# the lousiest Beatles' tune... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400 "2002-08-24T20:41:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/21 "2002-08-25T13:27:00Z")
The long and winding road. John played bass on this and made a total hash of it, he didn’t give a stuff, the band had just about broken apart in acrimony and so there was no chance of realying that track. In the end it was largely covered up with orchestration, which pretty much drowned the song, but it was probably the only option open to the production team, but ithe result is a song that might have been something had it been crafted properly but turned out to be very poor. I also dislike ‘Telephone Man’ ‘Bungalow Bill’, shite. The problem with ‘Revolution’ is that, whilst decidedly average, they seemed to think it was worthy of nine or more remakes, all of which were printed on various foramts and all of which were poo. ‘Hey Jude’, overblown and self important crap, they could have cut at least half the song, but I guess you’d have to be lit up to appreciate it, total rubbish. ‘Helter Skelter’ was covered far better by Siouxsie and the Banshees. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/22 "2002-08-25T13:53:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > **I also dislike 'Telephone Man’** ??? Never heard of this one. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/23 "2002-08-25T17:45:15Z")
“Don’t Pass Me By”. Eeeewwww. And I am a die-hard Beatles fan. I kind of hate Octapus’s Garden, too. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/24 "2002-08-25T22:58:33Z")
All these opinions, and yet no one has mentioned the song that peeves me the most: Within You Without You. Bad music, lousy lyrics, and just keeps going on and on way past when it’s worn out its welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/25 "2002-08-25T23:08:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Punoqllads \* > \*\*All these opinions, and yet no one has mentioned the song that peeves me the most: Within You Without You. Bad music, lousy lyrics, and just keeps going on and on way past when it’s worn out its welcome. \*\* …look closer… ---
**Author:** ![Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ersatz_Shmoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/26 "2002-08-26T04:43:06Z")
Agh! Blasphemy, all of you! Well, not **all** of you, but \*\* minlokwat\*\* at least. And while I’ll admit “Hey Jude” is about 4 minutes too long, I’ll have to second the nomination for “Michelle”. Or maybe one of Paul’s other cheesy vaudeville numbers. Ugh. And yes, I do like “Revolution #9”. ---
**Author:** ![Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ersatz_Shmoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/27 "2002-08-26T04:48:40Z")
Agh! Blasphemy, all of you! Well, not **all** of you, but \*\* minlokwat\*\* at least. And while I’ll admit “Hey Jude” is about 4 minutes too long, I’ll have to second the nomination for “Michelle”. Or maybe one of Paul’s other cheesy vaudeville numbers. Ugh. And yes, I do like “Revolution #9”. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/28 "2002-08-26T05:25:09Z")
I agree that the released version of “Long and Winding Road” is the worst by far. Feeble lyrics, mushy strings. But, perhaps Spector and Lennon sabotaged it. I have a bootleg of it without the strings, and it is a lot better. It took me years (decades) to appreciate Revolution #9. I get it now. I thought that Ringo was a lousy drummer until I heard the second “Beatles anthology” set. Given that, I almost think they told him to stop drumming so well. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/29 "2002-08-26T05:31:49Z")
I agree that the released version of “Long and Winding Road” is the worst by far. Feeble lyrics, mushy strings. But, perhaps Spector and Lennon sabotaged it. I have a bootleg of it without the strings, and it is a lot better. It took me years (decades) to appreciate Revolution #9. I get it now. I thought that Ringo was a lousy drummer until I heard the second “Beatles anthology” set. Given that, I almost think they told him to stop drumming so well. ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/30 "2002-08-26T05:48:36Z")
For me, it would have to be “She’s Leaving Home” and “When I’m 64”. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/31 "2002-08-26T05:57:12Z")
I’ll have to say that I like the Anthology versions of _I’m Looking Through You_, _Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da_, and _Helter Skelter_ better than the released versions(I do like the released versions, by the way.) _Octopus’s Garden_ is a not very good song. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/32 "2002-08-26T17:05:31Z")
