The Iconic Phrases The Beatles Popularized
1966: British pop group the Beatles standing in front of four microphones at a press conference where they discussed their concert at Shea Stadium, New York City. L-R: Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon (1940 -1980), and George Harrison (1943 - 2001). (Photo by Santi Visalli Inc./Getty Images)
Let’s face it, The Beatles were more than just a band; they were icons in our pop culture. In just a decade of performing and releasing albums as a group, they have generated millions of albums sold worldwide, countless classic hits, and inspired hundreds or even thousands of aspiring musicians to believe in themselves. With that in mind, you can also count them as pioneers of some of today’s phrases— derived from the songs they’ve done throughout the years. Take a look at them below.
“All you need is love” – One of John Lennon’s famous lines as well as counterculture’s greatest love anthem, “all you need is love” is still as famous and as relevant from the day it was first released.
“A hard day’s night” – A line famously coined by Ringo Starr when, after taking so much time creating an album (and would later use the newly-coined term) told the members that he’s exhausted from “a hard day’s night.”
“Stupid get” – The mispronounced “get” was supposed to be the vulgar “git,” but Lennon refused to rerecord the mispronounced lyrics from “I’m So Tired” from the White Album.
“All things must pass” – Coined by the “quiet Beatle” George Harrison, “all things must pass” expresses hope and faith in the future, and no hardships shall remain forever.
“Eight days a week” – “Eight Days a week” usually means that you’re doing your job more than the typical hours you would spend on it. So basically, you’re a hard worker, like the Fab Four themselves.
“Whatever gets you through the night” – Lennon quoted this gem of a phrase while channeling surfing and watching Reverend Ike, according to May Pang. The term meant to do what a person needs to do.
“Day-tripper” – Lennon created the phrase to exclusively mean “taking drugs.” But over the years, UK people now use it to define day-return tickets, the literal meaning of a day-tripper.
“Instant karma” – “Instant karma” refers to people who’ve tasted their own bitter medicine, usually right after the moment they’ve done something terrible.
“Not half the man I used to be” – Created by Paul McCartney and belonged to The Beatles’ legendary hit, “Yesterday,” “not half the man I used to be” refers to someone whose energy, fame, etc. is slowly fading away.
“Happiness is a warm gun” – Another Lennon-coined term, the musician was so struck with one of The American Rifleman’s articles entitled, “Happiness is a Warm Gun” that he made a song out of it. According to what he’d read, a warm gun “means you’ve just shot something.”
