How The Beatles wrote their most ambitious song

Listen to Naughty Juice on Spotify or check out their KZbin channel: open.spotify.com/artist/6n7nk... ‪@naughtyjuice7676‬ 🎸😊
📍NOTE: Shortly after upload I cut out a small part of this video about 'A Day In The Life' being banned by the BBC because I wrongly suggested that it was banned due to sex references, when in fact it was supposed drug references that got the song banned. Sorry for any confusion caused.
A Day In The Life is often considered The Beatles magnum opus and for good reason. This track shows off the fab four at the height of their creative powers and is a rare example of John and Paul both giving almost equal input into a Lennon/McCartney song.
For this video I had to recreate "A Day In The Life" from scratch to avoid the video being blocked! I documented this process in this video: • I recreated "A Day In ...
SOURCES:
Lewisohn, Mark (2005) [1988]. The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970.
BBC, Sold On Song, “A Day In The Life”: www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonso...
John Lennon Rolling Stone interview (1971): www.imaginepeace.com/archives...
Paul McCartney interview with GQ (2018): • Paul McCartney Breaks ...
MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
Martin, George (1994). All You Need is Ears: The Inside Personal Story of the Genius Who Created The Beatles
Are The Beatles avant garde, ListeningIn: • Are The Beatles Avant-...
You Can’t Unhear This, Which Beatle is Singing on ‘A Day in the Life’?
• The Vocal Debate About...
And, an extra special thanks goes to Douglas Lind, Vidad Flowers, Ivan Pang, Waylon Fairbanks, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: / davidbennettpiano 🎹
0:00 Introduction
0:34 John's verses
2:35 The Crescendo
4:41 Paul's bridge
6:27 "I'd Love To Turn You On"
6:47 The Final Chord
7:22 NAUGHTY JUICE
8:19 Patreon

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Listen to Naughty Juice on Spotify or check out their KZbin channel: open.spotify.com/artist/6n7nkpNHM2PV8CWTyr6280?si=CZNC_1uARliR5XofSXZ9pQ 🎸😊 📍NOTE: Shortly after upload I cut out a small part of this video about 'A Day In The Life' being banned by the BBC because I wrongly suggested that it was banned due to sex references, when in fact it was supposed drug references that got the song banned. Sorry for any confusion caused.

[@keriroberts8626]

❤❤

[@papercup2517]

Well the BBC nearly banned the Kinks "Lola" in 1970 - not because of the transgender/cross-dressing theme but because of the reference to Coca Cola... All was OK though after they changed it to 'cherry-cola' for the UK market, keeping the BBC censors happy and free of violations of its charter to refrain from advertising commercial products. The 'other' thing however was a 'whooosh' moment for the censors with the meaning of the fun and catchy song apparently going right over their heads - as it did for most of us back them, I will admit. 😀

[@cboisandlin9601]

Naughty Juice's music is actually really good but their cover art is pure trash. Idk why they didnt like, put actual cover art on it lol

[@wyattstevens8574]

I noticed your personal violin in the "disastrous" crescendo!

[@clebozer]

Ringo’s beautiful, light drumming touch on this track should never be overlooked

[@DeflatingAtheism]

“Filling in the spaces” with virtuosic drum fills, never competing with the vocals, and not driving the song forward in a way that would be inappropriate for the mood.

[@unacuentadeyoutube13]

Lennon's phrasing and melody is so unique and mysterious in some sort of way that it instantly makes you love this song. However, it would become very dull if McCartney didn't come in with his cheerful bit, so it's a perfect blend of 'auras'

[@JoaoGabriel-lk9cv]

Dull?

