# What's the best song off of "Revolver"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708 "2010-09-22T22:16:26Z")\ **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:** [September 22, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/1 "2010-09-22T22:16:26Z")
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), and [**Rubber Soul**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578957) There can be only one–which would you choose? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/2 "2010-09-22T22:21:35Z")
The best Beatles album and my favorite album of all time. Hmm - completely unchoose-able. I went with I’m Only Sleeping because it’s, well, a sleeper hit - I just love the feeling it captures…but really, pretty much every song is brilliant… ETA: Oooo - can I pick [Rain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8NQRKxs2ko)because it was a single-only release produced while Revolver was being recorded and therefore part of the same collection? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/3 "2010-09-22T22:22:15Z")
I thought this was the hardest one yet. I love this album and I could have made a case for Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, I’m Only Sleeping, Here There (which I chose), She Said, For No One, and Tomorrow Never Knows. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/4 "2010-09-22T22:29:56Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > ETA: Oooo - can I pick [Rain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8NQRKxs2ko)because it was a single-only release produced while Revolver was being recorded and therefore part of the same collection? 😉 I assume the _Past Masters_ discs will be an option later on. Went with “Tomorrow Never Knows”. So far ahead of its time, it’s still modern. Even so, I’m hoping “For No One” and “Got to Get You Into My Life” get some votes. McCartney killed it on this album (as did Lennon, IMO, but I’m much more a Lennon fan anyway). ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/5 "2010-09-22T22:31:24Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > > [@WordMan](#): > > > > ETA: Oooo - can I pick [Rain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8NQRKxs2ko)because it was a single-only release produced while Revolver was being recorded and therefore part of the same collection? 😉 > > I assume the _Past Masters_ discs will be an option later on. You are correct. ---
**Author:** ![Mustardseed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mustardseed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustardseed)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/6 "2010-09-22T22:31:55Z")
actually quite an easy choice - the more interesting question (and for me almost impossible to answer) would be: ‘what is the 2nd-best song on Revolver after Tomorrow Never Knows?’ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/7 "2010-09-22T22:34:38Z")
Absolutely no question. The other songs are good, but Eleanor Rigby is sublime. Like others have said, this would be a very difficult poll if we had to choose the _second best_. ---
**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 22, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/8 "2010-09-22T22:35:27Z")
> [@Mustardseed](#): > > actually quite an easy choice - the more interesting question (and for me almost impossible to answer) would be: ‘what is the 2nd-best song on Revolver after Tomorrow Never Knows?’ QFT. My favorite album of all time. I must have, over the course of my life, owned 6+ different copies, the formats spanning my life… 8-track LP Tape CD Mp3’s (well, I burned one of my CD’s - I guess that counts) ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/9 "2010-09-22T22:37:29Z")
I could literally pick any of the songs off of this one, as it’s my favorite LP of all time. Earlier, when I voted in the **Rubber Soul** poll, I was convinced that my vote would be for either “Tomorrow Never Knows” (which I predict will run away with the victory in this poll, and is the _de rigueur_ choice of the skinny jeans wearin’, unkempt beard and nerd specs sportin’ crowd) or “Here, There and Everywhere”, but ultimately (read: today) I felt quite compelled to go with “Eleanor Rigby”. But as I said, there’s not a bum track on the whole album. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/10 "2010-09-22T22:45:26Z")
**MTCicero** , did a gang of hipsters pick on you in junior high? I notice you take every opportunity to take digs at the Pitchfork crowd, even when it’s not an issue in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/11 "2010-09-22T22:47:25Z")
**woodstockbirdybird** , what’s the matter, did I strike a nerve, or somethin’? ---
**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:** [September 22, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/12 "2010-09-22T22:49:40Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > (which I predict will run away with the victory in this poll, and is the _de rigueur_ choice of the skinny jeans wearin’, unkempt beard and nerd specs sportin’ crowd) Minus the skinny jeans, that’s me. (But I did used to wear hats a lot, so that still counts. ) I voted for I’m Only Sleeping. My brethren shall do the same. Tomorrow Never Knows is to Revolver as Pet Sounds is to The Beach Boys, far too obvious to be really cool. Of course loving Revolver at all is a bit obvious, the real hep cats are into Rubber Soul. No, but seriously, I’m Only Sleeping is my pick. I was listening to Revolver on my way to work this morning in anticipation of this thread, and I am confirmed. No other song on that album makes me happy the way that I’m Only Sleeping does. Great freakin song, and my band used to do a cover of it. 😃 ---
**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:** [September 22, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/13 "2010-09-22T22:55:45Z")
Here, There and Everywhere vs. Eleanor Rigby - may as well ask me which is my favorite testicle. I went with HT&E (and my left nut, if you’re curious). mmm ---
