What Goes On

There are questions in the lyric (Repeated 'What goes on in your heart/mind?'), and the lyric touches the motifs of storytelling and sadness. Formally it is confessional in tone, most at home in the Beatles' 1968 writing. The writing reaches for anaphora and simile. Incidentally, the line "In the morning" turns up in 6 Beatles songs, among them 'Roll Over Beethoven', 'Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)' and 'For You Blue'.

'What Goes On' moves at about 118 BPM in E major, a country rock and rockabilly song with Carl Perkins influences (country-rockabilly lead voicings). The tune carries call and response, the backing vocals answering the lead singer (Ringo lead answered by John/Paul 'Ooh') and an appoggiatura leaning against the chord, something the Beatles started 3 years before and went on doing for 41 songs. Then, it reaches for a sus4 chord, one that fifteen of their records feature, such as 'I'm Looking Through You' and 'I Need You'. It has a guitar solo.

Recorded in a single overnight session at EMI Studio 2 on November 4, 1965 - rhythm track in one take with vocals and George's country lead guitar overdubbed in the same session, completed in roughly an hour. The Gretsch 6119 Tennessean on it was Harrison's country lead. The session was set up with the Ludwig Super Classic, Starr's own kit since 1964. The record closes with a fade-out, a habit that peaked in 1967. This was the 29th of the 33 songs the Beatles recorded in 1965, and the 98th of their career.

Lennon, McCartney and Starr wrote it, and Starr sings lead (a middle-eight contribution). It exists to give Ringo something to sing. McCartney is credited with 'Ooh' responses, a habit that peaked in 1963.

The track was released on the Rubber Soul LP (Dec 3, 1965). Issued in the US as the B-side of 'Nowhere Man' (Feb 21, 1966), charting at #81 in its own right, and later collected on Yesterday and Today (Jun 20, 1966). It got there six months later. This track was the 25th of 33 released in 1965, and the 94th counting from the start.