Beatles – For No One

McCartney wrote this song. John Lennon had said it was a Paul song and it is thought to be mostly if not all his song. The song was not a single but just added another great song to the album.

The song was on the Beatles arguably best album Revolver…and perhaps one of the best albums of all time.

George Martin called in Alan Civil to play the French horn in the solo.

Paul McCartney and George Martin about the French Horn : ‘Well, it goes from here to this top E,’ and I said, ‘What if we ask him to play an F?’ George saw the joke and joined in the conspiracy. We came to the session and Alan looked up from his bit of paper: ‘Eh, George? I think there’s a mistake here – you’ve got a high F written down.’ Then George and I said, ‘Yeah,’ and smiled back at him, and he knew what we were up to and played it. These great players will do it. Even though it’s officially off the end of their instrument, they can do it, and they’re quite into it occasionally. It’s a nice little solo.”

Most people would have never written that part for a French horn player because it was too high to play, but that was the note Paul wanted to hear.

If you want to know more songs with French Horn…go here to Aphoristical’s site.

Paul McCartney: “I was in Switzerland on my first skiing holiday. I’d done a bit of skiing in ‘Help!’ and quite liked it, so I went back and ended up in a little bathroom in a Swiss chalet writing ‘For No One.’ I remember the descending bass-line trick that it’s based on, and I remember the character in the song – the girl putting on her make-up.”

From Songfacts

Paul McCartney wrote this song sitting in a chalet while on holiday with his girlfriend Jane Asher in Klosters, Switzerland, March of 1966. The working title was “Why Did It Die,” and there is speculation that McCartney wrote the song about Asher, who was a successful London actress.

The theory is that Paul wanted her to cater to his schedule, tour with him, and be the “perfect Beatle wife,” but Jane had a life and career of her own, hence the “She doesn’t need you” lyrics. Paul has never said it was about Jane specifically, however he did say, “I guess there had been an argument. I never have easy relationships with women.” He knew what he was getting into when he got involved with Jane, and being that the song was written in 1966 and they didn’t break up until 1968, it’s likely that if the song was about Jane, it wasn’t a serious argument.

This was recorded on May 9, 16 and 19, 1966 by only two Beatles – Paul singing and playing the keyboard and bass, and Ringo on percussion. 

Maureen McGovern recorded this and “Things We Said Today” as a 2-song medley for her 1992 album Baby I’m Yours.

McCartney used this in his 1984 movie Give My Regards to Broad Street.

Revolver was the last Beatles album to have different US and UK versions. In 2002, Rolling Stone readers voted it the greatest album of all time. The album cover was created by artist Klaus Voormann, who became friends with the band when they were playing clubs in Hamburg, Germany in the early ’60s.

For No One

Your day breaks, your mind aches
You find that all the words of kindness linger on
When she no longer needs you

She wakes up, she makes up
She takes her time and doesn’t feel she has to hurry
She no longer needs you

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years!

You want her, you need her
And yet you don’t believe her when she says her love is dead
You think she needs you

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years!

You stay home, she goes out
She says that long ago she knew someone but now he’s gone
She doesn’t need him

Your day breaks, your mind aches
There will be times when all the things she said will fill your head
You won’t forget her

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years!

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

26 thoughts on “Beatles – For No One”

      1. I was figuring sometime in 2020 due to 50 year anniversary but I had no idea when. I think the date was September 5. Hope you are doing well – are you working from home?

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      2. I’m doing fine. It’s an odd world out there now. I saw someone cough at a grocery store and everyone turned and looked.

        No not right now but the offices are wiped down like crazy. I probably will some next week. Hope you are doing well Hans.

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      3. Yes crazy times. We’ve certainly never went through anything like this- and hopefully never again…. yes some guy coughed in my face yesterday at the library.. wonderful- didn’t even cover his mouth…

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      4. Normally you wouldn’t think a bit about it…except him being rude.
        When I got to work…I stay in my office and remote in our servers and people’s computers…no traveling to desks at all.

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      1. Ok. Yeah. She did a much better version. I like McCartney but, his was sad & flat. Maybe it was about Jane and that is why it was depressing. When he made music with Linda, it was better.

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      2. Now I wouldnt say that…it’s different. I still take Pauls…can’t help it. I do like Emmylou’s though….it’s a different song with her. I love that lady by the way. Great voice and what a looker when she was young…still is really.
        Some say it was about Jane and some say it was about Dot his first serious girlfriend. I would say Jane because it was during that time.

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      4. My cousin Mark…just played him in Yahtzee lol…he likes the Wings a lot. He knows them more than the Beatles.

        Emmylou is awesome…I never liked Joan Baez…I respect anyone for a cause but her voice grates on my nerves…I always thought she used her voice too much at times.

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      6. Yes! That is what I was trying to say… It’s just me but I thought she over used it at times. Like The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down…

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    1. It really is. One of my favorites from Paul.
      Another person gave me a link to an Emmylou Harris version…it’s good also. She puts her stamp on it.

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