Text · Narrative

Observational

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

songs

Songs tagged 'Observational' carry the 'Royalty' tag about 6.2x as often as the catalogue average (6 of 30, vs an overall rate of 7 in 217 songs).

Royalty

Analysis

By Year

Song count per year

By Songwriter

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

By Era

Early1 · 4%

Mid-period11 · 39%

Late16 · 57%

By Album

The Beatles (The White Album)7

Abbey Road6

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band4

Past Masters4

Revolver3

Magical Mystery Tour2

Let It Be2

Beatles For Sale1

Songs(28 of 30)

Year

Album

Writer

Lead vocal(s)

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Notes
1	Every Little Thing	1964	Beatles For Sale	John	–
2	Day Tripper	1965	Past Masters	John, Paul	–
3	Rain	1966	Past Masters	John	Detached commentary on others' behavior
4	For No One	1966	Revolver	Paul	Narrator outside, telling 'you' what 'she' does
5	Tomorrow Never Knows	1966	Revolver	John	Declarative 'it is...' statements
6	Eleanor Rigby	1966	Revolver	Paul	–
7	Penny Lane	1967	Magical Mystery Tour	Paul	Detached sketch of street scene
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8	Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	John	Narrator describes show without participating
9	A Day in the Life	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	John, Paul	Detached recounting of news items
10	She's Leaving Home	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Paul, John	Detached scene-setting
11	Good Morning Good Morning	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	John	Detached survey of dull town
12	The Fool on the Hill	1967	Magical Mystery Tour	Paul	Detached portrait of an outsider
13	Lady Madonna	1968	Past Masters	Paul	Narrator describes her week from outside
14	Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	–
15	The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	–
16	Cry Baby Cry	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Detached vignettes of king, queen, duke
17	While My Guitar Gently Weeps	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	George	Detached witness to others' condition
18	Revolution 9	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	–	Detached cataloguing of disparate scenes
19	Piggies	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	George	Narrator describes piggies from outside
20	Rocky Raccoon	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	–
21	Get Back	1969	Let It Be	Paul	–
22	Her Majesty	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	–
23	Maxwell's Silver Hammer	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	Narrator describes events
24	Polythene Pam	1969	Abbey Road	John	Describes Pam from outside
25	She Came in Through the Bathroom Window	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	–
26	Mean Mr. Mustard	1969	Abbey Road	John	Narrator describes Mustard, never enters scene
27	Sun King	1969	Abbey Road	John	Announces the sun king's arrival
28	I Me Mine	1970	Let It Be	George	Watches others' ego-driven behavior