Repetition of the same word(s) at the start of successive lines or clauses, creating rhythmic insistence (e.g. Because: 'Because the world is round... Because the wind is high...').
Top lyrical devices by writer – Lennon: Anaphora (39), Simile (11), Wordplay (10); McCartney: Anaphora (21), Extended metaphor (8), Pastiche (8); Harrison: Anaphora (11), Extended metaphor (4), Double meaning (3).
Song count per year
% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)
| # | Title | Year | Album | Lead Vocal(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | There's a Place | 1963 | Please Please Me | John, Paul | 'When I feel low / When I feel blue' |
| 2 | From Me to You | 1963 | Past Masters | John, Paul | 'If there's anything...' twice |
| 3 | I Wanna Be Your Man | 1963 | With The Beatles | Ringo | 'I wanna...' line openings |
| 4 | This Boy | 1963 | Past Masters | John, Paul, George | Lines start with 'This boy'/'That boy' |
| 5 | Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand | 1964 | Past Masters | John, Paul | 'Oh, komm doch, komm zu mir' opens lines |
| 6 | I'm Happy Just to Dance with You | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | George | Verses 1 & 2 open 'I don't want/need…' |
| 7 | When I Get Home | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | Each verse opens 'Come on,...' |
| 8 | I'll Be Back | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | 'But I'll be back...' / 'But I came back...' |
| 9 | Any Time at All | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | Successive lines open 'Any time at all' |
| 10 | Tell Me Why | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | Successive 'Tell me why' / 'And why' line openings |
| 11 | If I Fell | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John, Paul | 'If I...' opens successive verse lines |
| 12 | And I Love Her | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | Paul | Verses end with 'And I love her' repeated |
| 13 | She's a Woman | 1964 | Past Masters | Paul | Verse 2 lines start with 'She' |
| 14 | Every Little Thing | 1964 | Beatles For Sale | John | Verses begin 'Yes, I know' |
| 15 | I Don't Want to Spoil the Party | 1964 | Beatles For Sale | John | Bridge lines 'Though tonight...' / 'If I find her...' |
| 16 | Ticket to Ride | 1965 | Help! | John | 'She ought to...' opens successive bridge lines |
| 17 | Help! | 1965 | Help! | John | 'Help me...' starts successive chorus lines |
| 18 | The Night Before | 1965 | Help! | Paul | 'Were you...' / 'Was I...' open successive lines |
| 19 | You Won't See Me | 1965 | Rubber Soul | Paul | 'I don't know... / I don't have...' |
| 20 | What Goes On | 1965 | Rubber Soul | Ringo | Chorus lines start with 'What goes on...' |
| 21 | The Word | 1965 | Rubber Soul | John, Paul | 'Say the word' opens successive lines |
| 22 | In My Life | 1965 | Rubber Soul | John | 'Some... Some... Some...' opens successive lines |
| 23 | We Can Work It Out | 1965 | Past Masters | Paul, John | 'Try to see it my way' / 'While you see it your way' |
| 24 | Nowhere Man | 1965 | Rubber Soul | John | 'Nowhere man' opens successive bridge lines |
| 25 | Rain | 1966 | Past Masters | John | Verses start 'If the rain comes' / 'When the sun shines' |
| 26 | Here, There and Everywhere | 1966 | Revolver | Paul | Verses begin with 'Here', 'There'; outro stacks 'Here, there and everywhere' |
| 27 | Love You To | 1966 | Revolver | George | 'Make love...' opens consecutive lines |
| 28 | Taxman | 1966 | Revolver | George | Bridge: 'I'll tax the street / I'll tax your seat / I'll tax the heat / I'll tax your feet' |
| 29 | And Your Bird Can Sing | 1966 | Revolver | John | Verses begin 'You say…' / 'You tell me…' |
| 30 | For No One | 1966 | Revolver | Paul | Verses begin with 'You'/'She' parallel clauses |
| 31 | Tomorrow Never Knows | 1966 | Revolver | John | Every couplet ends 'It is ___, it is ___' |
| 32 | Doctor Robert | 1966 | Revolver | John | Bridge lines begin 'Well, well, well' |
| 33 | With a Little Help from My Friends | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Ringo | Choruses begin 'I get by / I get high / I'm gonna try' |
| 34 | Good Morning Good Morning | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | John | 'Nothing to...' opens lines in verse 1 |
| 35 | Within You Without You | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | George | Verses 1 & 2 open 'We were talking about...' |
| 36 | Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | John | Chorus lines all start 'Lucy in the sky...' |
| 37 | A Day in the Life | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | John, Paul | 'I read the news today oh boy' / 'I saw a film today oh boy' |
| 38 | Baby, You're a Rich Man | 1967 | Magical Mystery Tour | John | Chorus lines start 'Baby, you're a rich man' |
| 39 | All You Need Is Love | 1967 | Magical Mystery Tour | John | Each verse line begins '(Love) Nothing you can...' or 'There's nothing/nowhere you can...' |
