Rhetorical question
A question asked for effect rather than for an answer, where the asking itself carries the point.
1964 was the Beatles' biggest year for new lyrical devices since they began recording: 6 debuts that hadn't appeared on a Beatles record before - including Pastiche, Beatles reference, and Rhetorical question.
Analysis
By Year
Song count per year
By Songwriter
% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)
By Era
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Songs(11)
| # | Title | Year | Album | Lead Vocal(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Should Have Known Better | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | - |
| 2 | I'm a Loser | 1964 | Beatles For Sale | John | self-directed questioning |
| 3 | Girl | 1965 | Rubber Soul | John | the question frames the portrait rather than seeking a reply |
| 4 | Nowhere Man | 1965 | Rubber Soul | John | the questions are addressed to the subject, who cannot answer |
| 5 | I'm Looking Through You | 1965 | Rubber Soul | Paul | asked of a person who has already changed |
| 6 | Eleanor Rigby | 1966 | Revolver | Paul | 'Where do they all belong?' - asked of nobody, and not answered |
| 7 | She's Leaving Home | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Paul, John | the parents' questions have no one left to answer them |
| 8 | Within You Without You | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | George | The questions are the argument |
| 9 | When I'm Sixty-Four | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Paul | the questions are the song's proposition, not an enquiry |
| 10 | Lady Madonna | 1968 | Past Masters | Paul | 'How do you manage to make ends meet?' - wondering, not asking |
| 11 | The End | 1969 | Abbey Road | Paul | - |
I Should Have Known Better
I'm a Loser
self-directed questioning
Girl
the question frames the portrait rather than seeking a reply
Nowhere Man
the questions are addressed to the subject, who cannot answer
I'm Looking Through You
asked of a person who has already changed
Eleanor Rigby
'Where do they all belong?' - asked of nobody, and not answered
She's Leaving Home
the parents' questions have no one left to answer them
Within You Without You
The questions are the argument
When I'm Sixty-Four
the questions are the song's proposition, not an enquiry
Lady Madonna
'How do you manage to make ends meet?' - wondering, not asking
The End
Updated