[@yoba6037]

You are absolutely fucking wrong LMAO

[@unacuentadeyoutube13]

@@JoaoGabriel-lk9cv when you have a fantastic idea, but don't know a way to compliment it with another equally good section, repetition often ruins the greatness of your original idea. It's like having your favourite food every single day, you'll eventually get fed up

[@unacuentadeyoutube13]

@ghost mall I sometime feel that way, but the contrast between both parts (both stylistic and musically) really enhances the transition from one to the other. Sometimes it's good to have a strange section in a song just to make the following more powerful. Pink Floyd's echoes is a great example of that: the middle section with all the sea noices is unsettling and seems out of place or unnecessary, but as soon as the keyboards get in again, satisfaction now takes over your mind

[@cuebj]

​@ghost mall wrong. And it's not cheery. It's a panic dash to get out and get to school. The stuff of real life that we wake up to from more mystical dreams and swirling griefs of an acquaintance killed in a car crash of their own fault. The snap into the now makes the whole thing genius

[@gav_creates]

I’ll never forget hearing this for the first time. I was 24, aware of The Beatles of course but more interested in different genres. My friend had a record player and suggested we try SPLHCB, I was a bit skeptical, wondering would this old music fit the scene for our pre lockdown catch up. My god, from first track to last, I was spellbound. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, A Day In The Life began and Johns dreamy lyric floated through from the speaker and enchanted me… I couldn’t believe the depth and beauty of what I was listening to. My shock turned to happy awe when McCartneys cheerful dreamlike rendition poured through, and when Lennons voice returned after the dream state noise I felt something no other song made me feel before. On the final crescendo build up, I was nearly shaking and when the last deafening note was played, I felt a tear fall from my eye. Me and my friend both stunned, speechless and quite literally in shock. I didn’t know what I just heard but I knew it was the work of cosmic genius. The next day I went on Spotify and began to explore this band I once ignorantly cast off as “cheesy oldies” It was the start of the most beautiful journey of my life. This was a week before the first COVID lockdown in March of 2020 here in Dublin, Ireland. I never looked back.

[@johnbaxter9875]

It's my job to recommend "a night at the opera" by queen, to you in the event you've never heard it.

[@wadesaleeby2172]

Welcome to Enlightenment

[@KenFullman]

I know someone will get triggered at what I'm about to say but when the Beatles broke up I really thought it was the right time. I grew up with the Beatles, had every one of their albums and had experienced their development from Love me Do right through to Abbey Road, but when they started coming out with mediocre stuff like "Obladi oblada" I realised that they were past their best. Had they stayed together I'm pretty sure that they would have reached that point of being "has beens" Personally I think the stuff that McCartney produced on his later projects was far better than we would have got from the Beatles if they'd stayed together.

[@bunkie2100]

Hearing this version, I am rreminded just how incredibly inventive and brilliant a bass player McCartney is. Almost 60 years on, the bass parts still surprise and delight.

[@brun4775]

The “I love to turn you on” line didn’t get the song banned by the BBC because they thought it was sexual but because they thought it was a drug reference.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

True! That’s my mistake. Thanks for the correction 🙂 I've now cut out the mistake.

[@jamesjohnmoss8130]

Good old BBC. Still doing their thing!

[@brun4775]

@@DavidBennettPiano Great video by the way. I should have said that in my original comment.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

@@brun4775 No worries! I've just cut out the section where I mention the BBC banning (although the edit will take a few hours to take effect). Thanks again for bringing it to my attention.

[@nepesilva2284]

@ghost mall from the song’s Wikipedia page: McCartney said about the line "I'd love to turn you on", which concludes both verse sections: "This was the time of Tim Leary's 'Turn on, tune in, drop out' and we wrote, 'I'd love to turn you on.' John and I gave each other a knowing look: 'Uh-huh, it's a drug song. You know that, don't you?'"

[@relicofgold]

Often neglected in mention is the incredibly sensitive, aware drumming on this track. Ringo fills and emphasizes what is going on incredibly well. He returns to traditional rock drumming for the Paul section, then back to the much more interesting fills and jogs for the rest of the tune. Stunning work Mr. Starkey.

