EVERY Beatles Song Ranked (Part Two: 106-1)

In case you haven’t seen the first half of this list, here’s the link:

We’ve trudged through over a hundred songs ranging from terrible to decent, so now it’s time for the good stuff! The next 106 songs are, in my opinion, at the very least “Great”.

Before we crack on with it, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Great

106 – The Inner Light

The last, and best, song from Harrison’s Indian trilogy. The lyrics are ethereal, and the instrumentation draws you in.

Also, can we appreciate that 106 out of 213 Beatles tracks are at least great? That’s a 50% success rate!

105 – I’ll Be Back

An underrated song that both closes “A Hard Day’s Night” brilliantly and invents Folk Rock.

104 – There’s A Place

A gorgeous track from their debut album with some wonderful vocal melodies.

103 – Money (That’s What I Want)

Points deducted for being a cover, but what a great cover it is.

102 – For You Blue

A lovely little ditty from “Let It Be”.

101 – Baby, You’re A Rich Man

I’ll always associate this with “The Social Network”. The melodies are great.

100 – I’ve Just Seen A Face

McCartney at his most quick-fire and jovial.

99 – Two Of Us

Proof that the “Let It Be” sessions still had a strong friendship bond between Lennon and McCartney.

98 – All My Loving

One of my favourite early basslines – I can’t believe McCartney is singing along too!

97 – Dig A Pony

The dictionary definition of “underrated”.

96 – Can’t Buy Me Love

I love the explosive start that jumps right into the chorus, and that energy is maintained throughout the rest of the song.

95 – I’ve Got A Feeling

What starts off as an innocent rock song devolves into some crazy blues riffs, and I dig it.

94 – I Want To Tell You

Give my man Harrison some more love!

93 – It’s All Too Much

Oh look at that, Harrison coming up with a banger yet again. This, and another song later, save “Yellow Submarine” from being a total trainwreck.

92 – If I Fell

It has the gorgeous vocal harmonies of songs like “Yes It Is” and “This Boy”, but with a lot more substance this time around. McCartney’s voice crack is iconic.

91 – Your Mother Should Know

I didn’t realise I needed a Beatles show-tune in my life, but I’m glad I have it.

90 – It’s Only Love

This portion of the list is predominantly made up of underrated gems, and “It’s Only Love” is about as underrated as it gets.

89 – Please Please Me

The title track from their debut album, “Please Please Me” holds up surprisingly well.

88 – Getting Better

I love the back and forth positivity / negativity between McCartney / Lennon respectively.

87 – She Loves You

An early banger.

86 – Till There Was You

Why doesn’t anyone ever talk about this track? It’s stunning!

85 – Octopus’s Garden

Ringo only ever wrote two songs for the Beatles, and his second effort “Octopus’s Garden” was a stark improvement. I love the production effects and general whimsy of it.

84 – I’m Only Sleeping

A classic, early example of Lennon psychedelia.

83 – A Hard Day’s Night

I wish more songs jumped straight into the chorus like this.

82 – Every Little Thing

On-par with “It’s Only Love” for being the Beatles’ most underrated early song.

81 – Think For Yourself

I love me some cynical Harrison.

80 – Hello, Goodbye

I made the grave mistake of overplaying “Hello, Goodbye” when I was a kid, but I can still appreciate how catchy it is.

79 – Nowhere Man

One of the simpler Beatles songs, but it’s effective.

78 – All I’ve Got To Do

All they had to do was make a few more songs like this and “With The Beatles” would have been good!

77 – Got To Get You Into My Life

McCartney’s ode to pot. The horns are euphoric.

76 – Glass Onion

Half psychedelia, half rock banger. Bonus points for some classic Lennon troll lyrics.

75 – Yellow Submarine

A little overplayed and childish, but “Yellow Submarine” is way too much fun to rank any lower. The production is excellent.

74 – Free As A Bird

A couple of songs were released in the nineties, and they both slap. “Free As A Bird” is the weakest of the two, but it’s still excellent.

