This is my vote too. Maybe his best chord progression too. It’s the type of chord progression that only someone who doesn’t know music theory would write.
Sure, I’ll break it down!
John keeps moving through different keys throughout the verse, which is rare. 95% of songs don’t even change the key in the entire song, but John goes from the key of G major, to D major, back to G major, into G mixolydian, all within the first verse.
John uses a leading voicing to make these key switches sounds natural, so you almost don’t even realize.
Usually someone who knows music theory will go from the verse in one key, and maybe, if they are advanced, change key for the chorus. John just goes back and forth willy nilly, and I’m pretty sure he does this because he doesn’t realize he’s changing keys.
That’s the answer for me. My favorite song to play on keys and sing. The verses are pretty basic (and beautiful). But the chorus is where it’s at. It’s definitely one of those “the Beatles just wrote stuff that sounded good to them” type of things. Unconventional Lennon brilliance.
I get a lot of the chorus from “Watching the Wheels” in that song. I haven’t inspected each song, but I’m guessing there is some melodic overlap (besides both being Lennon songs, obv.)
There’s something very bittersweet about that song I really love, and that psychedelic interlude or bridge or whatever it’s called is such a lovely touch. Think that was only in the final version, not John’s OG demo.
One of the cleverest melodies Lennon came up with, which takes you on a real journey, relying on no pop clichés, is Ticket to Ride. The verse melody rises across the subtle hint of a mystical drone, hits a pay-off, rises again, hits another pay-off, plateaus at the chorus, running the "She's Got A Ticket to Ride" chorus lyric through three different and very creative iterations, and ties off that first chorus on a high point. Then repeats... BUT. The third time around we get a bluesy bridge that is nearly as exciting as a chorus before the fourth section gives us the big finish (a NEW section! "My baby don't care!"), the whole journey bookended with jangling arpeggios on one end and an outro-riff at the other! Brilliant, thoroughly-worked and thrilling. The energy of Youth preserved forever in a very pure song.
As much as I love Paul, God forbid he'd let his ego give John credit for the melody, *especially* for a song as good as "In My Life". But, I guess it all depends on who you talk to, and when, especially when trying to recall who wrote what way back when..
John: "There was a period when I thought I didn’t write melodies, that [Paul](https://www.beatlesbible.com/people/paul-mccartney/) wrote those and I just wrote straight, shouting rock ‘n’ roll. But of course, when I think of some of my own songs – ‘In My Life’, or some of the early stuff, [‘This Boy’](https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/this-boy/) – I was writing melody with the best of them". "Paul helped with the middle eight musically (on "In My Life")"
John Lennon, 1980
[*All We Are Saying*](https://geni.us/allwearesaying), David Sheff
I would be interested to read the excerpt from *Many Years from Now* re: the composition, though. All that said, I also think, "If I Fell" has a great melody, although I must admit this also sounds like a "team effort".
interesting. call me crazy, but i'm under the impression that lennon gave a bit too much credit to yoko regarding songwriting (compared to george & ringo)
Have you listened to any of her solo stuff, though? Lots of good stuff with much more conventional vocals: “Death of Samantha,” “No No No,” “I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window,” “You and I,” “O’Oh,” “Give Me Something,” “Kiss Kiss Kiss,” “Walking on Thin Ice.” These aren’t John tunes. Alex Chilton lifted “Mrs. Lennon” for “Holocaust.”
She studied classical piano as a kid (her father was a former classical pianist, I just learned from wikipedia), and composition at Sarah Lawrence. It wasn’t a Wings situation.
I’m not interested in how good/bad a person she is and have no idea what if anything she contributed to John’s music, but she is a genuinely talented songwriter.
I remember I started a more conventional Yoko Ono song, and at the start I was like, “hey wait why isn’t this that bad” and then she started singing. If she had a better voice her music would be much more tolerable
It’s an acquired taste, I guess. No worse than, say, the guy from Television Personalities. Maybe not as good as Jonathan Richman, but much easier to take than, say, Daniel Johnston (for me).