[@user-ss2vf4yw5o]

One of the greatest album closing tracks, if not the best. Definitely goes on my top of the Beatles songs with Strawberry Fields forever, While my guitar gently weeps and I want you (she's so heavy)

[@user-hb7ol6ut2l]

SHE'S SO HEAVYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

"Sergeant Peppers," the "first concept album." Strange being that didn't even have a concept tying it together other than the opening track and the reprise. Just one of those ideas that Paul threw out there that John went along with enough to humor him. And as usual, somehow Paul's promotion of it as such, stuck. The reprise of the opening track coming BEFORE the closing track. You'd think that people would get the hint.

[@subatkalkan]

I Want You (She’s So Heavy) is very special for me too. In my opinion it is so unique and underrated. One of the best.

[@wormrose01]

And here we are 56 years later. The song is still incredible!

[@vxi6423]

yeah right, it sucks!

[@througheverything]

@@vxi6423 How does it suck

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

@@througheverything 😂

[@imagrasshopper9510]

@@vxi6423 happily, it doesn't need your approval to be fabulous.

[@DarkForcesStudio]

@@vxi6423 You alright?

[@ThisBirdHasFlown]

Has remained my favourite song ever since the first time I heard it. It single-handedly changed my life. I always point toward this song as an example of Ringo's drumming brilliance, too.

[@juniorxranger]

Same. This song changed my life.

[@cuebj]

As Howard Goodall said, "With Sgt Pepper, The Beatles changed all music everywhere forever", or something like that. He was talking about how they saved classical music from the dead end of just playing black marks on white paper or death of music random sounds and Cage's silence. With A Day In The Life, they brought together classical orchestra note readers, with musique concrête plus a story plus pop mass entertainment music hall. Noise could be part of harmony, and the masses could accommodate noise. Astonishing achievement such that the closing piano chord resonates today - everywhere

[@denisruskin348]

They have so many ''most ambitious'' IMO. Strawberry Fields Forever, Tomorrow Never Knows, Abbey Road Medley (if you count it), I Am The Walrus, Happiness Is a Warm Gun...the list goes on.

[@Homer-je1pz]

Who asked for your opinion?

[@denisruskin348]

@@Homer-je1pz oh bb boi. What's the matter? Daddy didn't buy you a Switch? That attitude will get you nowhere son.

[@ofdrumsandchords]

When I was a kid, I listened to a lot of classical music and loved suites. Paul McCartney wrote a few suites after the Beatles, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, Band on the run. Only a few rock bands kept writing suites, ELP, Yes, then that spirit was lost with all this contemporary shit, 4 chords and no arrangements. One of the reasons why the Beatles are still a beacon in popular music is they wrote some sophisticated stuff. But when you look to a classical piece, I arranged Peer Gynt for kids, I was stunned by the number of modulations (tonality changes) in the 1st part. And of course, Bach can use the twelve notes in a single bar ! By the time the Beatles were active, people were still used to hear classical music, and songs written by educated people. That's why the Fab four could experience a little. I'm not sure young people accustomed to four chords could understand them today.

[@johnorgan3]

all John songs (if you don't count it)

[@muffinman4353]

"A day in the life"..... My favorite, incredible tune. I get chills every time I hear it.

[@michaelshevlane9132]

I checked all the comments first to make sure no-one already touched on this, but the following is my favorite aspect of the song in many ways: John is the subconscious voice, or the dream voice if you will. However, you don't realize this until Paul sings 'Woke up' and you feel like you have just woken up from a dream, as the rhythm, tone and singing feels more present in the bridge compared to the ethereal nature of the verses. It is very much like being jolted awake. Then, Paul finishes with '...and I went into a dream' and the song segues back to John's subconscious/dream voice. Even the lyrics of the subconscious/dream voice are more hazy and dreamlike, whereas Paul sings about what he is actually doing, with more mundane lyrics about a regular day until he falls back asleep on the bus and re-enters the dream world. You may argue that the Beatles did not intend this (I would argue that they very much did) but the effect is absolute genius. If you have not listened to it like this before, I would very much recommend it!

[@rogerkearns8094]

Intriguing insight.

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

😂

[@willstorie]

I love this!

[@ewest14]

Paul does the ahhhs

[@michaelshevlane9132]

@@ewest14 Good point - same concept applies though, just Paul "falling asleep" and segueing into Lennon's dream voice.

[@desoxido]

Every time I listen to this song I got goosebumps. I remember the first time I heard it, it was like a new world of music appreciation opened up for me. Magical.

[@matcoffidis1135]

An amazing song. I love Lennon's strumming pattern. Watching a lot of videos I realize he had a unique approach to rhythm guitar.

[@carl_anderson9315]

Mike Pachelli has several videos explaining The Beatles’s techniques, including John’s original strumming patters and harmonic creativity.

[@RainmanCT]

6:00 that clock analogy is brilliant, having this visualization really gives an interesting insight

[@pcatful]

I will always be interested in stories about this song, and this was a great synopsis. "A Day in the Life" represents a teenage "awakening" to me, about the possibilities of expression and experience, and where music could go, breaking into my small world.

[@jamesdrynan]

It must also be acknowledged how Ringo's completely esoteric drum track adds to the song.

[@malacca1951]

The photo at 3'54" isn't of Paul conducting an orchestra at all! It's actually of him conducting Black Dyke Mills Band during the recording of 'Thingumybob' (a TV Signature Tune). The two people on the far left are Roy Newsome (Black Dyke's Conductor) and next to him is Geoffrey Brand (an eminent Brass Band 'expert'. The recording was made in Saltaire, near Bradford on 30th June, 1968. Paul conducted the Band a bit but admitted he wasn't too good! He also brought along 'Martha' , his Old English Sheepdog! How do I know all this? I was there; it was an an amazing day! (Paul's father was a trumpeter in a band too!)

[@TheMrTomkennedy]

Hi David, from Sydney! As a lad, I was keyboard player in a band called 'Total Fire Band,' and we used to play this song to end our sets. I always enjoyed recreating the huge orchestra crescendo on my ARP Quadra.

[@jvowen6555]

This was the first song heard by each of my three children. I wanted them to start life inspired by the best song ever written. It worked.

[@michaelmelling9333]

Cool! June 6, 2023

[@AntPDC]

I was so looking forward to you doing this David. And, as usual, your analysis is both compelling and expertly done. Many thanks for all your work. Looking like a million subs is within your grasp - a magnificent achievement, and well-earned.

[@KevyNova]

The key change works because the crescendo starts on E minor and ends with E Major which really gives the ending an extra “uplifting” feel.

[@andrewlowden322]

OMG I was just thinking about contacting you about doing more Beatles stuff and this pops up! You are fantastic David and when the Beatles are involved you are at your best!

[@steveparker6820]

Don’t forget the brilliance of Ringo’s drum fills, one of his best contributions

[@patbrennan6572]

Ringo may have the only drummer capable of what was needed to accomplish what the others wanted.

[@mbcarlson]

It’s cool how when John’s section come back, it’s now swung, whereas it was straight at the beginning of the song.

[@alessandrosummer]

Finally you did the video about this song 😍😍 I wish you made this tipe of videos about some other very interesting songs. Perhaps Stairway to heaven, with all its rhythmic craziness during the solo?

[@petehealy9819]

David, once again, you're absolutely brilliant! I was a 14yo Cali boy when this came out, and I was stunned as I played it over and over on our Magnavox hifi. I get goosebumps all over again as you guide us along with your wonderful insights. You've put a big smile on my face to start the day!

[@franciscoojeda11]

I fell in love with the noise crescendo orchestra between both parts the first time I heard the original song

[@thegothaunt]

This is so fun and informative and wonderful! I could easily watch a video like this on every single Beatles song!!

[@amherst88]

It's always eye (or ear)-opening when you deconstruct the Beatles -- since I was so young when Sgt. Pepper (et al) came out, the music is stored in a very unexamined way and it takes on whole new dimensions through your analysis -- many thanks ❤

[@sourisvoleur4854]

I'd never thought about John's verses being of different lengths but once you pointed it out it's obvious. Cool.

[@RaccoonHenry]

one of my favorite songs on their entire catalog. I just love it so much, even the runout loop!!