73 – Magical Mystery Tour

Not quite as big of a statement as Sgt. Pepper’s opening song, but “Magical Mystery Tour” is another excellent start to a concept album.

72 – Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey

Points deducted for the ridiculously long title, but otherwise this song is great.

71 – For No One

I’ve warmed to “For No One” over the years, as it’s yet another piece of magical McCartney songwriting.

70 – Sexy Sadie

Surprisingly upbeat for a late-game Lennon song. Still a downer.

69 – When I’m Sixty-Four

Lennon called this “granny music”, but I just call it charming.

68 – Michelle

The only Beatles song to win the Grammy for “Song of the Year”. By my count, they should have had 67 more trophies in that category.

67 – Julia

Hauntingly beautiful.

66 – The Ballad Of John And Yoko

Ringo and George are nowhere to be seen on this song – I think Lennon and McCartney would have made a half decent double act!

65 – She’s Leaving Home

An example of perfect storytelling in song. The vocals are gorgeous.

64 – Birthday

I love “Birthday” more than most – it’s a rock banger!

63 – She Said She Said

A prime example of classic Beatles psychedelia.

62 – And Your Bird Can Sing

One of the catchiest songs Lennon ever wrote.

61 – Old Brown Shoe

A simple blues song, but Harrison knocks it out of the park.

60 – Lovely Rita

McCartney at his cheekiest.

59 – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)

I love how they play the same song at the end of the album to tie things together, and the heavy sounds work well. I only wish it was longer.

58 – I Me Mine

Harrison was fed up of the rest of the band’s egos, and it shows.

57 – Carry That Weight

Sandwiched in between two of my favourite Beatles songs, but I like the singalong vibe they went for here.

56 – You Never Give Me Your Money

A great way to kick off the Abbey Road medley.

55 – Savoy Truffle

A supremely underrated Harrison song! Maybe it’s just my sweet tooth that keeps me coming back …

54 – She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

Some of the funniest lyrics McCartney ever came up with.

53 – Long, Long, Long

Gives me goosebumps every time. I wish it was slightly louder, though.

Amazing

52 – I Want To Hold Your Hand

One of their first singles, and easily one of the best early Beatles songs.

I can’t believe they made 52 “Amazing” songs – you’d have to write one of the best songs in music history for every week in a year to even equal that!

51 – Help!

Never has a cry for help sounded so catchy.

50 – Twist And Shout

One of the best covers in music history – Lennon kills the vocals.

49 – And I Love Her

Harrison added that iconic guitar riff on whim – can you imagine this awesome love ballad without it?

48 – Ticket To Ride

One of Ringo’s most iconic drum parts.

47 – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

A hell of an opening statement, and one of the best concept album tone setters in music history.

46 – Girl

Lennon was writing lyrics far ahead of his time – “Girl” sounds like it was written by an old man lamenting his past romances, not a plucky young Liverpudlian.

45 – With A Little Help From My Friends

Ringo’s crowning achievement.

44 – Hey Bulldog

One of my favourite Beatles riffs. This, along with “It’s All Too Much”, save “Yellow Submarine” from being a trainwreck.

43 – Day Tripper

Speaking of iconic riffs, it doesn’t get much better than this.

42 – Real Love

The other of the two songs released in the nineties, “Real Love” has some jaw-dropping melodies and one of the catchiest choruses.

41 – I Saw Her Standing There

I can’t think of many better first songs on debut albums. McCartney’s bass and vocals are masterful, and he was just getting started!

40 – I Feel Fine

Heaps of fun.

39 – Drive My Car

One of my favourite Beatles album openers. McCartney is on top form here.

38 – Blackbird

All you need is McCartney and an acoustic guitar for magic to happen.

37 – Back In The U.S.S.R.

A song so great it put the Beatles on a CIA watchlist for being potential Communists.

