Music · Song form
No verse-chorus
The song avoids the conventional verse-chorus organization entirely
50
songs
50 recordings have no verse-chorus, for nearly the whole run, 1963 to 1970. 'There's a Place' is the earliest, from 1963, and 'I've Got a Feeling' the last, from 1970, with Abbey Road leaning on it hardest, ten of its seventeen tracks. More of them come from 1967 on than from the first four years, 34 against fourteen. The lead vocals go John on eighteen, Paul on ten, George on ten and Ringo on one. All four of them take the lead on 'Carry That Weight'. Three of them share it on 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)' and 'Because'. 40% of Harrison's songs have it, such as 'Something' and 'For You Blue', against 21% of Lennon's.
See alsoSections:No chorusEquipment:3M M23 8-track recorderVocabulary:Minimal lyricsComposition:Minimal harmonyLyric structure:AACASong family:Medley songDuration:Very shortTitle:Title not in lyrics
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George Harrison uses the No verse-chorus song-form on 36% of his sole-written songs (8 of 22) - roughly 2.8× the rate at which the other Beatles do (13% average): 'Blue Jay Way', 'For You Blue', and 'Long, Long, Long'.
Analysis
By Year
Song count per year
By Songwriter
% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)
By Era
Early5 · 12%
Mid-period9 · 22%
Late27 · 66%
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Songs(41 of 50)
Year
Album
Writer
Lead vocal(s)
Do You Want to Know a Secret
1963·Please Please Me·George
There's a Place
1963·Please Please Me·John
This Boy
1963·Past Masters·John
And I Love Her
1964·A Hard Day's Night·Paul
No Reply
1964·Beatles For Sale·John
It's Only Love
1965·Help!·John
Taxman
1966·Revolver·George
Tomorrow Never Knows
1966·Revolver·John
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
1967·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band·Paul
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
1967·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band·John
Within You Without You
1967·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band·George
A Day in the Life
1967·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band·John
Blue Jay Way
1967·Magical Mystery Tour·George
Flying
1967·Magical Mystery Tour
The Inner Light
1968·Past Masters·George
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John
Dear Prudence
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John
Birthday
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·Paul
Revolution 9
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)
Wild Honey Pie
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·Paul
Julia
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John
Glass Onion
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John
Why Don't We Do It in the Road?
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·Paul
I Will
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·Paul
Yer Blues
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John
Piggies
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·George
Long, Long, Long
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·George
Her Majesty
1969·Abbey Road·Paul
The End
1969·Abbey Road·Paul
Because
1969·Abbey Road·John
Mean Mr. Mustard
1969·Abbey Road·John
Polythene Pam
1969·Abbey Road·John
Carry That Weight
1969·Abbey Road·Paul
Sun King
1969·Abbey Road·John
Something
1969·Abbey Road·George
Golden Slumbers
1969·Abbey Road·Paul
You Never Give Me Your Money
1969·Abbey Road·Paul
Dig It
1970·Let It Be·John
I've Got a Feeling
1970·Let It Be·Paul
For You Blue
1970·Let It Be·George
The Long and Winding Road
1970·Let It Be·Paul
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