[@OurgasmComrade]

The 5ths chord progression in the "dream" section is the same one as Hey Joe by Hendrix, and also The Beatles used it again in the middle section of Here Comes The Sun!

[@OurgasmComrade]

@ghost mall Pictures Of Matchstick Men and Jumping Jack Flash come to mind as well!

[@OurgasmComrade]

@@nano9285 different direction though like Killing Me Softly or I Will Survive. Different feeling than the direction Hey Joe and this middle section result in

[@mikahattunen4502]

@@nano9285 No it is not the same and not even close. This song has major chords and the direction is backwards.

[@gutgolf74]

LOL, Here comes the sun is nothing like it.

[@OurgasmComrade]

@@gutgolf74 Different rhythms but same chord sequence: C - G - D - A - E. The only functional difference in the chords is that Day In The Life uses it to modulate from Emaj to Emin/Gmaj, whereas Here Comes The Sun uses the chords for a parallel A minor/major sound, then uses an E7 to go back to A major. Look up the chords for the deluxe re-release, grab your instrument and listen yourself. But if your first impulse is to get smug about it you might not be interested LOL

[@btimec5290]

Love this song and love this breakdown. Completely fascinating! Thank you David

[@michaelhays]

So many brilliant parts to this song, but my favorite has to be the part right after Paul's verse (5:20) Such a unique chord progression and bassline, topped with -John's- Paul's ethereal "Ahhhh" vocals

[@aidanhickey9845]

Just waiting for someone to argue about who sang the 'ahh's again.

[@aidanhickey9845]

@ghost mall Yes, I've seen that video. I can't remember what he said, but I do remember him showing Giles Martin saying that John sang them. Which kind of annoyed me, lol.

[@wgb01001]

It’s Paul singing the ahhhs, not John.

[@michaelhays]

@@wgb01001 Wow, right you are! All this time I had no idea 😅

[@ari1234a]

@@michaelhays We could solve this by asking Paul or Ringo who sang that bloody thing... Such speculation is maddening, it was John, unless both Paul and Ringo agree it wasn't.

[@ray45989]

never heard the song.. but with your explanations and musical advice.... one of my favorite songs and now in my daily music playlist.. gladful to have you on KZbin. You`re Videos since those Chord Progression Vids are absolutely fantastic. :)

[@PraiseDog]

Just want to say, your channel is the most useful channel of this type that I have seen, you know, musical theory, analysis, subjects of interest. It is an education to go though your videos.

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Paul going upstairs in the bus to have a smoke, is reminder that you used to be allowed to smoke (tobacco) upstairs in double decker buses. Indeed London buses had their upstairs roofs painted a horrible yellow colour to hide stains from the smoke 😁

[@cuebj]

​@ghost mall Don't think you dashed upstairs in bus on way to school (UK school secondary school age 11 to 16) after late night listening to music. I had to write a punishment essay on EEC Common Market when I failed to dodge a prefect when I was a bit late for chapel about 1970. I'd listen to John Peel to midnight, then dream through next morning chapel propped up on the pillar at the end of the row - you could be punished for dozing off completely. Song is very literally true to real life of tens of thousands of UK schoolboys

[@patbrennan6572]

The old adage 'two heads are better than one' was quoted with John and Paul in mind.

[@cyndywaskelisthecrowscall]

One of my favorite Beatles tunes, if not the top.

[@mashamishmash]

Hi David, I'm happy you did that video. I just stumbled upon that song and somehow I had missed it from the Beatles' discography for so long. Really I love it, it's maybe one of my favorites with Strawberry Fields Forever. Thanks!

[@dporangecounty]

Again, your analysis enriches my enjoyment of the song. Thanks!

[@adamfindlay7091]

Finally, a video worth watching today. You have outdid my most wild expectations here. ☮️

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@keithhunt4475]

I watch and don't even play piano! I am an intermediate fingerstyle guitar player, but I learn more about music theory and how it all relates much better watching these videos than any actual lesson on it. I love these videos.

