Text · Motif
Nursery rhyme
Childlike sing-song imagery or direct allusion to nursery-rhyme texts.
8
songs
It is in the words of eight songs, from 1966 to 1969, and 1968 has more of them than any other year, with four. It first turns up on 'Yellow Submarine', cut 26 May 1966, and was last heard on 'You Never Give Me Your Money'. Two of them are 'Lady Madonna' and 'Good Night' (lullaby form, child-directed). Ringo sings lead on three of them, John on two and Paul on two. On 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill': children's sing-song refrain structure. On 'Cry Baby Cry' it is built from 'Sing a Song of Sixpence'.
See alsoRecurring words:childrenMusic genre:Children's songRecurring words:yellowLyric shape:[NOUN] and [NOUN]Lyric shape:and [NOUN]Chord degree:iv–♭VII–♭IIIVocal work:SingalongChord degree:iv–♭VII
Analysis
By Year
Song count per year
By Songwriter
% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)
By Era
Early0 · 0%
Mid-period1 · 11%
Late8 · 89%
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Songs(8)
Year
Album
Writer
Lead vocal(s)
| # | Title | Year | Album | Lead Vocal(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yellow Submarine | 1966 | Revolver | Ringo | Sing-along, children-song idiom |
| 2 | Lady Madonna | 1968 | Past Masters | Paul | 'See how they run' from Three Blind Mice; 'Monday's child' rhyme |
| 3 | Cry Baby Cry | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | Built from 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' |
| 4 | Good Night | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | Ringo | Lullaby form, child-directed |
| 5 | The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | Children's sing-song refrain structure |
| 6 | All Together Now | 1969 | Yellow Submarine | Paul, John | Children's-song format |
| 7 | Octopus's Garden | 1969 | Abbey Road | Ringo | Childlike fantasy and rhythm |
| 8 | You Never Give Me Your Money | 1969 | Abbey Road | Paul | Outro counting rhyme to Heaven |
Yellow Submarine
1966·Revolver·Ringo
Sing-along, children-song idiom
Lady Madonna
1968·Past Masters·Paul
'See how they run' from Three Blind Mice; 'Monday's child' rhyme
Cry Baby Cry
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John
Built from 'Sing a Song of Sixpence'
Good Night
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·Ringo
Lullaby form, child-directed
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John
Children's sing-song refrain structure
All Together Now
1969·Yellow Submarine·Paul
Children's-song format
Octopus's Garden
1969·Abbey Road·Ringo
Childlike fantasy and rhythm
You Never Give Me Your Money
1969·Abbey Road·Paul
Outro counting rhyme to Heaven
Updated