# What is the best song off of "The Beatles" (White Album/Disc 2)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732 "2010-10-01T15:35:48Z")\ **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, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/1 "2010-10-01T15:35:48Z")
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](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=580335). But for this disc, there can be only one–which would you choose? ---
**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, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/2 "2010-10-01T15:50:46Z")
Revolution 1. _Oh, shoo-bee-doo-wah…alright_. ---
**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, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/3 "2010-10-01T15:55:51Z")
This particular poll really needs the option of voting “All tracks are shite.” Failing that, “Revolution 1” is marginally less repellant than the rest of the tracks. ---
**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, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/4 "2010-10-01T15:57:08Z")
Not as good a disk as disk one…had the whole album been a single poll, not a one of these would have been in the running. Not that they’re bad, mostly (Revolution 9 excepted), but the first disk leaves them pretty thoroughly in the dust. But, for this disk, unfortunate associations aside, Helter Skelter takes it, hands down. It’s just a seriously rocking tune. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/5 "2010-10-01T16:01:20Z")
Hard choice, as usual. I went with “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide” over “Yer Blues” and “Revolution #1” (which would have won if they used the single version). ---
**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, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/6 "2010-10-01T16:01:28Z")
I went with “Helter Skelter”, but I’m sad to say I don’t think there’s a truly essential song on this disc. ---
**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, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/7 "2010-10-01T16:22:39Z")
This one basically came down to two songs: “Mother Nature’s Son” and “Long, Long, Long”. I went with the former. Terrific also-rans being: “Savoy Truffle”, “Cry Baby Cry”, and “Sexy Sadie”. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/8 "2010-10-01T16:28:41Z")
All of you people are crazy. Or you need to give that album another listen. I can’t imagine being so dismissive of **Sexy Sadie** , **Cry Baby Cry** , **Long, Long, Long** (which is unbelievably beautiful), **Yer Blues** , **Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey** or **Revolution 1**. These are fucking _great_ songs. ---
**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, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/9 "2010-10-01T16:32:10Z")
Well, I’ve been listening to it for about 30 years, and I consider these all second-tier songs. ---
**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, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/10 "2010-10-01T16:36:13Z")
I do believe the next album (assuming **ArchiveGuy** ’s going in the order the albums were released) might actually be the toughest choice yet. Yes, even tougher than the **Revolver** and **Hard Day’s Night** polls. ---
**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, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/11 "2010-10-01T16:36:35Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > These are fucking _great_ songs. And there’s a whole disk of other songs that are better on the album. ---
**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, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/12 "2010-10-01T16:54:19Z")
Wow. I just don’t get the hate for Disc 2. This is the better half of one the greatest albums in rock history. Don’t really care if YMMV. I went with “Yer Blues”. ---
**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, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/13 "2010-10-01T17:06:42Z")
Never much liked the slow-ass version of “Revolution.” It really needs that more aggressive sound (particularly the direct-injected guitar), IMO - otherwise, it’s just another well-written blues tune. Lennon’s energy and fire in the singles version elevates it to true heights. Although it was tough not to vote for “Helter Skelter,” one of the greatest rock songs ever recorded, I ended up voting for “Everybody Has Something to Hide Except For Me and My Monkey.” It’s the “Hey Bulldog” of the White Album sessions - a stomping tune with great energy, a memorable hook, and a fabulous groove, which somehow gets overlooked by most Beatles fans. “Sexy Sadie” was another close runner-up for me. ---
**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, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/14 "2010-10-01T17:38:03Z")
Yeah, this is… not a great album. The only winners for me are _Helter Skelter_, _Revolution No. 1_, _Mother Nature’s Son_, _Everybody’s Got Something to Hide…_, and _Sexy Sadie_. Which, let’s face it, ain’t a bad ratio of decent:meh for any other group. But the Beatles aren’t just any group, so I expect better from 'em. I went with _Revolution No. 1_, but I admit only because it’s riding the coattails of the faster, rockin’er version, which I vastly prefer. My heart wanted to pick _Helter Skelter_. I just really wanted to go for a John song this time around so I don’t seem like _such_ a gushy Paul fangirl. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/15 "2010-10-01T17:40:43Z")
For me it was between “Helter Skelter” and “Yer Blues” and I closed my eyes and went with “Yer Blues.” I love the whole blues vibe, but I have a little buyer’s remorse for not picking “Helter Skelter.” ---
**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, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/16 "2010-10-01T17:49:41Z")
_Helter Skelter_ got my vote because it rocks and it rolls. ---
**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, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/17 "2010-10-01T18:07:55Z")
I couldn’t vote for Revolution because the single version of that song is \*clearly \*superior and I am not voting for the inferior version of any song. If the single version were on the album that would have gotten my vote. I also almost went with Helter Skelter because of the significance, but honestly it’s a song I have played in various bands something like 5000 times in my lifetime, and it’s simplistic to the point of being annoying. It’s not even fun simple like All Day and All of the Night by the Kinks. Yer Blues is a great song, and probably would get my vote if I were in a different mood, but it is just very slightly unsatisfying as a blues tune. So my vote went to Cry Baby Cry, a significantly underrated song with some really interesting things going on both musically and lyrically. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/18 "2010-10-01T18:46:44Z")
Sexy Sadie is one of my favorite Beatles songs. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/19 "2010-10-01T20:41:47Z")
Disc 2 has quite a few songs that only work if you’re in the right mood for them (IME); otherwise, they’re just boring. But I always enjoy listening to “Savoy Truffle.” It’s catchy, it’s sinister, it rocks, it’s menacing, and it’s about candy. ---
**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, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732/20 "2010-10-01T21:44:16Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > So my vote went to Cry Baby Cry, a significantly underrated song with some really interesting things going on both musically and lyrically. I’ve got your back on Cry Baby Cry. The lyrics are well crafted but also sound casually tossed off. The melody is simple, but with the lyrics evokes a complex mood. The lyrical genre is sad original fantasy/fairytale. A similar song is Dancing Bear by the Mamas & Papas. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-off-of-the-beatles-white-album-disc-2/555732.md?page=2)