[@BobMinelli]

LOVE all this! Bravo young sir. 🌱

[@jamesjrfitz]

Great work, thank you David.

[@jjaammee11]

Love your analysis. Thanks David.

[@jefftheguest4814]

I like how even though you hired that one guy to record the vocals to your recreation of a day in a life, but you still used the original vocal track

[@victorwilburn8588]

Some of Ringo's finest drum-work as well.

[@kjamison5951]

That was fascinating. Thank you. Liked and subscribed.

[@HermelJaworski]

it's nice to see an actual band as a sponsor, for a change! very cool video

[@naughtyjuice7676]

It’s an honor to be part of one of David’s videos, especially a Beatles one (as I’m a absolute Beatles nut)

[@derek-press]

one thing imo definitely underrated is that short piano burst directly after "dragged a comb across my head"

[@uyauabing]

That's my favourite part too actually - that Dsus2 chord!

[@derek-press]

@@uyauabing now I have to look up a Dsus2 ☺

[@derek-press]

@@uyauabing D E A got it mmm nice or A D E nice

[@derek-press]

@@uyauabing i am more guitar so keys are not my my normal thing

[@mackermaldrill2656]

David, brilliant analysis of a brilliant song.

[@amayacai]

i've never heard a single band sponsoring a video 😮 that was the most interesting and healthy ad i've ever seen

[@naughtyjuice7676]

That’s really cheered me up after reading some negative comments, thank you so much 🙏

[@Steven66b]

Truly was ambitious. It’s sometimes easy to forget how much. So magnificently cool. Thanks for your video.

[@darrellstyner0001]

I'm impressed you did all that without getting blocked. Some day someone will look back and wonder what they were thinking putting obstacles in the way of discussion of great music. It's just beyond stupid to let this music fade into obscurity because the compensation model has changed and the old players can't figure out how to adjust. Thanks for working around the road blocks.

[@jesserussell7242]

I absolutely love a day in the life one of the best songs ever and I love the orchestration build up and even that final piano chord which is a fantastic way to end the album Sergeant Pepper.

[@pacificostudios]

The last piano chord in "A Day in the Life" was recorded by constantly increasing the recording level; that's why the song really ends with electronic noise from the recording equipment drowning out the piano.

[@return2earthvideochannel]

Correct.

[@matm4331]

Great video! Thanks for posting...

[@zeeh7438]

After watching a lot of your vids it gave me a good idea what my musical tastes are which want apparent to me before; I really like ascending chords it's a common theme in all the music I'm inspired. I thing knowing that is almost as important as the theory.

[@PicoAlaska]

John reads a newspaper short and riffs on it to create a spellbinding melody with lyrics that center that poor dude who gave it up at age 21. Paul remembers how he came close to missing the bus to school, quickly gathered his things (at 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool) and ran some 200 yards to the bus stop. Like the best writers of any genre, these guys turned the dross of everyday life into art. ... Well, a fatal collision is not actually dross, but the point is made.

[@rikman4609]

Wow fab breakdown of how written, put down...for me seeing John's handwriting is so special 🙏 ✌️

[@tdamtoft]

Brilliant explanation, thank you!

[@jamescrickmore6446]

Hi David.. I would love it if you could make a video to give an insight into the melodic piano side of Aphex twin.. songs such as aisatsana,avril14th or nanou 2… he’s known for his “out there” electronic music but his piano work is so beautiful.. keep up the great work 😊

[@GoatBarn]

Beautiful!

[@bcataiji]

This is the "comfortably numb" of the Beatles.

[@camcamgamer]

I love this man. He just is so helpful and informative.

[@camcamgamer]

First Comment

[@camcamgamer]

Yeah but that doesn’t matter. Look at the time and I have the latest comment

[@nonamegiven7594]

Fantastic vid

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

great work, very nostalgic

[@tonyc8752]

That middle is so satisfying how it resolves back to G major.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

It wasn't the "I'd love to turn you on" that triggered the ban it, it was: "Found my way upstairs and had a smoke And somebody spoke and I went into a dream" which implied smoking something other than tobacco. Silly of course, as I've always taken this to be Paul remembering hurrying to college in his younger days. Upstairs on the bus during rush hour there was always a fog of cigarettes back then, so much for the Good Old Days, but anything more exotic wasn't tolerated.

