10 Most Perfect Beatles Songs, Ranked

Arguably one of the most iconic and popular musical acts of all time, The Beatles changed pop and rock music forever the moment they hit the scene. Maintaining the top spot as the best-selling music act ever, the boys from Liverpool made their mark thanks to their incredible songbook. Documenting the evolution of music through their own changing style over time, The Beatles‘ ability to shape music with their artistry and songwriting.

Each of their 12 official studio albums is stacked with incredible songs from top to bottom. But with hundreds of songs, which are their very best? It’s time to name the most perfect songs. Every fan of the band will likely have a different lineup, but for the purposes of this list, “perfect” will be defined by songwriting, musical construction, overall influence, and the song’s impact on the band’s musical evolution. This list is a celebration of four great artists and their very best work.

10

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963)

The song that put The Beatles on the map in America was none other than “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” First dropping on Meet the Beatles! in the U.S. after not appearing on the UK version, With the Beatles, the John Lennon and Paul McCartney track exemplified the power of a bright and breezy two-minute pop song. Light and fluffy, and to the point, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” thrives through its catchy hook and universal lyrics of blossoming romance. With a two-bridge model and both Lennon and McCarthy taking the lead and singing in unison and harmony, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” resonated, knocking off their previous hit, “She Loves You” off the top of the podium. The song has been covered countless times and has infiltrated pop culture. Even when the song was reworked into a ballad for the jukebox movie musical Across the Universe, it highlighted the brilliance of the lyrics. At the end of the day, it’s about longing.

The track was met with an extremely warm welcome in the States. The song spread like wildfire with its infectious beat. Specifically crafted to appeal to an American market, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” succeeded at its mission, becoming the first number-one hit in America. Thanks to “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” the British Invasion officially began. Though, compared to the more complex songs that emerged during their musical evolution, the timing of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was crucial, as it scratched the itch of music fans.

9

“Yesterday” (1965)

Beatlemania took over the world. So much so that the quartet was dropped into other media to maximize their presence. Between 1964 and 1970, they appeared in five major motion pictures, the second of which was Help! To tie into the film, the album included 14 tracks, seven of which appeared in the film. The other side of the album featured new songs, one of which included the most-covered song in music history, “Yesterday.” A song that came to McCarthy in his sleep, “Yesterday” was the first song to only feature a single member of the band, as McCarthy was joined by a string quartet as he sang and played acoustic guitar.

A melancholic song, “Yesterday,” shines through its simplicity, allowing McCarthy’s lyrics to be the star. Always tinkering with the song until it was included on the album, McCartney perfected it to the point that it became one of the greatest pop songs in history. Quite a sad breakup song, yet there is still a sense of hope in the lyrics and in McCartney’s vocals. That said, part of the song’s meaning may have been misinterpreted. During an episode of the A Life in Lyrics podcast that dissected this particular song, McCartney revealed that the lyric “I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday” may have been inspired by her mother.

8

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (1968)

Ah, the infamous White Album. Though it’s officially called The Beatles, it’s the album cover that helped it earn its name. The ninth studio album, and the only double album, is notorious for its diverse range of genres that produced wall-to-wall hits. The White Album is also known for some behind-the-scenes controversy, including Yoko Ono subverting the band’s policy of excluding wives and girlfriends. Nevertheless, leave it to George Harrison to use his talent to serve as a comment on the band’s disarray and lack of harmony. Harrison’s pain gave rise to the hauntingly beautiful “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

Having written the song following the band’s trip to India, the journey’s influence was present. With Harrison with double-tracked vocals and acoustic guitar, he credited Eric Clapton, who played lead guitar on the track, for helping him create the Beatles’ monumental track. Perhaps Harrison’s greatest composition, which served as his coming-of-age as a songwriter, the song was a staple on US rock radio. Why? It contains one of the greatest guitar solos. A strong showing from all four members of the band, even with the groundbreaking collaboration, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” remains a shining gem.

