Text · Narrative

Observational

The singer as detached observer, describing scenes, people, or events without personal involvement

30
songs

Analysis

By Year

Song count per year

By Songwriter

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

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Songs(28 of 30)

Year
Album
Writer
Lead vocal(s)

Every Little Thing

1964·Beatles For Sale·John

Day Tripper

1965·Past Masters·John

Rain

1966·Past Masters·John

Detached commentary on others' behavior

Eleanor Rigby

1966·Revolver·Paul

For No One

1966·Revolver·Paul

Narrator outside, telling 'you' what 'she' does

Tomorrow Never Knows

1966·Revolver·John

Declarative 'it is...' statements

Penny Lane

1967·Magical Mystery Tour·Paul

Detached sketch of street scene

A Day in the Life

1967·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band·John

Detached recounting of news items

Good Morning Good Morning

1967·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band·John

Detached survey of dull town

She's Leaving Home

1967·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band·Paul

Detached scene-setting

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!

1967·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band·John

Narrator describes show without participating

The Fool on the Hill

1967·Magical Mystery Tour·Paul

Detached portrait of an outsider

Lady Madonna

1968·Past Masters·Paul

Narrator describes her week from outside

Revolution 9

1968·The Beatles (The White Album)

Detached cataloguing of disparate scenes

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·Paul

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John

Cry Baby Cry

1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·John

Detached vignettes of king, queen, duke

Rocky Raccoon

1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·Paul

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·George

Detached witness to others' condition

Piggies

1968·The Beatles (The White Album)·George

Narrator describes piggies from outside

Get Back

1969·Let It Be·Paul

Her Majesty

1969·Abbey Road·Paul

Maxwell's Silver Hammer

1969·Abbey Road·Paul

Narrator describes events

Polythene Pam

1969·Abbey Road·John

Describes Pam from outside

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

1969·Abbey Road·Paul

Mean Mr. Mustard

1969·Abbey Road·John

Narrator describes Mustard, never enters scene

Sun King

1969·Abbey Road·John

Announces the sun king's arrival

I Me Mine

1970·Let It Be·George

Watches others' ego-driven behavior

Updated