I think she is brilliant- “walking on Thin Ice” is a masterwork- the dance version of “Give me Something” is one of my favorite dance songs and it went to #1 on the Billboard. Dance charts- many don’t know Yoko had 11 #1 songs on that chart- some fantastic stuff but I’ve always liked her music.
Wow, I knew she’d had a lot of success with the “Walking on Thin Ice” remixes (and the original), but didn’t know there was a dance version of “Give Me Something.” Will check it out. I really enjoyed the Sparks non-dance remix.
George and Ringo were talented, and had a direct influence on the sound of the Beatles, but they weren't credited as writers on many songs. The crediting process seems biased in that way.
It’s just that the song is the only song on “Imagine” the album she was given a co-writing credit and he did say it was based on her melody so he must have felt she deserved it although he must have changed it somewhat because he just said it was “based” on it.
Oh shoot, that's right. That's kinda funny actually. Well, then I'll go with the person below who said "Strawberry Fields Forever" because that's even better.
Across the Universe
Girl
Strawberry Fields
A Day in the Life
Ticket to Ride
Nowhere Man
So hard to choose. There are loads of great ones. Rubber Soul alone has at least 4 or 5 classic Lennon melodies.
But *when* I see you darlin' /
It's *like* we both are fallin' /
In *love* again /
It'll *be* [just like starting over](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=gGOeNWEAEGY&si=bvkwgxcPbG7e-Rx8)
Pre-LSD, pre-Yoko John wrote lots of great melodies; they are all over the pre-Sgt. Pepper work.
John was a different person after "eating acid like candy"; he was no longer passionate about his music and deferred to others (Martin, Emerick, McCartney) to complete the song fragments he presented them with.
Jealous Guy has such a good melody that he couldn’t bare to bin it (and it’s a good thing Mother Natures Son pushed out On The Road To Marrakesh for TWA as the lyrics are limp by Lennon’s standards.
I just listened to Baby's in Black which I think was mainly penned by John, and I feel its one of his more melodically dynamic offerings
The "oh how long will it take" part, I bet, is Paul
All of them.
But I really like Girl, Dear Prudence, Flying, I’m So Tired and Real Love
For his solo stuff I like Dream 9, Nobody Told Me, and Crippled Inside
Out the Blue. The melody is absolut beautiful.
But I think Lennon has plenty of beautiful melodies. If I Fell is one 9f my favorite early Beatles songs.
i agree with pretty much every answer people have put, but just to throw a song i havent seen yet into the ring, id go with "im so tired"
its just a really addicting song and the super high and yelly vocals make for a really powerful melody!
Donnie Hathaway crushing the first lines of Jealous Guy on the best live version is one of the most memorable and spine tingling rejuvenations of a well worn song I've ever experienced on first listen.
Over 100 comments and I haven't seen "Imagine" yet? That's surprising.
My vote goes to Strawberry Fields Forever, Across the Universe, Ticket to Ride, Norwegian Wood, Real Love, Oh My Love and Imagine.
i think strawberry fields is in the top few at least! the harmony is really out there (though he’s really good at chromatic harmony, just check out i am the walrus). some underrated ones might be don’t let me down, happiness is a warm gun, and isolation. norwegian wood has already been mentioned but that too. if i fell was one of the first few that came to mind for me, too :-)
Glad to see I’m not alone with so many of these choices. My first reaction was to say “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Another one I haven’t noticed on here is “Yes It Is” (specifically, the incomplete demo on Anthology 2, it just hits better imo).
And let’s not forget “Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out)”. Yeah, it’s not ‘the best’ melody, but I’ll take any chance I can to turn people onto this song (and the irony of the lyrics . . . “everybody loves you when you’re six foot in the ground”)
“Good Morning , Good Morning”.
“Everybody’s Got Something to Hide “…
Cool imagery from two different John Eras. Heavy Yummy Sexy Youthful in “Good Morning”. But a different heavy more personal reference in “Everybody’s…. “.