> [@](#): > > All these opinions, and yet no one has mentioned the song that peeves me the most: Within You Without You. I used to think this until I heard the music-only track on _Anthology 2_ and found it to be quite wonderful-sounding, which means we have George’s singing to blame on that one. Speaking of… I have one thing left to saaaaaaaaaay: I just can’t stand **Blue Jay Waaaaaaaaaaaay** ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/33 "2002-08-26T17:12:43Z")
> [@](#): > > All these opinions, and yet no one has mentioned the song that peeves me the most: Within You Without You. I used to think this until I heard the music-only track on _Anthology 2_ and found it to be quite wonderful-sounding, which means we have George’s singing to blame on that one. Speaking of… I have one thing left to saaaaaaaaaay: I just can’t stand **Blue Jay Waaaaaaaaaaaay** ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/34 "2002-08-26T17:18:10Z")
Whoops. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/35 "2002-09-24T04:58:49Z")
'Nother die-hard Beatles fan chiming in. My vote for the single worst Beatles’ song is _Wild Honey Pie_. As far as I know, I’ve heard every Beatles song released on major labels from _Meet the Beatles_ to the anthology series, and I definitely have the least tolerance for _WHP_. At least the song is only about one minute in length. _Blue Jay Way_ and _You Know My Name (look up the number)_ are close behind. A couple songs I really dislike that have not been mentioned yet are _Back in the U.S.S.R_ and _Long, Long, Long_ ---
**Author:** ![Jaystercom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Jaystercom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaystercom)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/36 "2002-09-25T06:13:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe K \* > \*\*I would have to say that the original version of “Love Me Do” as heard on "Past Masters Vol. I (featuring Ringo on drums, not Andy White as on the most often heard single) is the worst Beatles song, and the only bad song at that IMHO. Paul’s out of breath and a bit flat, whereas Ringo seems to observe time rather creatively. The track is a bit thin-sounding too. > > BTW, Ringo is so much better than most people realize. He has tons of chops (Ticket To Ride, The End, Here Comes The Sun are good examples), but just chooses not to use most of them in favor of the song. I’m not sure WHAT was going on at the start of the Beatles career… \*\* Oh God yes Joe. “Love Me Do” has to be the worst of the worst. Stupid, stupid, stupid, "Love love me do, you know I love you----------- SO CREATIVE DON’ T YOU THINK…:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: In the beginning they had mobs of young gum popping clueless little girls screaming over their long hair and British accents. One day they realized that they really did have some talent and could draw the older crowd and so they sat down and developed it along with a much larger bank account. The rest, my good man, is History.🆒 🆒 🆒 🆒 🆒 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/37 "2002-09-25T11:17:32Z")
All these posts and not a single mention of “I’m a Loser.”??? Shame!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/38 "2002-09-25T12:53:12Z")
Nobody got this?? The WORST Beatles song was the abomnible “THREE COOL CATS” (recorded ca 1960 in Hamburg). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/39 "2002-09-25T16:38:17Z")
I am gonna have to go with the folks who have listed **smarmy McCartney** songs: Michelle Long and Winding Road When I’m 64 as a rule of thumb, I tend to group Paul’s songs accordingly: - 25% are awful (see examples above) - 50% are made better through juxtaposition with Lennon, Harrison and Lennon/McCartney songs (e.g., “Here There and Everywhere” is okay, but within the context of _Revolver_ it is much, much better). I can’t explain why, but I am inclined to give McCartney’s songs a little more “credit” for having depth - I know, not fair, but I do think some of Lennon’s experimentation/ intellectualism (for want of a better term) rubs off on Paul’s work, either through the actual songwriting, or just by being on the same album… - 25% are amazing (e.g., _She Loves You, Eleanor Rigby_, etc.) but his smarmy stuff is really horrid. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400/40 "2002-09-25T21:35:43Z")
I don’t know why, but _All You Need Is Love_ always makes me reach for the “next track” button. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lousiest-beatles-tune/125400.md?page=3)