Text · Motif

Freedom

Liberation, escape, or unbounded movement as theme.

songs

Nineteen songs use it, across almost the whole of the band's recording life, 1963 to 1969. 'Anna (Go to Him)' came first, on the Please Please Me album, and 'Come Together' last, on Abbey Road. It sits on much the same share of each man's songs, 9% of Lennon's and 7% of McCartney's. On 'You Never Give Me Your Money': escape fantasy from financial trap. On 'Octopus's Garden': escape from rules underwater. Of the nineteen, 'Chains' has Hohner Chromonica on it, one of only four of their recordings that do.

Analysis

Song count per year

% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)

Early3 · 20%

Mid-period5 · 33%

Late7 · 47%

Book

Revolution in the Head

Ian MacDonald

Book

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics

Alan Aldridge

Merch

Abbey Road Tote Bag

The Beatles Store

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Year

Album

Writer

Lead vocal(s)

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Notes
1	I'll Be Back	1964	A Hard Day's Night	John	Break
2	I'll Cry Instead	1964	A Hard Day's Night	John	Break
3	I'll Follow the Sun	1964	Beatles For Sale	Paul	Leaving to pursue happiness
4	Ticket to Ride	1965	Help!	John	'She would never be free when I was around'
5	Tell Me What You See	1965	Help!	John, Paul	Open
6	The Word	1965	Rubber Soul	John, Paul	'Say the word and you'll be free'
7	She's Leaving Home	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Paul, John	'Stepping outside, she is free'

8	I Am the Walrus	1967	Magical Mystery Tour	John	Fly
9	Blackbird	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	Wings, fly, free
10	Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Fly
11	Helter Skelter	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	Break
12	Dear Prudence	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Open, chain
13	You Never Give Me Your Money	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	Escape fantasy from financial trap
14	Octopus's Garden	1969	Abbey Road	Ringo	Escape from rules underwater
15	Come Together	1969	Abbey Road	John	'You got to be free'
16	Free as a Bird	1995	Reunion singles	John, Paul, George	Bird as freedom symbol