The Top 15 Songs Paul McCartney Wrote For The Beatles
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Sir Paul McCartney performs at Barclays Center on September 21, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
If you ever want to think of musicians who are the greatest songwriters of all time, it’s only fair to consider sir Paul McCartney as one of them. As the ½ of the legendary songwriting duo Lennon-McCartney, Paul wrote some of the finest songs of all time, especially during his time with The Beatles; some of them are still considered the best even by today’s standards. Want to know more about it? Let’s take a look at them below.
“Helter Skelter” – The White Album
Music historians consider “Helter Skelter’s” proto-metal upbringing a crucial early breakthrough in music innovation. It later influenced heavy metal music, as it’s credited.
“We Can Work It Out” – Rubber Soul
We Can Work It Out, like much of The Beatles’ early work, was written fast and with the expectation that it would become a hit. McCartney’s then-girlfriend, Jane Asher, was rumored to have served as inspiration.
“I Saw Her Standing There” – Please Please Me
Perhaps this is one of the most iconic songs of all time, and it was written in a typical Lennon-McCartney fashion, blurting lyrics to see if they would fit. It also happens to be one a classic in Cavern Club performances, during The Beatles’ early days.
“Love Me Do” – Please Please Me
‘Love Me Do’ is the Beatles song that comes the closest to capturing the typical fab four tunes you’d imagine. This perhaps is one of McCartney’s earlier hits.
“Can’t Buy Me Love” – A Hard Day’s Night
We thank Paul for reminding us that the things we desire the most could never be bought with money.
“Paperback Writer” – Single
“I think I might have helped with some of the lyrics. Yes, I did. But it was mainly Paul’s tune,” John Lennon said in an interview. Paul wrote this in response to his aunt who criticized the fab four for only writing songs about love.
“All My Loving” – With the Beatles
The song was performed on their iconic set in The Ed Sullivan Show and became an instant hit, despite never being issued as a standalone single. Because it’s the first song the band sang during their now-famous concert, it has become forever associated with them.
“Oh! Darling” – Abbey Road
It’s one of the songs that Lennon was jealous that he didn’t get to sing it. “He wrote it, so what the hell, he’s going to sing it,” the musician said. Nevertheless, Paul had a hard yet fun time recording this gem.
“Get Back” – Let It Be
With the 2021 Beatles Documentary in Disney+, we finally got to see how incredibly amazing Paul is with writing hit songs. Up against a deadline, Paul hurriedly played different basslines until he finally conjured the iconic intro of the song.
“Let It Be” – Let It Be
The song has spiritual connotations, But Paul first wrote this when his deceased mother first showed up in his dream.
“Yesterday” – Help!
This is perhaps one of Paul McCartney’s most-recognizable contributions to the band. The lovely ballad “Yesterday,” is McCartney’s 2nd favorite song.
“Blackbird” – The White Album
After hearing endless accounts of civil rights oppression in 1968, Paul McCartney sat down to write “Blackbird,” one of his most politically-charged songs.
“Eleanor Rigby” – Revolver
The song is a continuation of Macca’s fascination with the forgotten. and it is one of many excellent contributions by McCartney to the band’s album, Revolver.
“Penny Lane” – Single
If John Lennon has “Strawberry Fields Forever,” Macca has “Penny Lane” to describe his childhood. It is among The Beatles’ most beloved hits.
“Here, There, & Everywhere” – Revolver
McCartney admits in an interview that “Here, There, & Everywhere” was the only song that his songwriting partner, John Lennon, had ever complimented him on. This makes the song so incredible and easily considered to be Macca’s favorite.
