Text · Narrative

Third person

About 'he/she/they' - the singer as an outside observer telling someone else's story

songs

From 1963 to 1970, which is most of their years together, 37 songs use it. The first is 'Misery' and the last 'Maggie Mae', with Abbey Road leaning on it hardest, seven of its seventeen tracks. The lead vocals go John on sixteen, Paul on thirteen and George on one. Lennon and McCartney reach for it at the same rate, 19% and 19% of their own songs. On 'Here, There and Everywhere', she is described, not addressed: 'her hand', 'she doesn't know'. On 'Eleanor Rigby', the narrator observes both characters from outside. Of those, 'And I Love Her' carries claves as well, which only four of their recordings do.

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Notes
1	Misery	1963	Please Please Me	John, Paul	8 pronouns (50%)
2	She Loves You	1963	Past Masters	Paul, John	Narrator speaks about 'she' and 'you'
3	And I Love Her	1964	A Hard Day's Night	Paul	Narrator describes her, not addressing her
4	She's a Woman	1964	Past Masters	Paul	Narrator describes 'she' throughout
5	I Feel Fine	1964	Past Masters	John	18 pronouns (41%)
6	Baby's in Black	1964	Beatles For Sale	John, Paul	15 pronouns (48%)
7	Every Little Thing	1964	Beatles For Sale	John	19 pronouns (51%)

8	Ticket to Ride	1965	Help!	John	20 pronouns (48%)
9	You're Going to Lose That Girl	1965	Help!	John	15 pronouns (50%)
10	Nowhere Man	1965	Rubber Soul	John	'He's a real nowhere man'
11	Girl	1965	Rubber Soul	John	12 pronouns (50%)
12	Day Tripper	1965	Past Masters	John, Paul	Narrator describes 'she'
13	Rain	1966	Past Masters	John	Narrator describes 'they'
14	Doctor Robert	1966	Revolver	John	Narrator describes Robert to listener
15	Here, There and Everywhere	1966	Revolver	Paul	She is described, not addressed: 'her hand', 'she doesn't know'
16	Eleanor Rigby	1966	Revolver	Paul	Narrator observes both characters from outside
17	For No One	1966	Revolver	Paul	24 pronouns (57%)
18	She's Leaving Home	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Paul, John	Narrator describes the scene
19	Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	John	-
20	The Fool on the Hill	1967	Magical Mystery Tour	Paul	Narrator describes the fool figure
21	Revolution 9	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	-	14 pronouns (41%)
22	Piggies	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	George	-
23	Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	Storyteller narrates Desmond & Molly's life
24	The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Narrator describes Bill's hunt
25	Cry Baby Cry	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Court characters described from outside
26	Rocky Raccoon	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	-
27	Get Back	1969	Let It Be	Paul	Jo Jo, Loretta described in third person
28	Maxwell's Silver Hammer	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	-
29	Polythene Pam	1969	Abbey Road	John	5 pronouns (56%)
30	She Came in Through the Bathroom Window	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	13 pronouns (62%)
31	Mean Mr. Mustard	1969	Abbey Road	John	-
32	Her Majesty	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	9 pronouns (64%)
33	Sun King	1969	Abbey Road	John	-
34	Come Together	1969	Abbey Road	John	Describes 'he' across all verses

Third person

Analysis

By Year

By Songwriter

By Era

By Album

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Songs(34 of 37)

Misery

She Loves You

And I Love Her

She's a Woman

I Feel Fine

Baby's in Black

Every Little Thing

Ticket to Ride

You're Going to Lose That Girl

Nowhere Man

Girl

Day Tripper

Rain

Doctor Robert

Here, There and Everywhere

Eleanor Rigby

For No One

She's Leaving Home

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!

The Fool on the Hill

Revolution 9

Piggies

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

Cry Baby Cry

Rocky Raccoon

Get Back

Maxwell's Silver Hammer

Polythene Pam

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

Mean Mr. Mustard

Her Majesty

Sun King

Come Together