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The Beatles — For No One
Album: Revolver
Avg rating:
8.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1601









Released: 1966
Length: 1:55
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Your day breaks
Your mind aches
You find that all her 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
Comments (146)add comment
 lily34 wrote:

in my top five fav beatles. this one hits me every time. so beautiful.


i really enjoy when i hear a beatles song that does not get played too much or at all lily, makes my day.
in my top five fav beatles. this one hits me every time. so beautiful.
 ChrisVIII wrote:

I do not deny the importance they have had in the history of music and how much they influenced nowadays pop music, but I do think that their songs are not aging well... 



Yet, if they are not aging well, why are people of all ages still taking  about and listening to their music? Modern Beethoven me thinks...
 tonyjory wrote:
So true!
Wonderful Beatles.

 

 RichW wrote:
Almost every Beatles song sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Nobody else sounds like that.
 

Sublime.
It looks like Bill might have every single track from this album in rotation. Which is as it should be. 
 Skydog wrote:
nice McCartney song, cleverly produced, but everything Lennon did on this album makes everything else seem like an after thought
 
That is just plain crazy talk:  Eleanor Rigby, Here There And Everywhere, Good Day Sunshine, Got To Get You Into My Life as well as this song were all McCartney contributions to this great album.  Got To Get You Into My Life went on to climb back up the charts a full 10 years later.

Your "after thought" efforts also include: Taxman, Love You Too, and I Want To Tell You from Harrison and Yellow Submarine from Starr.

Lennon's songs are great too but they don't rate higher than the efforts from the rest of the band.  For my money Good Day Sunshine, Taxman, and Tomorrow Never Knows are the best 3 tracks (that's one from each of the top 3 song writers in the band)
Thank you for playing this right now!
Needed it, just about now.
Exceptional.
One of Paul's absolute best. 
 Lyndont wrote:
Only one of a handful of Beatles songs that I like. Never did get all the fuss about them
 
That's okay. There's therapy for that.
Test post with offline simulation...
God...I forgot the beauty and sadness of this song. Thank you, Bill(I think).
would love t hear some Tim Curry too - outside of Rocky Horror!

springof63 wrote:
this is only my tu'pence worth -

Back in the 80's, on Radio 1 in the UK they used to do a thing on a Sunday afternoon (i think) called 'Star Special'
where they'd have 'someone famous' in to play their favourite music for an hour.
i often used to tape the show off the radio so i could listen to it later.
One of the tapes i kept, and played over & over, was the set by Tim Curry.
The Beatles - 'For No One' was one of the songs he played, which was followed by Joni Mitchell - 'Blue'.

so you play 'For No One' and i just had to go listen to 'Blue' to follow it with, so thanks for that!

("songs are like tattoos", Joni Mitchell - 'Blue')
 

Ok, so not ALL the great songs were John's...
One sad song.  The lyrics break my heart.
Only one of a handful of Beatles songs that I like. Never did get all the fuss about them
 Typesbad wrote:
I find it difficult to view Beatles songs objectively, particularly from this album and Rubber Soul.  I was 5 and 6 when these came out but paying attention enough (thanks to older siblings) that these songs simply imprinted what rock songs are in my brain.  They are my standard of reference.

 
I know exactly what you mean, and this song that's a bit syrupy and not really that catchy but many people love, is a great example.  Half of me thinks it's a powerful nostalgia thing, but the other half feels that you rationally hear a band that is head and shoulders above everyone else around them (even, for different reasons, Hendrix and the Stones, or Chuck Berry or whatever).  To the point that they might be heard hundreds of years from now like classical composers when most 20th century compositions are forgotten.  Then again, you just never know.  Maybe everything will be forgotten but Brittany Spears.  
 Typesbad wrote:
I find it difficult to view Beatles songs objectively, particularly from this album and Rubber Soul.  I was 5 and 6 when these came out but paying attention enough (thanks to older siblings) that these songs simply imprinted what rock songs are in my brain.  They are my standard of reference.

 
Exactly!  I was a little older, 10-14.  But when I think of groups I like, who sounds like who, etc., the Beatles do not enter those comparisons in my mind.  They are in a different place, elemental.
I find it difficult to view Beatles songs objectively, particularly from this album and Rubber Soul.  I was 5 and 6 when these came out but paying attention enough (thanks to older siblings) that these songs simply imprinted what rock songs are in my brain.  They are my standard of reference.
One of my all time favorite songs, and fun to play on piano and sing along to. God bless them Beatles, especially Rubber Soul forward. 👏
 Dazzerb wrote:
awful music - PSD quick....

