The Beatles: Note By Note

What inspired George Harrison to write his first song, “Don’t Bother Me”? A bout of illness and some friendly pressure from Mersey Beat’s Bill Harry played a role. In this episode, Peter and Kenyon explore Harrison’s 1963 composition, marking his songwriting debut in the Beatles’ catalog. Written in a Bournemouth hotel room while George was bedridden, the track stands apart from Lennon-McCartney’s...

In this lecture, Kenyon takes a detailed look at George Harrison’s songwriting debut with "Don’t Bother Me," from With the Beatles. Written during a bout of illness in a Bournemouth hotel room, the track showcases Harrison’s unique perspective, focusing less on heartbreak and more on isolation and frustration. Kenyon examines the song’s harmonic ambiguity, highlighting its blend of Dorian and Aeol...

What makes “All My Loving” the song that signaled a shift in the Beatles' dynamic? In this episode, Peter and Kenyon dive into Paul McCartney’s first major contribution to the Beatles’ catalog, written during a tour bus ride in 1963. The song marked a turning point as McCartney's melodic genius began to rival Lennon’s dominance. With influences ranging from country and western to pop balladry, the...

In this lecture, Kenyon explores "All My Loving," one of Paul McCartney’s standout tracks from With the Beatles. The session delves into the song’s unique blend of emotional resonance and technical sophistication, beginning with its 32-bar form and seamless integration of A and B sections. Kenyon highlights McCartney’s innovative bassline, which employs a walking pattern to create dynamic counterp...

Although "It Won’t Be Long" kicks off With the Beatles with a jolt of energy and ambition, "All I’ve Got to Do" takes a quieter, more introspective approach, marking a surprising tonal shift. Written by John Lennon and inspired by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, this track was one of the earliest Beatles songs to experiment with emotional vulnerability and minimalistic arrangements. Peter and Ke...

In this lecture, Kenyon explores "All I’ve Got to Do," an introspective track from With the Beatles. Written by John Lennon, the song combines soulful simplicity with sophisticated musical elements, revealing the Beatles’ growing artistic depth. Kenyon examines its unique structural features, such as the interplay between a darker, introspective A section and an uplifting middle eight, each repres...

What if the Beatles had chosen "It Won't Be Long" as a single instead of "I Want to Hold Your Hand"? Peter and Kenyon dive into this electrifying album opener, examining its sophisticated use of unusual chord progressions, lyrical wordplay, and high-energy performance. The song captures a transitional moment for the Beatles as they began blending rock and roll vigor with more nuanced compositional...

In this lecture, Kenyon unpacks "It Won’t Be Long," the electrifying opening track of With the Beatles. The session explores the song’s innovative structural ambiguity, examining how Lennon and McCartney blend elements of 32-bar form with distinct sections to craft a high-energy narrative. Kenyon highlights the song’s harmonic complexity, from its surprising use of C major and chromatic descents t...

John Lennon believed "I'm in Love" could be a hit—but not for the Beatles. Instead, the 1963 track was handed off to the Fourmost, offering a glimpse into the Lennon-McCartney machine’s remarkable output during their peak years. Peter and Kenyon explore the song’s bittersweet lyrics, unusual rhythmic phrasing, and its distinctive descending chord sequence, which hints at the Beatles’ early flirtat...

In this lecture, Kenyon examines "I'm in Love," a 1963 John Lennon composition that was given to the Fourmost rather than being recorded by the Beatles themselves. The session explores the song’s lyrical evolution, including its original refrain “I’m So Glad,” and how the eventual lyric choices deepened its emotional impact. Kenyon delves into the song’s harmonic structure, with its ambiguous tona...

Peter and Kenyon explore "I Wanna Be Your Man," a pivotal 1963 Beatles song co-written by Lennon and McCartney and famously recorded by both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Written in just minutes to fulfill a request from the Stones for a new single, the song marked an important collaboration and rivalry between the two bands. The hosts dive into the Beatles’ version, sung by Ringo Starr, wit...

In this lecture, Kenyon dives into "I Wanna Be Your Man," the Beatles track written by Lennon and McCartney and performed by both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in 1963. The session explores the song’s simple, blues-inspired structure and its playful approach to romantic lyrics. Kenyon dissects the unique musical features, including its circular chord progressions and chromatic slides, and hig...

Peter and Kenyon dive into "I'll Keep You Satisfied," a song written by Paul McCartney in 1963 for Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas. The track showcases McCartney’s melodic craftsmanship during the Beatles’ peak songwriting era, blending heartfelt lyrics with catchy hooks and a lively rhythm. The hosts discuss the song’s origins, written as part of Lennon and McCartney’s efforts to provide hits fo...