36 – We Can Work It Out

Some of the best songwriting from the early Beatles era, the switch to 3/4 time in the B sections is ingenious.

35 – Oh! Darling

Some rocky McCartney vocals and a sliding bassline – what’s not to love?

34 – Paperback Writer

The start of a new, experimental era for the Beatles. It slaps way harder than it needs to.

33 – Because

The best Beatles harmonies you’ll ever hear.

32 – Dear Prudence

A phenomenal follow-up to “Back In The U.S.S.R.”, with a killer bassline.

31 – Happiness Is A Warm Gun

A song decades ahead of its time. Both “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Paranoid Android” would later mimic this through-composed style (where no two sections are the same).

30 – Get Back

Seeing “Get Back” made in real time in the documentary of the same name gave me a whole new appreciation for it.

29 – Helter Skelter

The first ever metal song, “Helter Skelter” makes me want to tear shit up and get blisters on meh fingers.

28 – Lady Madonna

One of the most fun piano parts I’ve ever heard.

27 – Golden Slumbers

The beginning of the end of my favourite album, “Golden Slumbers” has one of the best McCartney melodies.

26 – Don’t Let Me Down

I love how vulnerable and open Lennon is with the lyrics, and the song has a nice swing to it.

25 – The End

An unbelievable way to end their last album (at least, it was planned to be their last). And no, “Her Majesty” doesn’t count.

24 – The Long And Winding Road

Phil Spector’s over-production prevents this from being an all-timer, but “The Long And Winding Road” is one of McCartney’s crowning achievements.

23 – I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

There’s no other Beatles song quite like it. It’s seven minutes long, and yet that still isn’t long enough.

22 – Rain

“Paperback Writer” was a taste of the greatness to come, but “Rain” is well into the deep end. The drums are phenomenal.

21 – Taxman

The perfect storm of snarky lyrics from Harrison and a superb bassline from McCartney.

All-Time Great

20 – Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

Okay – now that we’ve reached the highest tier, I’ll give some more in-depth thoughts on my top 20!

Lennon was on peak form on “Rubber Soul”, and he made a couple of songs that I’d consider all-timers. The first of these is “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”, a mystical song that makes great use of the sitar.

The lyrics are almost non-sensical, and yet they construct one of the most fascinating stories of any Beatles song. Even though this track is perfect, there’s another one from the same album that’s better.

19 – Yesterday

The first Beatles song to only feature one member of the band, and McCartney pulls it off with aplomb.

There’s a reason “Yesterday” is the most covered song of all time – the lyrics and melody are instantly recognisable, and George Martin’s string arrangement is masterful.

18 – Here, There And Everywhere

One of Lennon’s favourite McCartney songs, “Here, There And Everywhere” is one of the best pieces of songwriting from the sixties.

The vocal harmonies are incredibly moving, and McCartney brings a tenderness that I haven’t really heard from him on any other Beatles track.

17 – Eleanor Rigby

Yet another McCartney solo song with a phenomenal string arrangement by George Martin, but I find the lyrics of “Eleanor Rigby” to be far more captivating than “Yesterday”.

It’s a moody, downbeat story that chronicles the lives of some unfortunate souls, and some of the individual lines like “All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong?” are mesmerising.

16 – In My Life

The best song on “Rubber Soul”, and the most mature set of lyrics Lennon ever made.

There are decades of wisdom within the lyrics to “In My Life”, and the fun piano section in the middle is the cherry on top.

15 – Tomorrow Never Knows

“Revolver” was the start of the Beatles’ journey into proper musical experimentation, and “Tomorrow Never Knows” was their descent into psychedelic chaos.

You can’t help but be transported to another, mystical world whenever this track comes on. One of the best album closers of all time.

14 – Penny Lane

McCartney saw that Lennon had written a song about his youth with “Strawberry Field Forever”, and said “I’ll have some of that!”.

“Penny Lane” has a fun, comping piano part, and McCartney’s lyrics feel nostalgic even though I’ve never been to Liverpool!

