The 10 Best Beatles Songs

These 10 best Beatles songs span the whole of the 1960s, the height of the Beatles influence in America. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr became legendary celebrities almost immediately when Americans heard their music and saw their infamous shaggy hair. They would eventually become arguably one of the most influential bands of all time. “During the week of April 4, 1964, the Beatles held the first five slots on the Billboard Singles chart; they went on to sell more than a billion records,” states "Rolling Stone Magazine" as an example of The Beatles success.

1. "Can’t Buy Me Love" (1964). According to the “Rolling Stone” Beatles biography, “in April 1964 'Can't Buy Me Love' became the first record to top American and British charts simultaneously, and that same month the Beatles held the top five positions on Billboard singles chart.” The jovial lyrics dismiss greed: “Cause I don’t care too much for money/money can’t buy me love.”
2. "Yesterday" (1965). Paul McCartney is at his finest here, which according to “Rolling Stone” “would become one of the most often covered songs ever written.” One of the final tracks on the “Help!” album, this song remains a fan favorite. “Why she had to go/ I don’t know/she wouldn’t say/ I said something wrong/now I long for yesterday.”
3. "In My Life" (1965). One of the most popular tracks from “Rubber Soul,” John Lennon and Paul McCartney deliver a mellow, enchanting message of love and legacy here: “All these places have their moments/with lovers and friends/I still can recall/some are dead and some are living/in my life/I’ve loved them all.”
4. "Eleanor Rigby" (1966). This haunting, tragic tale sung by Paul McCartney seems to capture much of the sorrow present in the '60s. It remains one of the most potent, vivid songs from The Beatles with a special place in fan’s hearts. “All the lonely people/where do they all come from? /All the lonely people/Where do they all belong?”
5. "Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967). Yet another song from The Beatles which became the target of speculation and lyric interpretation debates. Many fans believe it to be a tribute to drug use, but no matter the meaning the humorous words and delivery make it a classic. “I think I know thee/ah yes/but it’s all wrong/that is, I think I disagree.”
6. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1967). A track from “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” which spawned controversy over the lyrics, with many fans believing the song to be a tribute to John Lennon’s experimentation with the drug LSD. “Picture yourself in a boat on a river/with tangerine trees and marmalade skies/somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly/a girl with kaleidoscope eyes.”
7. "Revolution" (1968). The Beatles “Rolling Stone” biography states: “In August they released … Lennon's "Revolution", which sold over 6 million copies before the end of 1968 — their most popular single.” With sizzling guitar and bold lyrics it’s no wonder this was such a successful single. “We all want to change the world/But when you talk about destruction/don’t you know you can count me out.”
8. "Come Together" (1969). This first track from the highly popular “Abbey Road” album has been covered by several highly successful musicians, including Michael Jackson and Aerosmith. The lyrics promote unity with a twist: “He says ‘I know you, you know me’/one thing I can tell you is you got to be free.”
9. "Something" (1969). The second track on “Abbey Road” features the Beatles at their best: soulful and meaningful. “Something in the way she moves/Attracts me like no other lover/Something in the way she woos me” sings George Harrison, a crisp and haunting voice.
10. "Let It Be" (1970). The title track from the twelfth and final album from The Beatles, which “Rolling Stone” calls “a documentary of their breakup, including an impromptu January 30, 1969, rooftop concert at Apple Corps headquarters, their last public performance as the Beatles.”