The 20 Beatles Songs That John Lennon Disliked

John Lennon, apart from being remembered as a “genius poet” in the music industry, had always been known by some to have the sharpest tongue when it comes to criticizing. One of the reasons why he and his buddy Paul McCartney have a bit of a falling out was due to his harsh comments to the latter’s songwriting style. Yet, what most people don’t know, he’s also equally critical of his songs inside the band who catapulted him to stardom. Below is a combination of hits, underrated tracks, and many more songs that didn’t receive the OK button from the legendary star.

 

“A Taste of Honey” – Please Please Me (1963)

A song created for its eponymous play, Lennon mocked the song, oftentimes singing “A Waste of Money” during the Beatles’ live show days.

“Yes It Is” – Past Masters (1965)

Trying to rewrite The Beatles’ “This Boy,” Lennon felt he didn’t quite achieve the supposed rhythm and greatness that the latter has.

“Lady Madonna” – Past Masters (1965)

John didn’t felt proud of his contribution to “Lady Madonna,” although he liked the piano licks of the song.

“It’s Only Love” – Help! (1965)

“I always thought it was a lousy song. The lyrics were abysmal,” Lennon admitted in an interview with David Sheff for All We Are Saying.

“Run For Your Life” – Rubber Soul (1965)

For many years, John had complained about the track being his “throwaway song” more than once.

“Paperback Writer” – Past Masters (1966)

Lennon dismissed the song as a “son of [The Beatles song] ‘Day Tripper.’”

“When I’m Sixty Four” – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

It’s the music-hall style of Macca’s that Lennon always sneered at, calling it “granny music sh*t.”

“Good Morning, Good Morning” – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

“It’s a throwaway, a piece of garbage, I always thought,” John told in All We Are Saying.

“Lovely Rita” – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

Lennon expressed disinterest when writing songs about other people and always found comfort when the song he’s writing is about him.

“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

John Lennon once admitted to hearing the song, saying: “The track is just terrible. I mean, it is a great track, a great song, but it isn’t a great track because it wasn’t made right.”

“Hello Goodbye” – Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

Lennon made some withering comments about Paul’s song in Playboy, telling the audience that “it wasn’t a great piece.”

“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” – White Album (1968)

The real song which sparked Lennon’s comments about “granny sh*t.” Apparently, Lennon wasn’t the only one who hated it; Beatle George Harrison also expressed his dislike for the song.

“Cry Baby Cry” – White Album (1968)

Lennon hated it so much to the point that he disowned it.

“Rocky Raccoon” – White Album (1968)

“I just thanked God it wasn’t one of mine,” John mentioned in Blackbird: The Life and Times of Paul McCartney.

“Birthday” – White Album (1968)

Lennon assumed that his bandmate Paul might’ve wanted to write a 50’s type of song, which he thought was a “piece of garbage.”

“Mean Mr. Mustard” – (1969)

A song he’d written back in India during their visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, he called this one “a crap.”

“Sun King” – Abbey Road (1969)

The original title was supposed to be “Here Comes The Sun King,” but was cut to “Sun King” to avoid similarities with Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun.” In a 1980 interview, Lennon was quoted saying it’s a piece of garbage he had lying around.

“Dig A Pony” – Let It Be (1970)

“It was a nonsense song,” Lennon admitted in 1972.

“Let It Be” – Let It Be (1970)

The song which gave the album its title, John admitted to not being a huge fan of the song. When asked by David Sheff on who wrote it, Lennon said Paul, admitting: “Nothing to do with the Beatles. It could’ve been Wings.”

“Across the Universe” – Let It Be (1970)

“It was a lousy track of a great song, and I was so disappointed by it,” the singer admitted to Sheff, specifically blaming McCartney for not helping him perfect this one.