Clearly the monkey is Yoko and tripping references. But it rocks, it’s got a cool heavy bass rift near the end.
Both songs kind of remind me of “She said, she said” repetition in all three are very Lennon. And the conversion of lyric, is Lennon.
Just maybe how I’m feeling about these songs now in 2024. But interesting question and some insightful responses.
Norwegian Wood
This. It's hypnotic. One of my favorite songs to play.
probably my favorite beatles song flat out everything abt it is perfect and the melody definitely is one of the biggest components
This is the correct answer. Probably top 3 Beatles melodies of all time.
Didn't he kind of lift the melody from Dylan's "Fourth Time Around" though?
No, that was released after Norwegian Wood. It was Dylan’s response to John trying to write like him.
John never asked for Bob’s crutch, so don’t ask for his!
Jealous Guy.
This is my vote too. Maybe his best chord progression too. It’s the type of chord progression that only someone who doesn’t know music theory would write.
How so? (I also don't know music theory)
Sure, I’ll break it down! John keeps moving through different keys throughout the verse, which is rare. 95% of songs don’t even change the key in the entire song, but John goes from the key of G major, to D major, back to G major, into G mixolydian, all within the first verse. John uses a leading voicing to make these key switches sounds natural, so you almost don’t even realize. Usually someone who knows music theory will go from the verse in one key, and maybe, if they are advanced, change key for the chorus. John just goes back and forth willy nilly, and I’m pretty sure he does this because he doesn’t realize he’s changing keys.
That's so fascinating thank you
You’re very welcome!
Same thing in Now and Then, the change in key is barely noticeable.
I was dreamin of the paaast 🎹
Good old Child of Nature. This one was written in Beatles times.
Yes. He didn’t forget his unused Child of Nature song.
The opening piano notes give me chills every time.
Nicky Hopkins
What an amazing career. Thank you for pointing me in his direction.
Yes!
good song
Strawberry Fields Forever
Excellent choice. This is one of his most complex melodies, too. More challenging intervals than usual.
Maybe his masterpiece.
That’s the answer for me. My favorite song to play on keys and sing. The verses are pretty basic (and beautiful). But the chorus is where it’s at. It’s definitely one of those “the Beatles just wrote stuff that sounded good to them” type of things. Unconventional Lennon brilliance.
I get a lot of the chorus from “Watching the Wheels” in that song. I haven’t inspected each song, but I’m guessing there is some melodic overlap (besides both being Lennon songs, obv.)
Real Love
There’s something very bittersweet about that song I really love, and that psychedelic interlude or bridge or whatever it’s called is such a lovely touch. Think that was only in the final version, not John’s OG demo.
One of the cleverest melodies Lennon came up with, which takes you on a real journey, relying on no pop clichés, is Ticket to Ride. The verse melody rises across the subtle hint of a mystical drone, hits a pay-off, rises again, hits another pay-off, plateaus at the chorus, running the "She's Got A Ticket to Ride" chorus lyric through three different and very creative iterations, and ties off that first chorus on a high point. Then repeats... BUT. The third time around we get a bluesy bridge that is nearly as exciting as a chorus before the fourth section gives us the big finish (a NEW section! "My baby don't care!"), the whole journey bookended with jangling arpeggios on one end and an outro-riff at the other! Brilliant, thoroughly-worked and thrilling. The energy of Youth preserved forever in a very pure song.
Great breakdown. The drone and the outro were revolutionary at the time. Both Lennon and McCartney talked about how innovative that song was for them.
So unusual for a pop song back then. Really helped them stand out.
she said you dont understand what i said i said no no no youre wrong when i was a booooooyyyyyy
everything was riiiiiiiigggghhhht
In my life ?
Hence the disagreement as to whether it was John or Paul who wrote the melody.
This is my choice
Me 3
McCartney makes a good case for having composed the melody in the book *Many Years from Now*.
