15 Beatles Songs That John Lennon Reportedly Disliked
John Lennon wasn’t just a musical genius, he was also brutally honest about his own work.
While millions of fans adored every Beatles track, Lennon himself had some strong opinions about songs he helped create.
Some tracks he dismissed as garbage, others he called meaningless, and a few he just flat-out hated.
Ready to discover which beloved Beatles classics made Lennon cringe?
Disclaimer:
The content is for general entertainment and informational purposes and should not be taken as definitive historical fact.
Always consult multiple reputable sources when researching music history or artist commentary.
15. A Taste Of Honey
Picture this: a cover song that never quite felt right to one of the band’s creative leaders.
Lennon wasn’t thrilled with recording this showtune cover from their early days.
Though it showcased their vocal harmonies beautifully, he felt it didn’t represent the rock and roll edge they wanted to project.
Cover songs were common in their early setlist, but this particular track felt too safe and conventional for Lennon’s taste.
He preferred writing original material that pushed boundaries instead of rehashing Broadway standards.
14. Yes It Is
If you thought every B-side was a hidden gem, think again!
Lennon later admitted he tried to recapture the magic of “This Boy” but failed miserably.
The song became the B-side to “Ticket to Ride,” but he later said it felt like an imitation of his earlier work.
Despite featuring gorgeous three-part harmonies that fans adored, Lennon couldn’t shake the feeling he’d simply copied himself.
Creativity meant moving forward, not recycling old ideas, and this track represented everything he wanted to avoid.
13. It’s Only Love
Sometimes even legendary songwriters end up cringing at their own lyrics.
Lennon later referred to this track as ‘abysmal’ in interviews and complained about its embarrassing words.
According to Lennon, the final recording never reached whatever potential the song might have shown early on.
Its placement on the Help! album didn’t change the fact that Lennon wished it had stayed in his notebook forever.
Cheesy romantic lines made the songwriter uncomfortable, and writing meaningful, introspective material felt far more aligned with his true artistic voice.
12. Run For Your Life
Ever written something you immediately regretted? Welcome to Lennon’s world!
He admitted this song was just “knocked off” without much thought or effort.
The lyrics, borrowed from an Elvis Presley song, contained possessive and threatening themes that later embarrassed him deeply.
As his songwriting matured, he later said he was uncomfortable with the song’s message.
It opened the “Rubber Soul” album, but he wished it had never made the cut at all, calling it his least favorite Beatles composition.
11. Paperback Writer
Not every hit single earns the creator’s seal of approval, apparently.
Even with this rocker topping charts worldwide, Lennon felt disconnected from the track since it was primarily McCartney’s creation.
Backing vocals were added, yet the song’s concept about a struggling author never sparked much personal investment.
A heavy bass riff pushed boundaries for its era, but more personal, introspective songwriting always resonated far more with Lennon.
Commercial success didn’t automatically translate to artistic satisfaction, and this catchy tune embodied everything the songwriter considered shallow about pop music.
10. When I’m Sixty-Four
Imagine calling your bandmate’s work “granny music” to his face!
Lennon dismissed this McCartney composition as old-fashioned and sentimental, totally opposite to his own artistic direction.
The music hall style felt outdated and corny to someone pushing psychedelic and experimental boundaries.
While fans found it charming and whimsical on “Sgt. Pepper’s,” Lennon saw it as nostalgic fluff.
He wanted music that challenged listeners and reflected contemporary issues, not vaudeville throwbacks that reminded him of his parents’ generation.
9. Good Morning, Good Morning
Sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest places, like a cereal commercial!
Lennon wrote this track after hearing a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes jingle, but later described it in interviews as ‘a piece of garbage.
The song included animal sound effects and odd time signatures, yet pride in the finished product never surfaced.
Even with its experimental production on Sgt. Pepper’s, the songwriter still viewed it as filler that didn’t deserve album space.
Songs carrying deeper meaning always mattered more to Lennon than throwaway ideas sparked by breakfast advertisements that felt creatively empty.
8. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Wait, Lennon hated one of the most iconic psychedelic songs ever? Mind blown!
Despite endless speculation about hidden meanings, Lennon reportedly said in a later interview that the recording sounded ‘abysmal’ to him.
He felt the production didn’t capture the dreamlike quality he’d imagined from his son’s drawing.
The song became synonymous with the Summer of Love, yet its creator couldn’t stand listening to it.
Sometimes artists are their own harshest critics, and this “Sgt. Pepper’s” standout proved that even legendary tracks don’t always satisfy their makers.
7. Hello, Goodbye
Contradictions and meaningless juxtapositions, anyone?
Lennon reportedly criticized this McCartney-penned number-one hit as shallow and lacking meaning.
Minimal input came from him, and the track felt like a symbol of everything wrong with commercial pop that prized catchiness over substance.
Radio stations played it endlessly, yet Lennon responded with eye-rolling at the song’s simplistic lyrics.
Music carrying real meaning mattered far more to Lennon than three minutes of opposite words strung together for easy listening that underestimated the audience’s intelligence.
6. Across The Universe
How can someone dislike their own poetic masterpiece? Lennon found a way!
Though he wrote beautiful, philosophical lyrics about limitless thoughts, Lennon said he was unhappy with every recorded version.
Multiple attempts across different albums and producers never satisfied his original vision for the song.
Fans consider it one of his finest compositions, yet he felt each production ruined the delicate essence he’d intended.
From the “Let It Be” version to Phil Spector’s orchestration, nothing matched the sound in his head, leaving him perpetually disappointed.
5. Lady Madonna
Even catchy piano riffs couldn’t save this one in Lennon’s eyes!
He admitted the song had a “good piano lick” but complained it “never really went anywhere” musically.
McCartney’s tribute to working mothers didn’t resonate with Lennon’s artistic sensibilities or personal interests.
The boogie-woogie style felt like another nostalgic throwback rather than forward-thinking music.
Lennon wanted to explore new sonic territories, not revisit rock and roll’s early days with songs that sounded like they belonged in a different decade entirely.
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Lennon was widely quoted as being extremely critical of this track, dismissing it as “granny music” with a profanity added for emphasis.
Repetitive lyrics and a ska-influenced rhythm became a source of pure frustration during endless recording sessions.
Massive international success didn’t change Lennon’s opinion that the track represented the worst kind of lightweight pop.
Music that challenged conventions meant far more to Lennon than singalong ditties about fictional couples that felt insultingly simple and commercially calculated.
3. Rocky Raccoon
Country-western storytelling wasn’t exactly Lennon’s favorite genre, shockingly.
McCartney’s tale of a Wild West love triangle left Lennon completely cold and uninterested.
He contributed little to the track and considered it another example of what he saw as McCartney’s interest in lighter, novelty-style songs.
The acoustic storytelling style felt too whimsical and childish for someone exploring deeper philosophical themes.
Lennon preferred raw emotion and introspection over playful narratives about cartoon-like characters in Old West saloons that seemed better suited for children’s entertainment.
2. Birthday
Who knew a party anthem could inspire such disdain?
Lennon once referred to this rocker as ‘a piece of garbage’ in an interview despite its energetic, celebratory vibe.
Written and recorded quickly during “White Album” sessions, he felt it lacked substance and artistic merit.
The straightforward rock and roll structure seemed too simple and uninspired for his evolving tastes.
While fans loved its raw energy and singalong chorus, Lennon saw it as filler material that wasted valuable studio time on something forgettable and creatively empty.
1. Let It Be
Imagine dismissing what would become one of the band’s most beloved songs!
Lennon felt this gospel-influenced ballad belonged on a McCartney solo album, not a Beatles record.
He claimed it had “nothing to do with The Beatles” and represented his bandmate’s solo ambitions.
The spiritual, comforting message didn’t align with Lennon’s more cynical worldview at the time.
While millions found solace in its hopeful lyrics, he suggested in later comments that it reflected how far the band had drifted creatively.