 
Even before I looked, I knew you had a bunch of U2 in your list of 10 rated songs.  What is it with Brits that h8 Irish bands and vice-versa? 
 Dazzerb wrote:
awful music - PSD quick....

 
AGREED!!!
nice McCartney song, cleverly produced, but everything Lennon did on this album makes everything else seem like an after thought
awful music - PSD quick....
 hayduke2 wrote:
pee-you I hate this song, sounds like it's from a goofy 50's family-movie

 
Paul always needed, IMHO, a dash of John's darkness.  John, on the other hand, needed some of Paul's buoyancy.  Part of the band's story is how this shared process became a burden for both of them.
 
this is only my tu'pence worth -

Back in the 80's, on Radio 1 in the UK they used to do a thing on a Sunday afternoon (i think) called 'Star Special'
where they'd have 'someone famous' in to play their favourite music for an hour.
i often used to tape the show off the radio so i could listen to it later.
One of the tapes i kept, and played over & over, was the set by Tim Curry.
The Beatles - 'For No One' was one of the songs he played, which was followed by Joni Mitchell - 'Blue'.

so you play 'For No One' and i just had to go listen to 'Blue' to follow it with, so thanks for that!

("songs are like tattoos", Joni Mitchell - 'Blue')
I do not deny the importance they have had in the history of music and how much they influenced nowadays pop music, but I do think that their songs are not aging well... 
This song breaks my heart ... or rather this song reminds me of my broken heart ...
 alexpohlenz wrote:
Again! The Beatles! What a waste of time and space!

 
Go take a douche, pal!
Again! The Beatles! What a waste of time and space!
pee-you I hate this song, sounds like it's from a goofy 50's family-movie
 unclehud wrote:
While I really, really, really like this cute little melody, the lyrics are perhaps the biggest downer ever.  So ... doesn't that prove unequivocally that the Beatles (and Lennon and McCartney) tapped into the depths of our souls and were therefore the best songwriters in the history of the planet?
QED

 
Yes, this is a great song and those two were brilliant songwriters, but those points far from prove your conclusion.  Hundreds of songs have "cute" melodies and sad lyrics - The Beatles were far from the first composers to mix such elements.  Anyhow, no matters of aesthetics or tastes can ever be proven - "unequivocally" or otherwise .
dammit man he sure could write some deep and close-to-home lyrics, Sir Paul.. {#Cheers}
A lot less dated and sappy sounding than the usual McCartney fare.
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:

...... agree and can be summed up in one word -  {#Yell}  "Groundbreaking" 
 
Indeed...  everybody in my homeless camp loves this song...

hope you be having a fantastic weekend, Peter_Bradshaw... 


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!




This has happened to me.... A few times.... Precious 
 Lazarus wrote:

Love this song...

this album was a real revolution in rock music when it came out...  and the album has endured...  as good as ever...
 

 
...... agree and can be summed up in one word -  {#Yell}  "Groundbreaking" 
While I really, really, really like this cute little melody, the lyrics are perhaps the biggest downer ever.  So ... doesn't that prove unequivocally that the Beatles (and Lennon and McCartney) tapped into the depths of our souls and were therefore the best songwriters in the history of the planet?

QED

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all across the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...  we love this song...  love this revolutionary and seminal album...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
"... you won't forget her...."
Song is two minutes of revelation.
Eternal.
 rdo wrote:

The RP format now is 50 comments per page.  On this page 17 of the 50 are from Calypsus1 and Lazarus/Romeotuma.   If we counted the actual percent of page space, the percent would be much higher than 34%.   Come on guys, quit hogging all the bandwidth and page space.  Let's hear from some other contributors.  You are not adding anything new with your comments.



 
i concur.......

i would never, ever be one to squelch, muffle, oppress, suppress, repress, smother, stifle, censure, quell, squash, arrest, control, edit, excise, sanitize, restrict, hinder, or in any other way shape or form curb other listener's opinions here.......but c'mon guys  one or two comments......and try to make them juuuuuuuuuust a bit different?  saying the EXACT same thing fifty times for each song........

 

The RP format now is 50 comments per page.  On this page 17 of the 50 are from Calypsus1 and Lazarus/Romeotuma.   If we counted the actual percent of page space, the percent would be much higher than 34%.   Come on guys, quit hogging all the bandwidth and page space.  Let's hear from some other contributors.  You are not adding anything new with your comments.