13 – All You Need Is Love

A simple premise, and yet oh so effective.

“All You Need Is Love” became the anthem for the The Beatles’ primary message of peace, and the sudden shifts in time signature are pure Lennon-isms.

12 – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Harrison famously turned to a random page in his book and saw the words “gently weeps”, and the rest is music history.

It doesn’t have the most intricate melodies or instrumental parts, but every band member nails their roles. On top of that, Eric Clapton provides one of the best guitar solos ever.

11 – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Lennon claimed that “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” had nothing to do with LSD … Sure, whatever you say.

It’s the first true indication that Sgt. Pepper’s will be an experience like no other, and the psychedelic goodness is through the roof.

10 – Across The Universe

“Across The Universe” tends to get overshadowed by the title track on “Let It Be”, but this is Lennon at his absolute best.

The lyrics are ethereal and perfectly capture the majesty of the universe, and the vocals / guitars never fail to fill me with wonder.

9 – Here Comes The Sun

The most popular Beatles song of the modern generation, “Here Comes The Sun” is a breath of fresh air and a ray of sunshine.

Harrison isn’t afraid to use complex rhythms to get his point across, and yet the final product is still intensely catchy and memorable.

8 – Let It Be

A song that came about when McCartney’s mother visited him in a dream, and you can tell it really touched him.

The chords and instrumentation are simpler than the other tracks in my top 10, but the lyrics and melodies make me feel fuzzy inside.

7 – I Am The Walrus

I love the story behind this track – Lennon found out that his primary school were teaching Beatles lyrics in their English classes, so he made “I Am The Walrus” to mess with them!

It’s the peak of Beatles weirdness, and Lennon never holds back with his zany ideas and lyrics. It’s the musical equivalent of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, and all of it did.

6 – Revolution

“Revolution” has always been a personal favourite of mine – it’s a precursor to songs like “Helter Skelter”, and proof that the Beatles could dip their toes into heavy music and still have it sound catchy.

The chords are simple and bluesy, but the rest of the song meanders and switches things up enough to keep me interested.

5 – Come Together

George Martin named “Come Together” as his favourite Beatles song due to how well the band worked as a cohesive team, and I’d have to agree.

This is The Beatles firing on all cylinders – Ringo’s drums, Lennon’s vocals, Harrison’s guitar, McCartney’s bassline … Everyone is on top form, and it creates an explosive start to my favourite album.

4 – Hey Jude

A song that McCartney wrote for Lennon’s son Julian during his parents’ divorce, “Hey Jude” is the ultimate anthem.

Everyone has probably heard this song dozens of times at sporting events and parties, and that’s solely down to McCartney’s rousing lyrics and the insanely catchy second half.

3 – Something

These top three songs are almost interchangeable to me – on a good day, “Something” could easily be number one.

It’s the purest, most delightful love song of all time, and that’s all down to Harrison’s genius.

2 – Strawberry Fields Forever

“Strawberry Fields Forever” was the first song to get me enraptured by this fantastic band, and for that I’ll be eternally grateful.

Lennon’s ode to his childhood is both nostalgic and psychedelic, and the instrumental arrangement is second to none. Every time I listen to this track I hear a new thing that blows my mind.

1 – A Day In The Life

The final song from their landmark album Sgt. Pepper’s, “A Day In The Life” is my pick for the greatest Beatles song.

Ringo and McCartney lay down some of the slickest rhythm parts I’ve ever heard, both of the Lennon and McCartney sections have become iconic, and the Avant-Garde orchestral chaos ties the whole thing together brilliantly. “A Day In The Life” always gives me goosebumps, and will probably remain as my favourite Beatles track until the day I die.

Blimey, we made it! This was by far the biggest list (counting both this and part one) that I’ve ever done … although there’s another one I have planned that might just top it.

If you enjoyed this, feel free to check out some of my (shorter) latest blog posts below: