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SongsHelp!Ticket to Ride
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Ticket to Ride

1965 · Help!

“I don't know why she's riding so high”

Lennon's drone-based rocker, built on a sustained A and Ringo's syncopated tom pattern that Lennon later called 'one of the earliest heavy-metal records.' McCartney plays the famous lead riff; it became the band's third US No. 1.
VinylCD

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Year1965
AlbumHelp!
Track7 · Side 1 · Side closer
Duration3:09
Songwriter(s)LennonCredited as Lennon-McCartney
Lead VocalJohn
RecordedFebruary 15, 1965
ReleasedApril 9, 1965 (Single)August 6, 1965 (Help!)

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Text202 tags

Motif

GreetingsAngerCommunicationDirectionsWomenSelf reflectionChildhoodTimeLoveFreedomTransportationRelationshipSadnessTravelMadness

Vocabulary

Limited vocabularyCasual languageNegative tone

Narrative

Third personFirst person

Lyrical device

Anaphora

Rhyme type

Internal rhymeExtrametrical rhymePerfect rhymeTriple rhyme

Song form

Verse-chorus

Sections

Has bridgeMultiple bridges (2+)Has outroStandard verses (2-4)Many choruses (4+)Has intro

Section links

Outro based on chorusOutro based on verseIntro based on verse

Repetition

Consecutive lineRecurring lineRecurring verse
Word cloud

Recurring words

goodbyehighlivingmadrideridingtickettwicea ticketbe sadbut shedon't knowdown yeahher downi wasis goingnever besaid thatshe don'tshe getsshe wouldthe girlthink i'mto thinkdriving me madi don't knowi think it'sto be sadwhen i wasi don't know why

Cover-shared words

awaybabycaredrivingfreegetsgirlgoinggotherknowmemyneverohrightsadsaidsayingshethinktodayyeahbaby don'tbe freedon't caredriving megoing togonna begot ai don'ti thinki'm goingi'm gonnamy babyought toshe saidshe's gotto beto dowhen iwith mei'm going toi'm gonna beshe's got a

Lyric shape

[NOUN] by[VERB] why[WORD] be[WORD] she'sit's [ADV]that's [VERB][NOUN] that's [VERB][VERB] [WORD] she[VERB] but she[VERB] her down[VERB] i'm gonna[WORD] be [ADJ][WORD] she [WORD][WORD] to doa [NOUN] toi [VERB] it'sshe [VERB] toshe don't [VERB]to be [ADJ][NOUN] to [VERB] but[VERB] to be [ADJ][WORD] to [VERB] [WORD]a [NOUN] to [VERB]i don't [VERB] whymy [NOUN] don't [VERB]she [VERB] that [VERB]she [VERB] to [VERB]the [NOUN] that's [VERB][VERB] a [NOUN] to [VERB]

Cover-shared shape

[NOUN] don't[NOUN] so[NOUN] that's[NOUN] to[VERB] a[VERB] but[VERB] her[VERB] i'm[VERB] it's[VERB] me[VERB] that[VERB] to[VERB] with[WORD] she[WORD] toa [NOUN]be [ADJ]do [NOUN]don't [VERB]down [WORD]i [VERB]i'm [VERB]is [VERB]me [ADJ]my [NOUN]she [VERB]she [WORD]she's [VERB]so [ADJ]that [VERB]the [NOUN]to [VERB]was [VERB]would [WORD][NOUN] don't [VERB][NOUN] to [VERB][VERB] a [NOUN][VERB] i'm [VERB][VERB] me [ADJ][VERB] that [VERB][VERB] to [VERB][VERB] to be[VERB] with me[WORD] to [VERB]i [VERB] i'mi don't [VERB]i'm [VERB] tois [VERB] [ADV]she's [VERB] ato [VERB] [WORD]to [VERB] but[VERB] to [VERB] [WORD]i [VERB] i'm [VERB] to

Rhyme scheme

AAAAAAAAAAAABABAB

Line length

5-5-5-5-5-57-5-7-5Unique line length

Distinctive word

bringing
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Music103 tags

Arrangement

Lead vocalsBacking vocalsElectric guitarLead guitarRhythm guitarBass guitarDrumsPercussionTambourineHandclaps12-string guitarOther percussion

Instrument group

GuitarsPercussion

Guitar work

String bending

Bass work

Stepwise bass line

Drum work

Prominent drum fills

Music genre

Folk rockRockPopFolk

Vocal work

Vocal harmoniesTwo-part harmony

Solo / Riff

Defining riff

Melody

OstinatoDefining riff

Tempo

ModerateTempo change

Key

A major

Time signature

4/4

Song form

Verse-chorusABABCABCAB

Sections

Has bridgeMultiple bridges (2+)Has outroStandard verses (2-4)Many choruses (4+)Has intro

Section links

Outro based on chorusOutro based on verseIntro based on verse

Section transition

V to viI to II to IVV to I

Harmony

DroneHalf cadenceBorrowed chordPerfect cadence

Composition

Only basic triadsTonic openingTonic endingChorus in viVerse in IBridge in IVTonic verseNon-tonic chorusNon-tonic bridge

Mode

Ionian

Chord type

majorminor

Scale degree

IiiIVVvi♭VII

Chord degree

vi–IVIV–viV–IVii–Vvi–VV–IIV–VI–iiI–ii–V♭VII–vivi–V–Ivi–♭VII

Chord shape

Am → FC → B♭C → DmC → DAm → DC → EmC → BmAm → GC → FAm → G → CC → Dm → GAm → B♭C → Em → FAm → F → Am → B♭

Chord literal

D → EE → DBm → EE → AF♯m → ED → F♯mA → BmF♯m → DD → F♯m → GA → Bm → E
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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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