Hard to separate the Beatles woven with cherished memories of youth. Eh, why try. I enjoy the magic still.

Love this song...

this album was a real revolution in rock music when it came out...  and the album has endured...  as good as ever...
 
Love should be eternal.  How sad to lose those who once meant so much to us.
Yes, George Martin was great and all, but I could really do without the french horn and harpsichord.
very nice!
More flugel horn !!!!
Wow this really brings on the childhood memories!! Makes me want to cry! Thanks Bill!
 Bobert_ParkCity wrote:

C'mon Formero, this is not a dance tune...
 

Yes it is, for nimble dancers...  that piano beat works...  we be dancing...  love it...

 
Love this song
 (former member) wrote:


We be dancing...  love it...


 
C'mon Formero, this is not a dance tune...
Almost every Beatles song sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Nobody else sounds like that.
i just adore this song...
 casey1024 wrote:
Completely fitting for the way I feel today.  He should HEAR this song.
 

YES They don't want to listen, do they....
 neuticle wrote:

Stones..Beatles were great and all, but w/ out George Martin  pushing the buttons..they were kind of..eh..esp. Paul ...Too produced. ..Stones were a band proper..that all being said..they were just plain different
 
Martin could not make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, i.e. he had some good material to work with.
Completely fitting for the way I feel today.  He should HEAR this song.
I love a fine album.  They have so many.  Even growing up outside their time you were still treated to loads of their music due to its massive and understandable popularity but it was even better when you delved deeper and found so many gems on their albums that were never on the greatest hits albums.  I guess its one of the bonuses of being born too late to be in the 60's and 70's music scene that you can spend years finding amazing tracks from the past and your first listen is still the same as anyone who was there and now lots of the big artists from then are back and touring so you can even see some of it live.  I think I've begun rambling... 
 Stingray wrote:

The only Beatles album I have problems with!

 

Who is better? Stones or Beatles...?

 

 
Stones..Beatles were great and all, but w/ out George Martin  pushing the buttons..they were kind of..eh..esp. Paul ...Too produced. ..Stones were a band proper..that all being said..they were just plain different

The only Beatles album I have problems with!

 

Who is better? Stones or Beatles...?

 


But that's how the appreciation of artistic creation works: you cannot always critique a piece in isolation from the body of an artist's work. Take Barnett Newman's Voice of Fire. You could have said—and thousands did—that a five-year-old could produce this. But by contextualizing this painting within Newman's body of abstract paintings, you can appreciate its symbolism and importance to the advancement of the genre. The Beatles greatly advanced the scope and depth in the popular music genre.

Derecho wrote:


I'll agree. If anyone but the Beatles had done this — and plenty of others have — the average rating would be down two or three points.
 

{#Hearteyes}
Beautifully composed!
I just faded in from a PSD version of Maybe I'm Amazed into this - McCartneypalooza!
Love the horn in this one.
Uniquely wonderful, even after all these years.

 On_The_Beach wrote:

With due respect to Ringo, most of his stuff was pretty lame.
From Rubber Soul through Let it Be, it was pretty hard to find a dud from John, Paul or George.

 
Maybe his songs weren't much, but if you're referring to his drumming, you're wrong!  I  used to believe Ringo couldn't play worth crap (probably because when I was young I couldn't afford a quality stereo).  Later listens to pieces such as Rain, She Said, She Said, She's So Heavy etc., changed my mind.

And for that matter, his songs often were amusing or appealing, a light interlude between the heavier fare of John, Paul and George.


 romeotuma wrote:


This is song squeezes my heart...  love it...
 
 
I concur!  I love the piano in this and the French Horn is a perfect touch! {#Good-vibes}


 Sasha2001 wrote:
Its interesting that sooo many of Paul's best comtributions were basically, what did John call them, "songs for an umpa band."
 
I remember reading that Lennon referred to some of McCartney's tunes as "granny music", but I don't think that this is one of the tunes he was referring to.  It wouldn't be surprising if he called some songs "oompah" music either.   I think this is one of McCartney's best.

Get the idea romeotuma likes this. I like it too. I think Godlike gets tossed around too easily though.

TEN...TEN....ELEVEN....TWELVE....
Its interesting that sooo many of Paul's best comtributions were basically, what did John call them, "songs for an umpa band."
 SigmaBetaTooth wrote:
I believe this is my first hearing of this song. So sad. Revolver most definitely deserves an end to end listen.
 
My favorite Beatles album.

