# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/21 "2010-10-02T15:14:57Z")
I came close to picking _While My Guitar…_ but went with Julia just because of my love for one line:\* Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering In the sun\*- I just love the sound of that line when sung. Trivia: Though Julia is about his mother (for whom Julia **n** Lennon was named) “Ocean child” is a reference to Yoko, whose name translates as ocean child). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/22 "2010-10-02T16:28:10Z")
Immediately dismissed: USSR, Glass Onion, Ob-La-Di, Honey Pie, Bungalow Bill, Blackbird, Piggies, Rocky Raccoon, Don’t Pass Me By, Do It in the Road. Considered: Dear Prudence, Happiness/Gun Strongly considered: Guitar Gently Weeps, Martha My Dear, I Will, Julia The Winner: I’m So Tired _You’d say I’m putting you on But it’s no joke, it’s doing me harm You know I can’t sleep, I can’t stop my brain You know it’s three weeks, I’m going insane You know I’d give you everything I’ve got for a little peace of mind_ mmm ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/23 "2010-10-02T17:52:48Z")
I thought I was the only Beatles fan who didn’t like While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Many things wrong with it, leaving aside the cringe-making title. I just don’t think George had a very good singing voice, for one. That spoils a lot of his songs for me. Not all of them, because occasionally his atonal drone does fit the song. Second, the really bad lyrics. Third, it just doesn’t sound like the Beatles. The White Album has sometimes been described as three solo albums released under one name, and I think that is correct. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/24 "2010-10-03T01:01:16Z")
I voted for \*Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, \*for one simple reason: I have chronic depression, and no matter how lousy I’m feeling, that song makes me smile. That counts for a lot these days. My second choice would be \*I Will, \*for a similar reason. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/25 "2010-10-03T04:03:31Z")
I was tempted to vote for _The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill_ or _Rocky Raccoon_…but _Dear Prudence_ is my favorite Beatles ever. Although, I’ll concede that the correct answer probably is _While My Guitar Gently Weeps_. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/26 "2010-10-03T05:01:30Z")
“Dear Prudence”- for Ringo’s drum work at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/27 "2010-10-03T16:45:31Z")
I voted for _Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da_ it is by far the best “feel good” song the Beatles ever did ---
**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 3, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/28 "2010-10-03T17:06:58Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > “Dear Prudence”- for Ringo’s drum work at the end. That’s actually Paul playing drums on that one, IIRC - it was done while Ringo had temporarily left. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/29 "2010-10-03T17:22:39Z")
_Piggies_ is a song that’s forever tainted by its association with Manson. A shame since it’s one of the few to include a harpsichord. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/30 "2010-10-03T17:26:15Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > _Piggies_ is a song that’s forever tainted by its association with Manson. That sure didn’t hurt “Helter Skelter” in the other poll. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/31 "2010-10-03T22:43:08Z")
[QUOTE=woodstockbirdybird;12983204 That’s actually Paul playing drums on that one, IIRC -[/QUOTE] I thought that was “Lady Madonna”. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/32 "2010-10-04T02:38:57Z")
After listening to some of the alternate versions of _While My Guitar…_ the version in this disc did lose a bit of luster; \*Piggies \*OTOH has a good smart-aleck bent to it that I greatly enjoy. _Happiness is…_ knocked me for a loop when I first heard it, indeed quite a superb piece of work by John (though it of course gets some wicked dose of unwelcome irony in view of later events); he also gets in his shot at those looking for hidden meanings and references, with _Glass Onion_ (“Here’s another clue for you all: the walrus was Paul”). Mac puts in there the two pop winners on this disc (Back in the USSR and ObLaDi-ObLaDa) but I, too, find _Blackbird_ his superior effort of this side. In the end I go for _Happiness Is a Warm Gun_; while also acknowledging _I’m So Tired_ and _Dear Prudence_ as outstanding pieces OTOH boy did they ever lay down some “why, bless your heart, that’s certainly… _interesting?_” filler on both discs of this project… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/33 "2010-10-04T07:02:19Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > > [@Sampiro](#): > > > > _Piggies_ is a song that’s forever tainted by its association with Manson. > > That sure didn’t hurt “Helter Skelter” in the other poll. The competition’s not as steep on disc 2. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/34 "2010-10-04T14:17:20Z")
Fourth vote for “I Will,” here. It is simple and beautiful, and that’s hard to beat. Possibly my second-favorite Beatles song, after “Penny Lane.” (Which is still only maybe my favorite.) Second choice is “Martha My Dear,” because it’s catchy as hell and is a song I often find myself randomly humming. Tied for third are “Blackbird,” “Rocky Raccoon,” and “Dear Prudence.” I love them each, for various reasons. I like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” but it’s not one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/35 "2010-10-16T03:44:56Z")
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da evinces smiles, but Rocky Raccoon makes me sit up straighter. Strangely, there’s a lot of songs on the album I don’t remember at all. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/36 "2010-10-18T19:21:52Z")
So many votes for _Dear Prudence_! I can’t stand it. ---
**Author:** ![AutumnLeaves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@AutumnLeaves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AutumnLeaves)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/37 "2010-10-18T19:40:34Z")
My mum played this album a lot when I was growing up, so I can’t help but vote for Rocky Raccoon. Such a fascinating song to me when I was a child. I had a few records of my very own, including Raffi’s Baby Beluga. This, however, was clearly an adult’s record, yet it had a song about raccoons? Crazy! Also, I agree that While My Guitar Gently Weeps is lyrically very weak. But the intro, with the piano and the “Hey-o”, I just love and adore. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/38 "2010-10-18T22:25:34Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > That’s actually Paul playing drums on that one, IIRC - it was done while Ringo had temporarily left. As Paul once said, not only was Ringo not the best drummer in the world, he wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles. Paul could be a real shit sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731/39 "2010-10-18T22:36:05Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > As Paul once said, not only was Ringo not the best drummer in the world, he wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles. An apocryphal comment that is usually attributed to John. (I even once found it attributed to George.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-1/555731.md?page=1)