In this lecture, Kenyon examines "I'll Keep You Satisfied," a 1963 song written by Paul McCartney for Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas. Exploring the lyrics, Kenyon describes the song as a confident yet straightforward romantic pitch, with simple rhymes and repetitive phrasing that reflect McCartney’s early pop sensibilities. The analysis dives into the harmonic structure, emphasizing its jazz-inf...

Peter and Kenyon dive into "Love of the Loved," a song written by Paul McCartney in 1959 during his Quarrymen days and later performed at the Beatles’ Decca audition in 1962. The track reflects McCartney’s early compositional style, blending melodic sophistication with heartfelt emotion. The hosts discuss the song’s journey, from an unreleased Beatles recording to a 1963 single by Liverpool’s own...

In this lecture, Kenyon delves into "Love of the Loved," a Paul McCartney composition written during the pre-Beatles Quarrymen days. The session examines how McCartney’s early songwriting instincts blend heartfelt lyrics with sophisticated harmonic techniques. Kenyon explores the song’s structure, highlighting its dynamic interplay between the keys of E and G, a progressive ostinato that evolves t...

Peter and Kenyon analyze "Hello Little Girl," the first song John Lennon ever wrote, penned at age 16 in 1957. Originally inspired by his mother’s favorite 1930s tune, the song reflects Lennon’s early melodic instincts and storytelling abilities. The hosts explore its journey from a home demo with Stu Sutcliffe on bass to the Beatles’ Decca audition and its eventual release by the Fourmost in 1963...

In this lecture, Kenyon examines "Hello Little Girl," the first song John Lennon ever wrote, composed at age 16 in 1957. The discussion focuses on the song's lyrical simplicity, centered around themes of unrequited young love, and its unique melodic features, such as the use of a progressive ostinato and a symmetrical chord structure. Kenyon explores how Lennon’s early songwriting tendencies—playf...

In this episode, Peter and Kenyon dive into "I'll Get You," the B-side to the Beatles' iconic 1963 hit "She Loves You." Originally titled "Get You in the End," the song showcases Lennon and McCartney's collaborative process and knack for crafting engaging melodies. The hosts explore the song's folk-inspired roots, including its connection to Joan Baez’s “All My Trials,” and how its unusual chord p...

In this lecture, Kenyon explores "I'll Get You," a fascinating early Beatles track co-written by Lennon and McCartney. As the B-side to "She Loves You," this song offers a unique glimpse into the band's evolving songwriting techniques. Kenyon examines the track's lyrical themes, which blend imaginative visualization with a persistent declaration of affection, revealing John Lennon’s influence thro...

Peter and Kenyon break down "She Loves You," the Beatles' groundbreaking 1963 hit that became their best-selling single in the UK and a defining moment in their early career. They explore its origins, written "eyeball to eyeball" by Lennon and McCartney in a Newcastle hotel room, inspired by Bobby Rydell’s “Forget Him.” The hosts discuss its innovative structure, including its use of a refrain, a...

In this lecture, Kenyon offers an in-depth exploration of the Beatles' iconic 1963 hit, "She Loves You." Written by Lennon and McCartney, the song’s innovative use of pronouns and its anthemic “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” refrain revolutionized pop songwriting. Kenyon examines the track’s unique harmonic structure, including the incorporation of plagal cadences and George Harrison’s suggested sixth chord, w...

In this episode, Peter and Kenyon explore "Tip of My Tongue," a song written by Paul McCartney in 1962 but never released by the Beatles. Instead, it was given to Tommy Quickly, a Liverpool singer under Brian Epstein’s management. The hosts discuss how this track stands out due to its quirky melody and unusual chord changes, which make it feel distinctly different from other early Beatles songs. T...

In this Beatles lecture, Kenyon delves into "Tip of My Tongue," a song written by Paul McCartney at age 20 and ultimately given to Liverpool singer Tommy Quickly. Though never officially recorded by the Beatles, this track offers an intriguing look at McCartney's songwriting experimentation. Kenyon explores its lyrical themes of nervous affection, noting the clever wordplay and the “la la la” moti...

Peter and Kenyon explore "I Call Your Name," a song John Lennon wrote at age 16 and later recorded by the Beatles and Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas. They dive into the song’s origins, highlighting its blues and ska influences, as well as its history, from Lennon's initial composition to its multiple versions. The hosts discuss the unique recording process, which included different mixes and tak...