| 40 | Hello, Goodbye | 1967 | Magical Mystery Tour | Paul | 'You say' / 'I say' open successive lines |
| 41 | I Am the Walrus | 1967 | Magical Mystery Tour | John | Successive 'See how they...' lines |
| 42 | Blue Jay Way | 1967 | Magical Mystery Tour | George | Chorus lines begin 'Please, don't…' |
| 43 | Lady Madonna | 1968 | Past Masters | Paul | Verses 1-4 open 'Lady Madonna,…' |
| 44 | The Inner Light | 1968 | Past Masters | George | Lines begin 'Without...'; 'The less...'; 'Arrive/See/Do...' |
| 45 | Revolution | 1968 | Past Masters | John | Verses open 'You say...' / 'You tell me...' |
| 46 | Hey Jude | 1968 | Past Masters | Paul | Verses open 'Hey Jude, don't...' |
| 47 | While My Guitar Gently Weeps | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | George | 'I look at...' opens verse lines |
| 48 | Blackbird | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | Paul | Verses open 'Blackbird singing...' |
| 49 | Cry Baby Cry | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | 'The king was...' / 'The queen was...' opening lines |
| 50 | Good Night | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | Ringo | 'Dream sweet dreams for me / for you' |
| 51 | Piggies | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | George | 'Have you seen the...' opens verses 1 & 2 |
| 52 | Don't Pass Me By | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | Ringo | 'Don't pass me by / Don't make me cry / Don't make me blue' |
| 53 | I Will | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | Paul | Bridge: 'Love you...' starts each line |
| 54 | Yer Blues | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | "Yes, I'm lonely / ... / Yes, I'm lonely"; "In the morning / In the evening" |
| 55 | Julia | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | Verses open 'Julia, Julia' / 'Julia, [image]' |
| 56 | Birthday | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | Paul, John | 'Yes, we're goin' to a party' opens 3 lines |
| 57 | Helter Skelter | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | Paul | "Tell me, tell me, tell me" anaphoric repetition opening line 3 of each verse |
| 58 | Sexy Sadie | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | Every verse opens 'Sexy Sadie' |
| 59 | Glass Onion | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | 'I told you about...' opens verses 1, 2, 3 |
| 60 | Dear Prudence | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | Verses pair 'Dear Prudence' / 'Dear Prudence' line starts |
| 61 | Revolution 1 | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | 'You say...' / 'You tell me...' open verses; 'Don't you know' opens chorus lines |
| 62 | I'm So Tired | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | 'You know...' starts successive chorus lines |
| 63 | Martha My Dear | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | Paul | Verse lines open 'Martha, my...' |
| 64 | Hey Bulldog | 1969 | Yellow Submarine | John | Successive lines begin 'Some kind of...' |
| 65 | Something | 1969 | Abbey Road | George | Verse lines start with 'Something in...' |
| 66 | I Want You (She's So Heavy) | 1969 | Abbey Road | John | Successive lines begin 'I want you' |
| 67 | Mean Mr. Mustard | 1969 | Abbey Road | John | 'Such a... old man' closes both verses |
| 68 | Sun King | 1969 | Abbey Road | John | 'Everybody's...' across bridge lines |
| 69 | Her Majesty | 1969 | Abbey Road | Paul | Successive lines open 'Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl' |
| 70 | Oh! Darling | 1969 | Abbey Road | Paul | 'Believe me' opens multiple lines |
| 71 | Here Comes the Sun | 1969 | Abbey Road | George | 'Little darling' opens successive verse lines |
| 72 | Come Together | 1969 | Abbey Road | John | Verse lines start 'He got...' / 'He one...' |
| 73 | Let It Be | 1970 | Let It Be | Paul | Successive lines start 'Let it be' |
| 74 | Dig a Pony | 1970 | Let It Be | John | Verse lines begin 'Well, you can…' / 'Yes, you can…' |
| 75 | I've Got a Feeling | 1970 | Let It Be | Paul, John | 'Everybody had/saw/let/pulled/put...' |
| 76 | For You Blue | 1970 | Let It Be | George | 'Because you're sweet and lovely' opens lines |
| 77 | Two of Us | 1970 | Let It Be | Paul, John | 'Two of us...' / 'You and me...' open lines |
| 78 | The Long and Winding Road | 1970 | Let It Be | Paul | 'Many times I've been... many times I've cried' |
| 79 | I Me Mine | 1970 | Let It Be | George | Verses begin 'All through the day/night', 'All I can hear' |
| 80 | Free as a Bird | 1995 | Reunion singles | John, Paul, George | Both bridges open 'Whatever happened to' |
| 81 | Real Love | 1996 | Reunion singles | John | 'No need to be...' opens successive lines |
| 82 | Now and Then | 2023 | Reunion singles | John | Successive lines begin 'And' |
'When I feel low / When I feel blue'
'If there's anything...' twice
'I wanna...' line openings
Lines start with 'This boy'/'That boy'
'Oh, komm doch, komm zu mir' opens lines
Verses 1 & 2 open 'I don't want/need…'
Each verse opens 'Come on,...'