[@cuebj]

Good point. A number of 'drug references' weren't. And, since they admitted to drugs, no reason to infer then when not defined

[@carlmassengale1027]

Interesting. For close to fifty years my impression was that he got to the job and made his way upstairs. Today is the first time I've realized that upstairs refers to the top deck of a bus. (Where I live that's not the common arrangement.)

[@jasongress8764]

If you listen closely, after he says “had a smoke,” you can hear the Beatles cheer, or yell “yeah!” It was definitely about weed.

[@DarkForcesStudio]

Nobody has came close to what the Beatles did. I'd loved to have been around at the time to witness their genius in the making.

[@SelectCircle]

And even more astonishing - all four came from the same unremarkable town.

[@DarkForcesStudio]

@@SelectCircle Brutal.

[@user-qg6by9le2f]

This song has been voted the number-one rock song ever by Rolling Stone Magazine, among others. What a masterpiece. You have to wonder how they pulled it off.

[@burning_KFC]

As always writing a comment to support the channel

[@christopherlawley1842]

Now go and see The Analogues play this live! Also, congratulations on not getting a strike on this video

[@fgrady1]

A particular aspect of this tune when contrasted with another band’s tune is that the sequence that begins after “…went into a dream” the melody during the chord sequence of C G D A was used by Deep Purple in “Hush” but much faster. It’s nonetheless the same melody once you sing along with it.

[@Kornknealious]

Thank you for breaking down.. and building up The Beatles songs1

[@petervandersluijs9256]

Nice to hear, after all those years of knowing the song, how it came to this.

[@noemie1267]

Could you make a video on Genesis' songs, for example Firth of Fifth if you haven't done it yet, I think this could be pretty interesting 😁

[@kevindevine6780]

Quite interesting ,and enlightening!!!

[@robertwindedahl4919]

Absolutely one of the best songs ever ever written

[@frogandspanner]

3:02 Gruppen: I enjoyed Rattle's Band performing this. We were taken out of Symphony Hall after the first half lollipop to the Conference Centre where there were the three stages were set up. There were two performances to allow Channel Four editing/fluff space, and we could shift to be among the orchestras between performances. What an amazing experience it was.

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

Could you do an "analyze" of the genius song by the recently passing away of Burt Bacharach, " Alfie". So clever. You are genius in your own right my friend, as well. Keep bringing it.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Definitely one of their best tracks to date, this has always been one of my favourite Beatles song and the other thing I love about its abnormal verse length is that it was very typical of Lennon because he liked writing sections that didn't fully fit into a usual 8- or 16-bar phrase

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

I think Lennon just let the music follow the lyrics, rather than chopping words out to make them fit a conventional song structure!

[@andrewpappas9311]

@@PlanetoftheDeaf Exactly

[@DeflatingAtheism]

It seems very common for folk and country music of that era. The “verse” ends with a breath at the end of the line, not necessarily something conforming to an 8-bar or 16-bar pattern.

[@rickjensen2717]

John Lennon's section is one of his best melodies - really nicely put together with a sense of mystery and longing. Have to say that although it does give the song a bit of a lift, I'm not so keen on Paul's section as it lacks any real substance, depth or direction (apart from slipping around the circle of 5ths).

[@johntyndall1373]

I disagree, Rick. I think that Paul's section allows the dreamer to wake up to his mundane existence before slipping back into his dream state again on the bus, this time more surreal than before, with the absurdity and emptiness of holes filling the Albert Hall being about his own life. His dream is trying to turn him on.

[@robertwoolgar8839]

Progressive rock started here.