**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:** [September 22, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/14 "2010-09-22T22:55:51Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > **woodstockbirdybird** , what’s the matter, did I strike a nerve, or somethin’? No - I’m sure it would wound me to the bone if some anonymous message board poster made fun of my clothing style, but I’m way too old to be a hipster. Just wondering why you have such a hard-on for the subject, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/15 "2010-09-22T22:59:52Z")
Hm. Never knew I’d get looked down on for loving _Tomorrow Never Knows_. Chose it anyway. I love the tempo of that song. If it wasn’t for _I’m Only Sleeping_, I probably never would have fallen in love with the Beatles. Still, I could have picked almost any song on this LP. Lately, I’ve really loved _For No One_. And _She Said, She Said_. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/16 "2010-09-22T23:00:14Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > > [@MTCicero](#): > > > > (which I predict will run away with the victory in this poll, and is the _de rigueur_ choice of the skinny jeans wearin’, unkempt beard and nerd specs sportin’ crowd) > > Minus the skinny jeans, that’s me. (But I did used to wear hats a lot, so that still counts. ) > I voted for I’m Only Sleeping. My brethren shall do the same. Tomorrow Never Knows is to Revolver as Pet Sounds is to The Beach Boys, far too obvious to be really cool. Of course loving Revolver at all is a bit obvious, the real hep cats are into Rubber Soul. Yep - I skipped over TNK because it was the obvious choice in terms of blowing open the whole psychedelic scene, but it doesn’t bring the smile to my face the way I’m Only Sleeping does. Same with the descending riff on She Said - every time I hear them cycle through that riff, I smile. TNK is a song you can’t go wrong with as a choice, however… I would disagree with your statement about Revolver vs. Rubber Soul - the Conventional Wisdom choice for best Beatles is Sgt. Peppers; deep hipster fans and other middle-era Beatles nuts go with Revolver and hardcore power-poppers go with Rubber Soul since that album basically invented the Power Pop genre in one fell swoop. The Power-Poppers then go on to lament the tragedies of Badfinger and Big Star, the failure of the Raspberries to get and stay huge, Cheap Trick’s underappreciation, etc. - all of which I agree with (I love power pop), but not obsessively so. …just sayin’ 😉 ---
**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:** [September 22, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/17 "2010-09-22T23:39:22Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > > [@NAF1138](#): > > > > Minus the skinny jeans, that’s me. (But I did used to wear hats a lot, so that still counts. ) > > I voted for I’m Only Sleeping. My brethren shall do the same. Tomorrow Never Knows is to Revolver as Pet Sounds is to The Beach Boys, far too obvious to be really cool. Of course loving Revolver at all is a bit obvious, the real hep cats are into Rubber Soul. > > Yep - I skipped over TNK because it was the obvious choice in terms of blowing open the whole psychedelic scene, but it doesn’t bring the smile to my face the way I’m Only Sleeping does. Same with the descending riff on She Said - every time I hear them cycle through that riff, I smile. TNK is a song you can’t go wrong with as a choice, however… > > I would disagree with your statement about Revolver vs. Rubber Soul - the Conventional Wisdom choice for best Beatles is Sgt. Peppers; deep hipster fans and other middle-era Beatles nuts go with Revolver and hardcore power-poppers go with Rubber Soul since that album basically invented the Power Pop genre in one fell swoop. The Power-Poppers then go on to lament the tragedies of Badfinger and Big Star, the failure of the Raspberries to get and stay huge, Cheap Trick’s underappreciation, etc. - all of which I agree with (I love power pop), but not obsessively so. > > …just sayin’ 😉 :eek: My hat (the one I don’t wear anymore) is off to you sir. Well played. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/18 "2010-09-23T00:20:07Z")
Yeah, this actually wasn’t quite as tough as I thought it would be, because as I contemplated brilliant song after brilliant song, there’s one that kicks me in the gut every time I listen to it–the remarkably insightful song about a subject that’s an especially astonishing choice for a handsome, 20something, wealthy guy who at the time could have had his pick of nearly any woman, any companion; the song featuring a straightforward but lovely lead vocal, gorgeous harmonies, and an ambitious, sublime orchestration; the song that’s hearbreaking yet never mawkish thanks to its almost clinical lyrics about unglamorous, small little lives. _Eleanor Rigby_ outclasses the rest for me, and that is really saying something, because this album… it’s just a breathtaking accomplishment. The second tier (and being called thus on such an album is no insult!) would be the blistering _Taxman_ and _She Said, She Said_; the innovative genius of _Tomorrow Never Knows_ (though IMHO to heck with John, it’s Starr, Martin and Emerick who’re the MVPs here); the joyful _And Your Bird Can Sing_; gemlike _For No One_ and _Here, There and Everywhere_; and the kickass _Got to Get You Into My Life_ (Jesus, Paul really was on fire!) that’s so fresh I always thought was a Wings song from the late '70s. But how can I leave out _I’m Only Sleeping_ and _Yellow Submarine_? Ugh, I can’t decide. I almost hate to consider anything third tier. _Doctor Robert_ drives so hard despite being feather-light, ditto _Good Day, Sunshine_. _Love You To_ but only 'cause the title annoys the hell outta me. 😃 It’s actually a terrific song. And _I Want to Tell You_ is marginally less gripping than the 2nd tier songs, but has the wonderful Indian vocalise bit at the end, not to mention the dissonant piano that adds such an edge. This is tied for first of my favorite Beatles albums, with _Abbey Road_. AB gets it for nostalgia – I grew up listening to that. I only heard _Revolver_ for the first time last year, believe it or not (though I knew the most popular songs off of it – ER, HT&E, GTGYIML, and YS), and its astonishing genius arrested me the instant I heard it. It’s not just that there are no duds. There aren’t even any “meh” songs in the bunch! ---
**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 23, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/19 "2010-09-23T00:27:55Z")
I went with TNK because I always think about what it must have been like to be back in 1966, picking up the latest Beatles album, _Revolver_ taking it home to hear the first time… and the last song you hear is _Tomorrow Never Knows_. It would’ve changed me. It is, imho of course, the best closing song on any album I’ve heard, including _A Day in the Life_. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708/20 "2010-09-23T00:49:41Z")
Taxman is one of the few Beatles songs that I really, really like. Good Day Sunshine I used to really like too, until I worked at this breakfast banquet event a couple years ago and it was played over and over for 3 hours straight on the PA. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-song-off-of-revolver/554708.md?page=2)