# What is the best song off of "The Beatles" (White Album/Disc 1)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731 "2010-10-01T15:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/1 "2010-10-01T15:32:21Z")
Previous polls (still active): [**Please Please Me**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=577382), [**With the Beatles**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=577641), **[A Hard Day’s Night](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=577812)**, [**Beatles For Sale**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578134), [**Help!**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578532), [**Rubber Soul**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578957), [**Revolver**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=579255), [\*\*Sgt. Pepper’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=579797%5B/url)\*\*, and **[Magical Mystery Tour/Yellow Submarine](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=579983)** This album is divided into two polls. But for this disc, there can be only one–which would you choose? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/2 "2010-10-01T15:38:01Z")
[Other poll](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=580336). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/3 "2010-10-01T15:48:38Z")
Best song? I went for my emotional favorite instead, and I’ll bet I’m the only one who votes for _I Will_. When the album came out my girlfriend and I decided that it was “our song”, and it still tugs at my heart every time I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/4 "2010-10-01T15:51:22Z")
Lots of good songs on this disk - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da and Blackbird got serious consideration for my vote, and Back in the USSR, Piggies, Dear Prudence, Happiness is a Warm Gun, and I’m So Tired are high on my list…and I wouldn’t call any of the others bad, either. But, in the end, I couldn’t _not_ vote for While My Guitar Gently Weeps. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/5 "2010-10-01T15:54:19Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Best song? I went for my emotional favorite instead, and I’ll bet I’m the only one who votes for _I Will_. When the album came out my girlfriend and I decided that it was “our song”, and it still tugs at my heart every time I hear it. I almost voted for “I Will.” But “Guitar” still wins it for me. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/6 "2010-10-01T16:03:27Z")
I actually don’t care much for “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” - it loses something after repeated plays, IMO. Surprised I’m the only one (so far) who voted for “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”, which I consider John’s last great tour de force. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/7 "2010-10-01T16:18:18Z")
This could’ve been any one of many on this album, but I ultimately went with “I Will”, with the closest runners up being “Happiness Is a Warm Gun”, “I’m So Tired”, “Julia”, “Blackbird”, and “Dear Prudence”. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/8 "2010-10-01T16:34:35Z")
Easy one. Blackbird and While My Guitar Gently Weeps are excellent songs, and so is Julia, but I think Dear Prudence is better than all of them and it has a lot of meaning for me personally. Happiness is a Warm Gun is a successful experiment and the slow section is really gripping even though it’s not a personal favorite for me. So far we have 28 votes in this poll. 14 are for While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and the other 14 are spread out between eight other songs. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/9 "2010-10-01T16:43:37Z")
_Martha My Dear_! Sung poorly to every mangy canine companion since 197X. Maybe not the most impressive on the album, but definitely my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/10 "2010-10-01T16:50:18Z")
It was hard to pass up “Happiness is a Warm Gun” and “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?” but I had to go with “Dear Prudence” as best song. My personal favorite from this disc is “Glass Onion” though… ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/11 "2010-10-01T16:58:55Z")
Very tough choice between “Happiness is a Warm Gun,” “Dear Prudence,” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Ended up voting for “Guitar” because (a) it’s the best thing George ever wrote and (b) I adore Paul’s bass tone in that recording. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/12 "2010-10-01T17:51:56Z")
I voted for _Dear Prudence_, but on any other day I might’ve voted for _While My Guitar Gently Weeps_ ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/13 "2010-10-01T17:53:38Z")
No-brainer for me. _Blackbird_ is one of my favorite Beatles songs, which means one of my favorite songs, period. But this has some terrific songs on it, so much better than disc #2 it’s not even fair. _Back in the USSR_ kicks ass, _While My Guitar Gently Weeps_ is lovely and edgy (not a common combination!),_I Will_ is a gem, _Happiness…_ blows my mind and is my current earworm, _Glass Onion_ has such a cool sinister vibe, and _Ob-la-di_, _Martha_ and _Piggies_ make me smile whenever I hear them. Moving away from my favorites (going downhill in quality): I have to admit _Dear Prudence_ doesn’t move me, though it’s pretty and I think the production is marvelous. _Why Don’t We Do It_ features a stellar vocal performance though the song itself is blah. _I’m So Tired_ feels like pointless filler, as do _Rocky Raccoon_ and _Don’t Pass Me By_. The less said about _Wild Honey Pie_ the better, and ditto to _Bungalow Bill_. (If I never hear that grating line from Yoko again I’ll be a happy woman.) ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/14 "2010-10-01T18:00:23Z")
I almost picked Julia. I came very very close to going that way, I also briefly considered Dear Prudence, but in the end I had to go with the Eric Clapton guitar work putting this one over the edge. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/15 "2010-10-01T18:01:10Z")
I must confess - I snicker whenever I hear the lyrics to While My Guitar Gently Weeps - > [@](#): > > I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping > Still my guitar gently weeps and > [@](#): > > I don’t know how you were diverted > You were perverted too > I don’t know how you were inverted > No one alerted you both just clang in my ear and I can’t get past them… I voted for Dear Prudence. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/16 "2010-10-01T18:11:43Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I must confess - I snicker whenever I hear the lyrics to While My Guitar Gently Weeps - I agree. It’s a great song but those lines fall flat. And I’ve always found it odd that the guitar in that song doesn’t really weep. Clapton’s guitar does, but the rhythm guitar that drives the song chugs and churns in an agressive way I never associated with weeping. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/17 "2010-10-01T19:53:33Z")
‘Blackbird’ is my favourite Beatles song ever, and among the best ten songs I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/18 "2010-10-01T20:24:03Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I must confess - I snicker whenever I hear the lyrics to While My Guitar Gently Weeps - > > > [@](#): > > > > I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping > > Still my guitar gently weeps > > and > > > [@](#): > > > > I don’t know how you were diverted > > You were perverted too > > I don’t know how you were inverted > > No one alerted you > > both just clang in my ear and I can’t get past them… > > I voted for Dear Prudence. Hey don’t forget: I look at the world and I notice it’s turning. With every mistake we must surely be learning. That’s pretty blah too. I don’t get the love for the song. If the guitar won’t stop crying, he should try playing “Sugar Sugar.” ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/19 "2010-10-01T23:13:24Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > I actually don’t care much for “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” - it loses something after repeated plays, IMO. Surprised I’m the only one (so far) who voted for “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”, which I consider John’s last great tour de force. I was the third to vote for it. IMHO, it’s Lennon’s best song as a member of the Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/20 "2010-10-02T15:09:29Z")
Hm. Must be something wrong with me. I like those lyrics from “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Oh well. I voted for “Happiness is a Warm Gun.” But “Blackbird” and “I Will” are emotional favorites, and I love “Dear Prudence” and “Back in the USSR.” And “Piggies.” And “Juila.” OH. And “I’m So Tired.” It’s hard to narrow it down to one on this Disc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731.md?page=2)