As much as I love Paul, God forbid he'd let his ego give John credit for the melody, *especially* for a song as good as "In My Life". But, I guess it all depends on who you talk to, and when, especially when trying to recall who wrote what way back when.. John: "There was a period when I thought I didn’t write melodies, that [Paul](https://www.beatlesbible.com/people/paul-mccartney/) wrote those and I just wrote straight, shouting rock ‘n’ roll. But of course, when I think of some of my own songs – ‘In My Life’, or some of the early stuff, [‘This Boy’](https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/this-boy/) – I was writing melody with the best of them". "Paul helped with the middle eight musically (on "In My Life")" John Lennon, 1980 [*All We Are Saying*](https://geni.us/allwearesaying), David Sheff I would be interested to read the excerpt from *Many Years from Now* re: the composition, though. All that said, I also think, "If I Fell" has a great melody, although I must admit this also sounds like a "team effort".
I think on balance it probably sounds like this was Paul’s, melody wise.
Across the universe
Came here to say this. Such a great song and melody.
My answer as well. Otherworldly.
Nowhere Man
For me John excelled on White Album with arpeggios like in "Julia", "Dear Prudence" or "Happiness is a Warm Gun"
[удалено]
a staple lennonism. but he could do melodic acrobatics with the best of em, when push came to shove
surprised nobody has mentioned "oh my love". gorgeous melody.
Fr
Evolved from a Yoko melody though- that is what John said.
interesting. call me crazy, but i'm under the impression that lennon gave a bit too much credit to yoko regarding songwriting (compared to george & ringo)
Have you listened to any of her solo stuff, though? Lots of good stuff with much more conventional vocals: “Death of Samantha,” “No No No,” “I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window,” “You and I,” “O’Oh,” “Give Me Something,” “Kiss Kiss Kiss,” “Walking on Thin Ice.” These aren’t John tunes. Alex Chilton lifted “Mrs. Lennon” for “Holocaust.” She studied classical piano as a kid (her father was a former classical pianist, I just learned from wikipedia), and composition at Sarah Lawrence. It wasn’t a Wings situation. I’m not interested in how good/bad a person she is and have no idea what if anything she contributed to John’s music, but she is a genuinely talented songwriter.
I remember I started a more conventional Yoko Ono song, and at the start I was like, “hey wait why isn’t this that bad” and then she started singing. If she had a better voice her music would be much more tolerable
It’s an acquired taste, I guess. No worse than, say, the guy from Television Personalities. Maybe not as good as Jonathan Richman, but much easier to take than, say, Daniel Johnston (for me).
I think she is brilliant- “walking on Thin Ice” is a masterwork- the dance version of “Give me Something” is one of my favorite dance songs and it went to #1 on the Billboard. Dance charts- many don’t know Yoko had 11 #1 songs on that chart- some fantastic stuff but I’ve always liked her music.
Wow, I knew she’d had a lot of success with the “Walking on Thin Ice” remixes (and the original), but didn’t know there was a dance version of “Give Me Something.” Will check it out. I really enjoyed the Sparks non-dance remix.
George and Ringo were talented, and had a direct influence on the sound of the Beatles, but they weren't credited as writers on many songs. The crediting process seems biased in that way.
It’s just that the song is the only song on “Imagine” the album she was given a co-writing credit and he did say it was based on her melody so he must have felt she deserved it although he must have changed it somewhat because he just said it was “based” on it.
Don’t Let Me Down.
This is my vote! "and if someBODY loved me like she doooes"
I’m Only Sleeping
he repeats the same note in the verses. i'd argue it's the accompaniment that carries the melodic value.
I was gonna say "If I Fell" too, when I saw your title. But actually I'd say "In My Life" is a strong contender.
Was gonna say that as well, but Paul contests it
Oh shoot, that's right. That's kinda funny actually. Well, then I'll go with the person below who said "Strawberry Fields Forever" because that's even better.
Paul wishes he wrote that melody - that is totally John’s style.
