The Beatles need no introduction; they are one of the most, if not the most, influential rock band in music history. Consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, the group led one of the largest fandoms in history with ‘Beatlemania’ in the 1960s- a phenomena that sprung from the group’s intense popularity. They had a profound impact on modern rock and have been integral to the art of music as it is perceived today.
That is until, to the heartbreak of millions, they split in 1970, leaving the music world forever changed.
Years later, in the late 1970s, John Lennon, now living in New York City with his wife and son, wrote and recorded a demo. It was never intended to be anything more than lighthearted, idle songwriting; Lennon’s assassination at the hands of a crazed fan in 1980 made sure of this. It was left unfinished, unknown by the rest of the former Beatles, until it was brought to the attention of McCartney by Lennon’s widow in the 1990s. The surviving members began working to finish it; for about two days, when it was scrapped and shelved for the next several decades. It entered a second period of limbo, with McCartney and Starr unable to finish it due to Harrison’s dislike for the recording.
“George didn’t like it. The Beatles being a democracy, we didn’t do it.” McCartney told Q magazine in 1997.
Harrison’s death in 2001 later revived interest for a second time; however, Lennon’s voice was nearly drowned out by a 60-hz mains hum interrupting the recording. It was again shelved until 2022, when McCartney and Starr worked with artificial intelligence to extract and enhance Lennon’s voice. With recordings from fellow musician Jeff Lynne and contributions from co-producer Giles Martin, the Beatles’ final song was released on Nov. 2nd, 2023.
The song itself is an elegant, touching song, threaded with nostalgia and longing for times past. It’s definitely Beatles- the song has huge hints of “Rubber Soul” and fits in well with “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love”. Overall, it’s very melancholy, moody and moving, a strong testament to the band’s final release.
It was released as a single with a new stereo remix of “Love Me Do” (1962) with the two songs acting as “bookends” to the band’s history. It is undoubtedly a fitting song to represent the band’s last published recording, emotionally conveying a literal and figurative record of all the band has lost and achieved.