What a string of albums
Help - 1965
Rubber Soul - 1966
Revolver - 1967
Sgt Pepper - 1968
White Album - 1968
Abby Road - 1969
I believe this is my first hearing of this song. So sad. Revolver most definitely deserves an end to end listen.

Paul McCartney and Stella by ~Macca4ever
Nicole  ©2008-2010 ~Macca4ever

Macca with his daughter Stella
.



Those unresolved notes at the end twist my heart every time.
This and Abbey Road are my 2 fav albums from them. {#Yes}
 On_The_Beach wrote:

With due respect to Ringo, most of his stuff was pretty lame.
From Rubber Soul through Let it Be, it was pretty hard to find a dud from John, Paul or George.

 
I respectfully disagree. Without Ringo's unique drum style, the Beatles would have gone nowhere.


Beatles Paul McCartney and George Harrison by rising70
https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_first_rays/

.

This is the caliber of brass sideman Guster's Ruby Falls deserves in the final flourish.

Emmylou Harris - "For No One" Live in Scotland (1995)

A beautiful Beatles song, first recorded by ELH on the Pieces of the Sky album,now performed and filmed during The Transatlantic Sessions in Ayrshire (Scotland) in 1995.

"  "For No One" is a song written by
Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) that originally appeared on The Beatles' seventh album, Revolver. A baroque pop song about the end of a relationship, it is one of McCartney's most mature and poignant works to date. Mostly performed by the composer, the track is distinguished by its French horn solo, performed by Alan Civil and used as an obbligato in the final verse.

John Lennon said of the song, "One of my favourites of his-a nice piece of work" 

The song was recorded on 9, 16 and 19 May 1966 "

 


Beautiful.......just beautiful.{#Notworthy}
 On_The_Beach wrote:

With due respect to Ringo, most of his stuff was pretty lame.
From Rubber Soul through Let it Be, it was pretty hard to find a dud from John, Paul or George.

 

They were a group. A circle of synergy inscribed in a square. In spite of the inevitable human conflicts.
I know a guy who just went through this experience.  This song was very painful for him. It was dead-on the mark.


Emmylou Harris - "For No One" Live (2007)

" mandolin: Keith Little, fiddle: Ricky Simpkins, dobro: Mike Auldridge, bass: Tom Gray "
A brilliant album with a great cover. Klaus Voorman I think.

 TanteJensen wrote:
My, this is great. 10

But: List of lame Beatles songs (to be edited):
  1. Dr. Robert
 
With due respect to Ringo, most of his stuff was pretty lame.
From Rubber Soul through Let it Be, it was pretty hard to find a dud from John, Paul or George.

 Proclivities wrote:
I always thought this was one of McCartney's best.
 
I always felt that this was absolutely one of the best songs about heartbreak ever written. I was 16 years old when Revolver came out so "For No One" really spoke to me. 

 lemmoth wrote:
Ok - Mr. Moonlight too.  — but that's it.
 
{#High-five}

 mjwstickings wrote:
I get it. They were amazing. I love them, too. But, come on...

Have you listed to Disc 2 of the White Album recently?

 
gjeeg wrote:


Yes. EVERY SONG. Yes, THAT good. That is the miracle.
 
 

Yeah - see below - What's your point - oh # 9 and Goodnight don't float your boat.. Ok

Side three
#TitleLength
1."Birthday"  2:42
2."Yer Blues"  4:01
3."Mother Nature's Son"  2:48
4."Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey"  2:24
5."Sexy Sadie"  3:15
6."Helter Skelter"  4:29
7."Long, Long, Long" (Harrison)3:04
Side four
#TitleLength
1."Revolution 1"  4:15
2."Honey Pie"  2:41
3."Savoy Truffle" (Harrison)2:54
4."Cry Baby Cry"  3:01
5."Revolution 9"  8:22
6."Good Night"  

Paul tells an interesting story about the horn part....he was singing the part that he wanted the horn player (Alan Civil) to play. Civil told Paul that the highest note in the solo was actually out of the horn's range. Paul asked him to give it a go anyway...and he played what you hear. 

 

Somehow I can see George Martin sitting in the studio with a ruler, ready to rap Paul over the knuckles if he starts to over-emote on the vocals. Whatever it took, Paul is remarkably restrained.
I always thought this was one of McCartney's best.
 woozurbuddy wrote:
IMHO the best Beatles album ever!
 

You and just about every critics poll of late.
 lmic wrote:
That about covers it.
 

