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.
Song count per year
% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)
| # | Title | Year | Album | Lead Vocal(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Should Have Known Better | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | proposed by the lyrics skill |
| 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 | proposed by the lyrics skill; 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 | proposed by the lyrics skill |
proposed by the lyrics skill
self-directed questioning
the question frames the portrait rather than seeking a reply
the questions are addressed to the subject, who cannot answer
asked of a person who has already changed
'Where do they all belong?' - asked of nobody, and not answered
the parents' questions have no one left to answer them
proposed by the lyrics skill; the questions are the argument
the questions are the song's proposition, not an enquiry
'How do you manage to make ends meet?' - wondering, not asking
proposed by the lyrics skill
Updated
Book
Revolution in the Head
Ian MacDonald
Book
The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics
Alan Aldridge
Course
Hans Zimmer – Teaches Film Scoring
MasterClass · Orchestration + storytelling – resonates with 'A Day in the Life'.
affiliate link – supports this wiki