7

“All You Need Is Love” (1967)

The moment you hear the first few bars of the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” you are easily transported into a mindset of joy and love. One of the most beloved tracks in the Beatles’ songbook, “All You Need Is Love,” has become a universal anthem through its song and message. Deliberately simple, the song garnered universal appeal. Written as Britain’s contribution to Our World, the first live global television production, the song reflected the utopian ideals mirroring the Summer of Love. An anthem for the counterculture’s embrace of the flower-power philosophy, “All You Need is Love” was a celebration that linked back to the aura of the last album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

A mostly Lennon contribution, the song utilized simple chord and line progression; the only experimental aspect of the track is found in the change in metre. The final reversal of “All you need is love” into “Love is all you need” became the perfect vocal button before the glorious cacophony of spontaneous ad-libs, which ranged from Glenn Miller‘s “In the Mood” and the band’s own, “She Loves You.” Because of the song’s musical accessibility, it became an anthem dedicated to universal love. Favoring idealism through its positive, uplifting atmosphere, the song continues to serve as the enduring motto for peace. Written for a moment, “All You Need Is Love” remains timeless.

6

“In My Life” (1965)

Music is meant to have purpose and significance. If there is one song that epitomizes this, it’s “In My Life.” With Lennon taking on the lyrics, the introspective song reflects a poetic look into his own past and relationships. Emotionally deep and artistically precise, the Rubber Soul track’s meditation on adolescent relationships diverged from the simplicity of the pre-Rubber Soul love tracks. “In My Life” marked a major and important shift for the band, reflecting their artistic maturity. Lennon referred to the song as his “first real major piece of work” because it was the first time he wrote about himself. And yet, the universal messaging resonated, making it feel personal to us all.

Though the song has been disputed over full musical authorship, it makes sense that Lennon and McCartney would want full credit, as the song is sensational. The instrumental bridge was one sticking point for Lennon, so George Martin composed something on piano that had shades of Baroque sounds, which ultimately, through playback at double speed, was reminiscent of a harpsichord. A song that has been used to mark milestones, “In My Life” is one of the band’s most sentimental songs that’s bound to elicit melancholy.

5

“A Hard Day’s Night” (1964)

As previously discussed, The Beatles appeared in films during their heyday, with the first being A Hard Day’s Night, which inspired the title track. The title, which originated with a passing statement from drummer Ringo Starr, launched an era for the band. A Ringo-ism became a hit for the band, topping the charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States upon release. Written on a night by Lennon during a long-running competition for the A-side song, “A Hard Day’s Night” begins with the iconic chord played by Harrison. Strong and effective, it opens both the film and the soundtrack and has become one of the most recognizable openings in pop music.

The song is about the narrator’s devotion to his lover, working hard in order to buy the things she wants. He may be tired, but his lover perks him up through love. Following a verse-verse-bridge-verse structure and adopting a major-minor feel within that bridge, “A Hard Day’s Night” was revered for its energy. A triumph of the band’s early era, “A Hard Day’s Night” represented the perfect marriage of commercial appeal and musical innovation.

4

“Blackbird” (1968)

The White Album truly produced some of the greatest songs in music history. Inspired by the call of a blackbird in Rishikesh as well as the civil rights movement, “Blackbird” is a top-tier song that many consider their very best. Written by McCartney, serving as his solo number, “Blackbird” served as a voice for the discriminated. A wonderfully poetic dissertation open to interpretation, the song serves as a metaphor for an awakening. Beautifully pleasant and strikingly tranquil, McCartney ensures that the lyrics are the defining element of the track. All you need is McCartney’s sweet vocals, the strum on the acoustic guitar, and the foot-tapping to be instantly hooked into the resilient message.

An empowering anthem with profound lyrics, “Blackbird” is one of McCarthy’s shining moments prior to his solo career. A pure moment of maturity, “Blackbird” is a call for unity, even despite the fracture within the band at the time. The song continues to transcend time. The song has been covered by many artists, ensuring the legacy of the song continues today. Understanding the significance of its meaning, when Beyoncé covers the song for Cowboy Carter, you know it’s a remarkable piece of music.

