Fewest Words
The Beatles wrote hundreds of songs filled with a total of more than 30,000 words. But some of those songs had more words than others. Songs like "All You Need Is Love" and "Rocky Racoon" both had over 300 lyrics each—whereas there are a bunch of Beatles songs with fewer than 100 words (the band wrote multiple songs with less than 50 words even). Note: We will only be looking at original Beatles songs (no covers).
These are all the Fab Four tracks with fewer than 100 words. Do you have any favorites in the bunch?
"What You’re Doing" (1964)
Word Count: 96
This one first appeared on the 1964 album Beatles For Sale, but in North America, it was released on 1965's Beatles VI.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
"The Inner Light" (1968)
Word Count: 91
Released as a non-album single in 1968, this George Harrison-penned tune was recorded in Bombay and was the first Harrison composition to be issued on a Beatles single.
Koen Suyk, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
"Mean Mr Mustard" (1969)
Word Count: 85
The medley that makes up the B-side of Abbey Road is replete with quick tunes with few words. And "Mean Mr Mustard" is one of them—with many more to come.
"This Boy" (1963)
Word Count: 84
This B-side to I Want to Hold Your Hand was one of the songs the band performed in February 1964—during their second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
"Golden Slumbers" (1969)
Word Count: 83
Another Paul McCartney piece for the great Abbey Road medley.
Gorupdebesanez, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
"Long, Long, Long" (1968)
Word Count: 82
There are so many tracks on the White Album that you may have forgotten about this lovely song with under 100 lyrics that George Harrison wrote while the band was attending Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Transcendental Meditation course in Rishikesh, India.
"Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" (1967)
Word Count: 81
A short, 81-word reprise that segues into the album's second to last song, "A Day In The Life".
"Polythene Pam" (1969)
Word Count: 77
Back to the medley: "Polythene Pam" is followed by "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window"—which is one of the few tracks on that side of the album with more than 100 words (137, if you were curious).
"Carry That Weight" (1969)
Word Count: 74
74 words in 1 minute and 36 seconds.
Stefano Chiacchiarini '74, Shutterstock
"Dig It" (1970)
Word Count: 70
Breaking away from that Abbey Road medley, we have to mention this odd little track off of the Let It Be album—one of the few Beatles songs credited to all four members of the band.
Jim Summaria, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
"Her Majesty" (1969)
Word Count: 68
The final song on Abbey Road is a hidden track that comes after "The End".
"Because" (1969)
Word Count: 61
Are there only 61 words in this one because the world is round?
ETH Library, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"Sun King" (1969)
Word Count: 40
This one that Lennon wrote is the second song in the big side B medley—following "You Never Give Me Your Money", which gets things started (and at 243 words, is the second most lyrics on the entire album).
University of Michigan, Wikimedia Commons
"The End" (1969)
Word Count: 28
After about 90 seconds of rocking out with a few lyrics thrown in, we get these simple, yet beautiful words to end Abbey Road (before that final 'hidden track' of course): "And in the end/The love you take/Is equal to the love you make".
"Wild Honey Pie" (1968)
Word Count: 21
The fewest words of any Beatles song. It's definitely not one of their best songs, but Paul McCartney chanting "Wild Honey Pie" over and over again is pretty memorable.
You might also like:
Beatles Quiz: Can You Match These Lyrics To The Right Beatles Song?
Facts About The Beatles Most Beatlemaniacs Probably Don't Even Know
Songs John Lennon And Paul McCartney Gave Away
Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sources: 1
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}