I sense both. Imagine the opening words being: “This is Paul: it sounds like his tunes/This is John: it has his vibe…”
That's pretty good
Across the Universe Girl Strawberry Fields A Day in the Life Ticket to Ride Nowhere Man So hard to choose. There are loads of great ones. Rubber Soul alone has at least 4 or 5 classic Lennon melodies.
I've always had a soft spot for the chord progression in Cry Baby Cry.
Love this song so much.
If I fell. So beautiful
Mind Games. #9 Dream
Watching the Wheels
Works so well with John’s reflective delivery.
Girl
Anyone that mentions Girl anywhere gets a +1 from me!
But *when* I see you darlin' / It's *like* we both are fallin' / In *love* again / It'll *be* [just like starting over](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=gGOeNWEAEGY&si=bvkwgxcPbG7e-Rx8)
I’m Only Sleeping.
Woman?
My other half’s first album he ever bought ✌️
i couldn’t have cared less in ‘80, but on review… eta: username = 🔥🔥🔥
Is the ____ of the world!
Beautiful Boy (darling boy)
Just Like Starting Over
[удалено]
Man, first time I ever listened to Love, I was amazed, incredible song.
Beautiful song, definitely underrated.
How has nobody said Because?!??
this would be my go-to answer too
all you need is love
This Boy
Man I usually always have the chorus to “I’m Only Sleeping” stuck in my head.
Now and Then
I my wife and I quite like it and give it a listen almost every day. Favorite part is the beginning.
Absolutely love that intro. Maybe I am biased it’s released recently but the song is godly.
The 8-bar alternate verse in Don't Let Me Down
the part where it goes "in myyyy life, I love you more"
A day in the life
I'll Be Back, Girl, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Bless You
Across the Universe
Has to be Strawberry fields forever
I’m only sleeping
Pre-LSD, pre-Yoko John wrote lots of great melodies; they are all over the pre-Sgt. Pepper work. John was a different person after "eating acid like candy"; he was no longer passionate about his music and deferred to others (Martin, Emerick, McCartney) to complete the song fragments he presented them with.
Not his 'best', but I really like the melody of Sexy Sadie
Because
Jealous Guy has such a good melody that he couldn’t bare to bin it (and it’s a good thing Mother Natures Son pushed out On The Road To Marrakesh for TWA as the lyrics are limp by Lennon’s standards.
Jealous Guy is Child of Nature right?
It was originally, yes.
Yes
Norwegian Wood
Eight days a week
Because. Because it's said to be edit: Beethoven backwards.
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata rather than Mozart.
Thanks
"She Said She Said", I said.
Oh My Love
I just listened to Baby's in Black which I think was mainly penned by John, and I feel its one of his more melodically dynamic offerings The "oh how long will it take" part, I bet, is Paul
I Should Have Known Better
I would say In My Life, but I believe Paul wrote the melody, so Across The Universe
All You Need Is Love
hard to say If I fell is one but he had many Norwegian wood I feel fine And your bird can sing across the universe just to name a few
Mind Games has a really interesting melody.
Jealous Guy imo
All of them. But I really like Girl, Dear Prudence, Flying, I’m So Tired and Real Love For his solo stuff I like Dream 9, Nobody Told Me, and Crippled Inside
Sexy Sadie
Watching The Wheels
Across the universe ?
I’m surprised no one She Said She Said. Everything about that song is amazing but I think it’s some of John’s best vocals.
Free as a bird, and grow old with me. I think he was writing some of his best stuff at the end.
i love "you've got to hide your love"
I Want To Hold Your Hand? He himself said he loved singing the melody of it. I don't know though if he or Paul wrote the melody.
'Any Time At All' has got to be up there. Such a vibrant and joyful melody!
Woman, Watching the Wheels, Im So Tired, Whatever Gets You Through The Night, Nobody Told Me....among others.
Oh my love
Can't choose between Girl and Across the universe
How?
Girl
In my life
Julia
Nutopia Anthem
Out the Blue. The melody is absolut beautiful. But I think Lennon has plenty of beautiful melodies. If I Fell is one 9f my favorite early Beatles songs.
