night

Third studio album by The Beates , which was also the soundtrack of their film of the same name. The phrase was coined ‘aacidentally’ by Ringo Starr.

She Loves You

The song was The Beatles` best-selling single in the United Kingdom, and was the best selling single in Britain in 1963.

Yesterday

A melancholy ballad, the song can be termed as a break up song.

Lucy In The Sky

The song was apparently written after John’s son drew a picture of a cartoon named Lucy. Many feel the song was not the usual Beatles song but nevertheless considered as one of the classics.

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With a Little Help From My Friends

Ringo Starr’s vocals again. The lyrics written by Lennon and McCartney are quirky-

And I`ll try not to sing out of key.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm,I get high with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, I`m gonna try with a little help from my friends.

By Shomini Sen