'But I'll be back...' / 'But I came back...'
Successive lines open 'Any time at all'
Successive 'Tell me why' / 'And why' line openings
'If I...' opens successive verse lines
Verses end with 'And I love her' repeated
Verse 2 lines start with 'She'
Verses begin 'Yes, I know'
Bridge lines 'Though tonight...' / 'If I find her...'
'She ought to...' opens successive bridge lines
'Help me...' starts successive chorus lines
'Were you...' / 'Was I...' open successive lines
'I don't know... / I don't have...'
Chorus lines start with 'What goes on...'
'Say the word' opens successive lines
'Some... Some... Some...' opens successive lines
'Try to see it my way' / 'While you see it your way'
'Nowhere man' opens successive bridge lines
Verses start 'If the rain comes' / 'When the sun shines'
Verses begin with 'Here', 'There'; outro stacks 'Here, there and everywhere'
'Make love...' opens consecutive lines
Bridge: 'I'll tax the street / I'll tax your seat / I'll tax the heat / I'll tax your feet'
Verses begin 'You say…' / 'You tell me…'
Verses begin with 'You'/'She' parallel clauses
Every couplet ends 'It is ___, it is ___'
Bridge lines begin 'Well, well, well'
Choruses begin 'I get by / I get high / I'm gonna try'
'Nothing to...' opens lines in verse 1
Verses 1 & 2 open 'We were talking about...'
Chorus lines all start 'Lucy in the sky...'
'I read the news today oh boy' / 'I saw a film today oh boy'
Chorus lines start 'Baby, you're a rich man'
Each verse line begins '(Love) Nothing you can...' or 'There's nothing/nowhere you can...'
'You say' / 'I say' open successive lines
Successive 'See how they...' lines
Chorus lines begin 'Please, don't…'
Verses 1-4 open 'Lady Madonna,…'
Lines begin 'Without...'; 'The less...'; 'Arrive/See/Do...'
Verses open 'You say...' / 'You tell me...'
Verses open 'Hey Jude, don't...'
'I look at...' opens verse lines
Verses open 'Blackbird singing...'
'The king was...' / 'The queen was...' opening lines
'Dream sweet dreams for me / for you'
'Have you seen the...' opens verses 1 & 2
'Don't pass me by / Don't make me cry / Don't make me blue'
Bridge: 'Love you...' starts each line
"Yes, I'm lonely / ... / Yes, I'm lonely"; "In the morning / In the evening"
Verses open 'Julia, Julia' / 'Julia, [image]'
'Yes, we're goin' to a party' opens 3 lines
"Tell me, tell me, tell me" anaphoric repetition opening line 3 of each verse
Every verse opens 'Sexy Sadie'
'I told you about...' opens verses 1, 2, 3
Verses pair 'Dear Prudence' / 'Dear Prudence' line starts
'You say...' / 'You tell me...' open verses; 'Don't you know' opens chorus lines
'You know...' starts successive chorus lines
Verse lines open 'Martha, my...'
Successive lines begin 'Some kind of...'
Verse lines start with 'Something in...'
Successive lines begin 'I want you'
'Such a... old man' closes both verses
'Everybody's...' across bridge lines
Successive lines open 'Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl'
'Believe me' opens multiple lines
'Little darling' opens successive verse lines
Verse lines start 'He got...' / 'He one...'
Successive lines start 'Let it be'
Verse lines begin 'Well, you can…' / 'Yes, you can…'
'Everybody had/saw/let/pulled/put...'
'Because you're sweet and lovely' opens lines
'Two of us...' / 'You and me...' open lines
'Many times I've been... many times I've cried'
Verses begin 'All through the day/night', 'All I can hear'
Both bridges open 'Whatever happened to'
'No need to be...' opens successive lines
Successive lines begin 'And'
Updated
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