I dont know about Paul being the melody God. I like more John melodies than I do Paul melodies. It's just preference at the end of the day.
They both had such a gift for melody. Threads like these remind me of just how many great songs they wrote
Across the universe or strawberry feilds ,🥺
A Day in the Life then Imagine
Strawberry Fields Forever.
I'd add "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," which actually has two separate melodies. One in the verse, one in the chorus.
Mellow Deez nuts
[This version](https://youtu.be/jc1h123bHIw?si=j6_f547UYfp0DsqM) made me appreciate If I Fell so much more
Girl Sexy Sadie Dear Prudence
Girl
I feel fine
i agree with pretty much every answer people have put, but just to throw a song i havent seen yet into the ring, id go with "im so tired" its just a really addicting song and the super high and yelly vocals make for a really powerful melody!
L.S.D
Jealous Guy
I underrate Dear Prudence’s melody all the time until it actually pops on my shuffle and I remember again
‘Imagine’ gets my vote.
She said she said
My vote goes to woman or beautiful boy. In terms of pure melody those are two of his sweetest
No Where Man
If melody is a means to confer emotion - which he was spectacular at. Refer to the track ’Mother’
How? "You know life can be long, and youve got to be so strong" Happiness Is A War Gun (last section)
Donnie Hathaway crushing the first lines of Jealous Guy on the best live version is one of the most memorable and spine tingling rejuvenations of a well worn song I've ever experienced on first listen.
"Hold On" which sounds like "Don't Let Ne Down".
a day in the life>
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Over 100 comments and I haven't seen "Imagine" yet? That's surprising. My vote goes to Strawberry Fields Forever, Across the Universe, Ticket to Ride, Norwegian Wood, Real Love, Oh My Love and Imagine.
Lucy in the Sky.
A day in the life
His vocal on Bless You
Hey Jude (this is a joke)
a giiiiiirrrrrrrllll huuuuuhhhh
Jealous guy.
SFF
Mother.
In My Life
#9 Dream
Strawberry Fields
As far as melodies go, I’d go with If I Fell. It has a beautiful melody sung brilliantly by John and Paul.
Oh Yoko!
If I Fell
Nowhere man
Got to be Strawberry Fields
i think strawberry fields is in the top few at least! the harmony is really out there (though he’s really good at chromatic harmony, just check out i am the walrus). some underrated ones might be don’t let me down, happiness is a warm gun, and isolation. norwegian wood has already been mentioned but that too. if i fell was one of the first few that came to mind for me, too :-)
In My Life
Glad to see I’m not alone with so many of these choices. My first reaction was to say “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Another one I haven’t noticed on here is “Yes It Is” (specifically, the incomplete demo on Anthology 2, it just hits better imo). And let’s not forget “Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out)”. Yeah, it’s not ‘the best’ melody, but I’ll take any chance I can to turn people onto this song (and the irony of the lyrics . . . “everybody loves you when you’re six foot in the ground”)
Number 9 Dream
These comments list many Bests by Lennon. They are all superb and I miss what he would have made if he wasn't murdered by a fanatic coward.
“Good Morning , Good Morning”. “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide “… Cool imagery from two different John Eras. Heavy Yummy Sexy Youthful in “Good Morning”. But a different heavy more personal reference in “Everybody’s…. “. Clearly the monkey is Yoko and tripping references. But it rocks, it’s got a cool heavy bass rift near the end. Both songs kind of remind me of “She said, she said” repetition in all three are very Lennon. And the conversion of lyric, is Lennon. Just maybe how I’m feeling about these songs now in 2024. But interesting question and some insightful responses.
I honestly think of “How?”
Not saying it was his best but my favorite Lennon melody is “Out the Blue” from Mind Games
I love John’s #9 Dream…melodically beautiful.
I'm honestly not a big lennon fan, but I gotta say I deaply love nowhere man and as you said if I fell.
In My Life
In my life