3

“Let It Be” (1970)

Let It Be marked the end of an era, as it was the final studio album from the quartet, coming a month following the group’s public breakup. Some of the most resonant tracks were on this album, but the title track left an everlasting impression. A simple song of acceptance despite a moment of contention within the band, “Let It Be” resonated on a variety of levels. A straightforward composition with a 4/4 rhythm and a simple four chords, “Let It Be” brought peace in a time of trouble. A mantra that became a coda for the band’s storied career, “Let It Be” was grounded in humanity.

There is a profound essence of hope and resilience in McCartney’s lyrics. Sung solely by McCartney, when you hear “Let It Be,” you stop and listen. One of the strongest ballads in their repertoire, “Let It Be,” seemed like the song that the band needed to go out on. Looking back, it’s almost a prophetic song, knowing there would never be reconciliation. Even with a remarkable songbook like very few other bands, “Let It Be” was a fitting way to remember the band fondly.

2

“Come Together” (1969)

There are many songs by the band whose opening bars transport you into a specific memory or space. The opening riffs are instantly recognizable. One such case was “Come Together.” The opening track on Abbey Road, “Come Together,” put the rock in rock and roll. A reactionary track that became a protest anthem against the Vietnam War, “Come Together” was a sonic sensation of musical complexity. With a tinge of blues and funk seeping through the laid-back vocals, precision on guitar, hypnotic bass, and swampy drums, “Come Together” showcased an expanse of the band’s musical vocabulary. Each member of The Beatles contributed something so distinct to the orchestration that, as cheesy as it sounds, when they came together, it became perfect.

Lyrically, the song is abstract. Still in the hazy drug era, it didn’t matter what was said before the chorus because the chorus was the statement. The feel was more important than anything. The nonsensical lyrics only contributed to the mood “Come Together” evoked. Of course, there was much controversy over the use of Chuck Berry‘s “You Can’t Catch Me,” with the copyright infringement case settled out of court. Yet, it didn’t deter the song’s success and lasting legacy. Many have tried to cover it, but no one can sing it quite like John Lennon.

1

“Hey Jude” (1968)

There are so many songs that I wish I could include on this list—“Something,” “Across the Universe,” “Oh! Darling,” “Get Back,” just to name a few—but the ten that made the cut are significant. But no Beatles song is more synonymous with the band than “Hey Jude.” Released in 1968 as a non-album single, the story goes that the ballad evolved from a song McCartney wrote to comfort Lennon’s young son, Julian Lennon, after his father left his wife, Cynthia Lennon, for Yoko Ono. As the lyrics suggest, it was meant to help foster a positive outlook on a sad situation. A song of hope, its beautiful message is one that is bound to get a reaction. Whether it’s tears of triumph or pain, “Hey Jude” is a song meant to make you feel something. It’s what music is all about, after all.

From a music perspective, the song starts out simply stated—McCarthy and a piano. But as the song builds, so does the instrumentation. The second verse adds an acoustic guitar and tambourine. Then it’s the electric guitar and the restrained drum kit. The piano becomes more pronounced. The subtle harmonies float through. McCartney showcases the full scope of his vocal range. And then the coda hits, the 40-piece orchestra wails, and a musical moment is born. Four minutes of “Na-na-na na.” Only The Beatles could get away with it! Whatever emotion you began with, you can’t help but find the triumph and na-na along, banging your head.

Though the song had connotations of Ono entering John and Julian’s life, it could also be taken as a cry from McCarthy to his bandmate. The lyrics hold so much weight. This was not a nonsensical song. It wasn’t a sappy love song. “Hey Jude” served as McCarthy’s blessing for John’s new relationship, while also acknowledging the loss of a friend and creative partner in the process. “Hey Jude” is an absolute sensation and forever one of the greatest songs ever written. It’s a musical work of art and an important contribution to the world. Reaching number one in several countries, “Hey Jude” proved that music will forever be universal.

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A Hard Day’s Night

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Release Date

July 7, 1964

Runtime

88 minutes

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Director

Richard Lester

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Writers

Alun Owen

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