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SongsBeatles For SaleI'm a Loser
Beatles For Sale album cover

I'm a Loser

1964 · Beatles For Sale

“Beneath this mask, I am wearing a frown”

Lennon's first explicit Dylan-style song - a folk-rock self-portrait recorded for Beatles For Sale that broke from the band's earlier romantic optimism. Lennon later said 'Part of me suspects I'm a loser' lay behind the lyric.
VinylCD

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Year1964
AlbumBeatles For Sale
Track2 · Side 1
Duration2:31
Songwriter(s)LennonCredited as Lennon-McCartney
Lead VocalJohn
RecordedAugust 14, 1964
ReleasedDecember 4, 1964
Song familyFragile LennonEarly admission of personal vulnerability

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Text242 tags

Motif

QuestionRainLoveSelf reflectionLonelinessSadnessRelationshipAutobiographyPhilosophicalWeatherSeasonsNatureDirectionsSelf deprecation

Influence

Bob Dylan influence

Title

Pronoun in title

Vocabulary

Negative tone

Narrative

First personConfessional

Lyrical device

SimileExtended metaphorRhetorical question

Rhyme type

Internal rhymePerfect rhyme

Song form

Verse-chorus

Sections

Has introStandard verses (2-4)Standard choruses (1-3)Has outro

Section links

Intro based on verseIntro based on chorusSolo based on verseVerse variationOutro based on verse

Repetition

Consecutive lineRecurring line
Word cloud

Recurring words

althoughappearbeneathcrosseddeservefallfriendfrownknownlaughleftpriderainrealisesomeonetellingwearingwona millionand sofor herhave knownhave losti losti shouldis itit forlaugh andleft itlove imy friendof allshe wasshe wouldshould havethe endthe lovethere istoo latewhat haveappear to bei should neveri'm telling youin the endis it forof all theshe was athat you won'tthere is onei should have knowni'm telling you so

Cover-shared words

actallcomescrygirlheritlatelikeloselostlovememymyselfnearneveronesheskysuchtearstheretruewinyoua girlall theand iand i'mfrom thei ami cryi havei'm ai'm notit tooit's truelike asuch athat ithat youthe skyto beto mewhat iyou soyou won't

Lyric shape

[NOUN] who's[VERB] are[VERB] before[VERB] or[WORD] have[WORD] thisare [VERB]one [VERB]should [WORD]this [WORD][ADV] is one[NOUN] in a[VERB] and i[VERB] are [VERB][VERB] i should[VERB] in the[WORD] have [VERB]i [VERB] [VERB]i [WORD] ii have [VERB]i should [WORD]it's [ADJ] [NOUN]of [WORD] theshe would [VERB]to [VERB] [ADJ]was a [NOUN]you won't [VERB][NOUN] in a [WORD][VERB] [ADJ] a [WORD][VERB] and i [VERB][VERB] from the [NOUN][VERB] in the [WORD][WORD] the [NOUN] ia [NOUN] in aand i [VERB] [NOUN]i should have [WORD]i'm [VERB] you somy [NOUN] are [VERB]she was a [NOUN]that you won't [VERB]i [VERB] and i [VERB]

Cover-shared shape

[ADJ] a[ADV] is[ADV] to[NOUN] in[VERB] a[VERB] and[VERB] from[VERB] i[VERB] in[VERB] it[VERB] to[VERB] you[WORD] i[WORD] my[WORD] she[WORD] thea [NOUN]a [WORD]have [VERB]have [WORD]i [VERB]i [WORD]i'm [VERB]it's [ADJ]my [NOUN]of [WORD]the [NOUN]the [WORD]to [VERB]too [ADV]won't [VERB]would [VERB][ADV] to me[VERB] a [NOUN][VERB] it too[VERB] like a[VERB] to be[VERB] you so[WORD] i [VERB][WORD] i have[WORD] my [NOUN][WORD] the [NOUN]a [NOUN] inand i [VERB]from the [NOUN]i [VERB] [NOUN]i [VERB] andi [VERB] toi'm [VERB] youin a [WORD]in the [WORD]like a [WORD]that i [VERB]the [NOUN] iwhat i [VERB][VERB] like a [WORD][WORD] i [VERB] andi [VERB] to be

Rhyme scheme

ABABAABBAAB

Line length

4-4-910-10-10-10IsometricConsistent line lengthsUnique line length

Distinctive word

clownfallingfatelosermask
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Music145 tags

Arrangement

Lead vocalsBacking vocalsElectric guitarAcoustic guitarLead guitarBass guitarDrumsPercussionTambourineHarmonica

Instrument group

GuitarsPercussion

Guitar work

Guitar solo

Bass work

Stepwise bass line

Music genre

Folk rockFolkRockPop

Influence

Country influence

Vocal work

Two-part harmonyVocal harmonies

Solo / Riff

Harmonica soloGuitar soloSolo based on verseSolo on verseSolo on chorus

Melody

Appoggiatura

Tempo

Moderate

Key

G major

Time signature

4/4

Song form

Verse-chorusABABABAB

Sections

Has introStandard verses (2-4)Has outroHas soloMultiple solos (2+)Many choruses (4+)

Section links

Intro based on verseIntro based on chorusSolo based on verseVerse variationSolo on outroOutro based on verseSolo on verseSolo on chorus

Section transition

I to iiV to I

Harmony

Borrowed chordHalf cadenceBackdoor cadenceCircle of fifthsPerfect cadenceJazz cadenceRhythm changes (partial)

Composition

No subdominantNon-tonic openingVerse in IChorus in iiTonic verseNon-tonic chorus

Mode

Mixolydian

Chord type

majorminormin7

Scale degree

Iiiii7Vvi♭VII

Chord degree

ii–VI–V♭VII–IV–II–vivi–iiii–V–IV–I–viii–V–I–viI–ii–V–I–vi–ii♭VII–VV–I–vi–iiI–iiI–vi–iiI–ii–Vii–♭VIIV–♭VIIii–♭VII–VV–♭VII–II–ii–V–I–vivi–ii–♭VIII–V–♭VII♭VII–I–VI–vi–ii–♭VII–Vii–V–♭VII♭VII–I–ii

Chord shape

Am → DC → E♭C → AAm → D → FC → GC → DC → FC → AmAm → DmAm → FAm → D → GC → F → DmAm → D → G → EmC → DmC → D → AC → Dm7C → F → Dm → GmC → Dm → GC → Am → DmC → E♭ → FC → D → EmC → G → B♭Am → Dm → B♭Am7 → DAm → F → DC → Dm → G → C → AmAm7 → D → GC → Dm → G → C → Am → DmC → Am → Dm → B♭ → GC → F → Dm → Gm → E♭C → E♭ → F → Gm

Chord literal

Am → D → FG → DF → GD → GAm → FD → G → EmG → AmAm → DD → FG → EmEm → AmF → G → DF → DAm → D → GD → F → GF → G → AmG → Am7G → Am → DG → Em → AmEm → Am → FG → D → F
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Sources & references

Tags on this page are original analysis, transcribed and cross-checked against the fine work of others: Alan W. Pollack's “Notes on…” series, the Beatles Complete Scores (Hal Leonard), Mark Lewisohn's session histories, Ian MacDonald's Revolution in the Head, Dave Rybaczewski's Beatles Music History and Andy Babiuk's Beatles Gear for the instruments and studio equipment, and others besides - then verified by ear against the recordings. Full bibliography: Sources & thanks.

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