The songwriting credits of The Beatles have long been a topic of fascination and occasional debate among music historians and fans alike. While the Lennon-McCartney partnership is legendary, the specifics of who contributed what to each song sometimes remain shrouded in a bit of mystery. Two songs in particular, “In My Life” and “Eleanor Rigby,” have seen disagreements regarding authorship. However, “Eleanor Rigby” isn’t the only Beatles track where John Lennon’s claimed contributions have been questioned. The authorship of “Michelle,” a beloved ballad from their 1965 album Rubber Soul, also presents a nuanced story, particularly when considering the narrative around Beatles Michelle Song creation.
Regarding “Eleanor Rigby,” claims made by John Lennon about his significant contribution to the lyrics, suggesting he wrote as much as 70%, have been widely disputed. These claims, voiced in interviews such as his 1972 Hit Parader interview and the more famous 1980 Playboy interview, seem to contradict numerous accounts from those close to the song’s creation.
Several points challenge Lennon’s assertion about “Eleanor Rigby”:
-
Pete Shotton’s Account: John Lennon’s childhood friend, Pete Shotton, stated that John’s contribution to “Eleanor Rigby” was “virtually nil.” Shotton’s close relationship with Lennon makes his testimony a significant piece of evidence.
-
Allen Klein’s Recollection: Even Allen Klein, in a 1971 Playboy interview, while attempting to credit Lennon, framed it as needing to “remind” Lennon of his authorship, stating, “John wrote 60 or 70% of the lyric on ‘Eleanor Rigby.’ He just didn’t remember until I sat him down and had him sort through it all.” This suggests Lennon himself wasn’t initially forthcoming about a major contribution.
-
George Martin’s Stance: The Beatles’ producer, George Martin, consistently identified “Eleanor Rigby” as primarily a McCartney song. Martin’s credibility as a central figure in The Beatles’ recording process lends substantial weight to his view. He routinely categorized songs like “From Me To You,” “She Loves You,” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand” as Lennon-McCartney collaborations, demonstrating his understanding of their shared songwriting.
-
Donovan’s Witness Account: Singer-songwriter Donovan claimed to have witnessed Paul McCartney working on “Eleanor Rigby,” noting the song initially had a different character name, “Ola Na Tungee.” Conversely, there are no similar accounts of Lennon working on the song.
-
William Burroughs’ Observation: Writer William Burroughs, a friend of McCartney’s, recalled seeing McCartney working on lyrics to fit the already composed melody of “Eleanor Rigby,” further suggesting McCartney’s primary role in the song’s development.
-
McCartney’s Inspiration for the Name: Paul McCartney explained that the name “Eleanor Rigby” came from actress Eleanor Bron, who starred in the Beatles’ film Help!, and “Rigby” from a store named “Rigby & Evens” in Bristol. Intriguingly, there’s also a possible subconscious link to a gravestone bearing the name “Eleanor Rigby” that McCartney might have seen in his youth.
-
Character Names and Evolution: McCartney conceived the character “Father McCartney” for the song but changed it to “Father McKenzie” from a phone book to avoid any personal association with his own father. This detail highlights McCartney’s meticulous approach to crafting the narrative and characters within the song.
-
Minor Line Contributions: While Ringo Starr reportedly added the line “darn his socks,” and George Harrison contributed “Ah, look at all the lonely people,” these are minor lyrical additions compared to the overall songwriting credit.
-
Contradictory Press Conference Answer: During an American tour press conference, when asked about the inspiration for “Eleanor Rigby,” John Lennon jokingly replied “Two queers,” a response that clearly clashes with the song’s actual themes and McCartney’s detailed explanations.
-
McCartney’s 1966 Account to Hunter Davies: In 1966, McCartney detailed to Sunday Times journalist Hunter Davies, who was writing The Beatles: The Authorised Biography, the genesis of “Eleanor Rigby.” He described how the initial melody came to him, followed by the name “Daisy Hawkins” and the line about “picking up rice in the church.” He further explained the evolution of the lyrics, including the “Father McCartney” idea and the eventual change to “Father McKenzie.”
-
McCartney’s 2021 “New Yorker” Confirmation: Decades later, in a 2021 New Yorker article, McCartney reinforced his inspiration, mentioning visiting an elderly woman named Daisy Hawkins who lived alone. He described how listening to her stories enriched him and influenced his songwriting.
-
Lennon’s Silence to Authorised Biographer: If Lennon had indeed written 70% of “Eleanor Rigby,” it is curious why he didn’t mention this significant contribution to Hunter Davies, the band’s authorized biographer, especially when McCartney was providing detailed accounts of his songwriting process for the song.
These points strongly suggest that “Eleanor Rigby” was overwhelmingly a Paul McCartney composition, despite Lennon’s later claims.
Turning our attention to Beatles Michelle song, the situation is slightly different. While “Michelle” is undoubtedly another McCartney-led song, John Lennon’s contribution, though not as substantial as a 50/50 co-write, is acknowledged, primarily for the key line “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
While Paul McCartney conceived the melody and basic structure of “Michelle,” seeking a French-sounding love song inspired by the Parisian “Left Bank” atmosphere, he was stuck on the middle eight section. It was John Lennon who suggested the “I love you, I love you, I love you” phrase as a bridge. This crucial line, while seemingly simple, provided the perfect hook and completed the song.
Therefore, with Beatles Michelle song, while Lennon’s input was less than a full co-writing credit, it was a significant and memorable contribution that helped finalize and elevate the song. In contrast to “Eleanor Rigby,” where evidence points strongly towards McCartney’s sole creative driving force, “Michelle” represents a more collaborative, albeit still McCartney-dominated, songwriting effort within the Lennon-McCartney partnership. Both songs, however, remain testaments to the complex and fascinating dynamics of their musical genius.