[@object764]

A song that sounds like you’re dozing at home and you can hear voices in the other room as you drift in dream sleep

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you to Naughty Juice for sponsoring this video. Check them out on Spotify or KZbin: open.spotify.com/artist/6n7nkpNHM2PV8CWTyr6280?si=CZNC_1uARliR5XofSXZ9pQ www.youtube.com/@naughtyjuice7676 🎸😊

[@mbmillermo]

The cycle of fifths section - C-G-D-A-E - is also exactly the chords of Hendrix's "Hey Joe", and a good set of chords for a beginner guitarist to learn, the basis for the so-called CAGED system. So this is a good song to use for teaching that -- it's two measures per chord, which also helps. Furthermore, the melody always lingers on a chord tone, giving us something else to teach about.

[@danguee1]

Isn't it just "Hey Joe"? After all it wasn't written by Hendrix.

[@mbmillermo]

@@danguee1 I don't know what key it was written in, but I do know the key for the Hendrix version.

[@TheKipperedOne]

The 'cycle of fifths' pattern, either dropping a fifth or rising a fourth, is very old in music. Classical composers have used this for hundreds of years (listen to some of Bach or Händel's modulating sequences) Also, many jazz standards use this sequence of chords (e.g. "Fly me to the Moon"). I think Lennon and McCartney were geniuses because their level of creativity was so extraordinary. They drew on so many other genres and then gave them their own little 'what-if' twists, leading them into new and original musical worlds.

[@mbmillermo]

@@TheKipperedOne -- " All the Things You Are" is a really good example, but pretty complex. Easier ones would be "Autumn Leaves" or Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". The very common iii-VI-ii-V-I progression is all fourths.

[@grandplus946]

My favorite song ever, just hits different to anything else I've heard.

[@justinherbert9146]

From 1966 on McCartney wrote most of their hit songs. Look at the Get Back Sessions - Paul came in with Let It Be, The Long and Winding Road, and wrote Get Back during the rehearsal sessions - imagine being in a band and you have a member who brings those songs to the table? Incredible.

[@hw343434]

Paul wrote more hits later on (John wrote more hits that made the Beatles) but John was writing more of the masterpieces like “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “I am the Walrus”, “A Day in the Life”, etc

[@TheKipperedOne]

@@hw343434 I don't think we should compare Lennon to McCartney - it's like comparing Beethoven to Mozart. They were BOTH fantastic geniuses.

[@gutgolf74]

@@hw343434 Fact: John dominated the Beatlemania-phase. Paul dominated the album phase, when they made their best albums: Pepper, White Album, Abbey Road. Rubber Soul and Revolver were in the middle with the both of them totally equal, maybe a slight edge towards Paul, because he wrote the better known songs.

[@ellenbeckmann4293]

Thank you for this Video. The Song ,,Day in the life ,but I know about the Story...lg from Germany, Beatles Fan Ellen ✌❤

[@DaveHuxtableLanguages]

Hi David. Depeche Mode's latest single Ghosts Again uses I II vii iii, which I find really interesting.Twenty One by the Cranberries has a similar progression. Would love to hear your thoughts on that progression and why it's so distinctive.

[@ppgwhereeverett4412]

I was 13 years old when I first heard this. Quite obvious that music had changed that day !!

[@jods1]

Ringo's contribution was also noteworthy.

[@darryltagami3115]

Great video, I love all your videos. I think you are slightly biased in giving Paul more credit for too many of the song’s sections. There are differing viewpoints from other sources out there.

[@MadisonThompson531]

Agreed!

[@gutgolf74]

LOL, get real, Paul added about 65% to this song, John about 25%. Very easy to prove, all naked facts. And Emerick's book is NOT a reliable source! 😀

[@dalehas2]

Spectacular analysis of one of the greatest songs ever written, frequently identified as the Beatles masterpiece. The contrast with a very ordinary band promotion couldn't be more dramatic ...

[@michaelmelling9333]

Excellent video with more understanding of the song than I can muster. Thanks! June 6, 2023

[@PianoMan347]

5:26 this progression is also the same one in Hey Joe, which Jimi Hendrix released about a month before the Beatles recorded A Day In The Life.