Ok - Mr. Moonlight too.  — but that's it.
Love it . With a little practice , these kids just might make it .{#Tongue}
 TanteJensen wrote:
List of lame Beatles songs (to be edited):
  1. Dr. Robert

 That about covers it.
{#Sad}
 The_Enemy wrote:
 Hannio wrote:
when you consider it came out at time not too far removed from such "hits" as Alley Oop and Ooo Ee, Ooo Ahh Ahh, Ting-Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang). But it has aged like a fine wine

There's a lot of the charm right there.  This song could've been written yesterday.

While I wouldn't give every Beatles song a '10', I'm hard pressed to think what would get lower than a '7'.  Theirs is an amazingly consistent body of work re: quality.

 
Right! Save for perhaps All Together Now from Yellow Submarine. (And yes, I know the history of the tracks relegated to this releaase.)


 Odyzzeuz wrote:
You can play the most obscure outtake from the absolute dregs of the Beatles catalogue and everyone falls all over each other to give it a 10. Honestly, people, this is only a so-so track. If all of the Beatles stuff were of this caliber they'd be no more famous today than the Eels will be in 10 years.
 

Actually, no. If I give a song a 10 — and I did give this one a 10 — it's because I think it's a brilliant song, not because my knee is jerking. I'm a pretty big Beatles fan, but I've rated at least a couple of Beatles songs here 5 or lower.

So spare us your condescending pronouncements, ok? Believe it or not, Hon, you're not the only one here with ears and a brain.


My, this is great. 10

But: List of lame Beatles songs (to be edited):
  1. Dr. Robert

funny, I heard the coverversion of Ricky Lee Jones first, and I realized like it far better!
I'd say the Beatles spoiled the cover version ... {#Lol}
 Hannio wrote:
when you consider it came out at time not too far removed from such "hits" as Alley Oop and Ooo Ee, Ooo Ahh Ahh, Ting-Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang). But it has aged like a fine wine

There's a lot of the charm right there.  This song could've been written yesterday.

While I wouldn't give every Beatles song a '10', I'm hard pressed to think what would get lower than a '7'.  Theirs is an amazingly consistent body of work re: quality.

this is one of my top 4 fav beatles tunes. love love love love love it.
I get it. They were amazing. I love them, too. But, come on...

Have you listed to Disc 2 of the White Album recently?

 
gjeeg wrote:


Yes. EVERY SONG. Yes, THAT good. That is the miracle.
 


EssexTex wrote:
I agree...although I don't mind this song, it's a fact that people often just "10" the Beatles...because it's them...I mean come on EVERY song? ..they weren't THAT good. I Love the Who, but they made some stinkers..as did the Stones, but at least you'll hear me admit it.
Yes. EVERY SONG. Yes, THAT good. That is the miracle.
You have to love this....we've all been there, a love that should have lasted years. Sometimes simplicity is brilliant!
I am in no way the drop-dead Beatles worshipper ... but OMG ... if you don't realize the sheer note-for-note melodic perfection of this song, then everything else you have to say is pointless. This is one of the songs that thump me on the head and say that all the accolades for these guys is worth it.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
You can play the most obscure outtake from the absolute dregs of the Beatles catalogue and everyone falls all over each other to give it a 10. Honestly, people, this is only a so-so track. If all of the Beatles stuff were of this caliber they'd be no more famous today than the Eels will be in 10 years.
I agree...although I don't mind this song, it's a fact that people often just "10" the Beatles...because it's them...I mean come on EVERY song? ..they weren't THAT good. I Love the Who, but they made some stinkers..as did the Stones, but at least you'll hear me admit it.
Amazing album. Wish my mom did not throw it out 35 years ago!
Odyzzeuz wrote:
You can play the most obscure outtake from the absolute dregs of the Beatles catalogue and everyone falls all over each other to give it a 10. Honestly, people, this is only a so-so track. If all of the Beatles stuff were of this caliber they'd be no more famous today than the Eels will be in 10 years.
Granted, this song was nothing really special when it came out (well, maybe it was when you consider it came out at time not too far removed from such "hits" as Alley Oop and Ooo Ee, Ooo Ahh Ahh, Ting-Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang). But it has aged like a fine wine since then, taking on the sweetness of fond memories. This is very subjective, of course, and certainly it doesn't affect everybody the same way. But to me, this song (like most of the Beatles repertoire) is nothing short of fabulous.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
You can play the most obscure outtake from the absolute dregs of the Beatles catalogue and everyone falls all over each other to give it a 10. Honestly, people, this is only a so-so track. If all of the Beatles stuff were of this caliber they'd be no more famous today than the Eels will be in 10 years.
I'll agree. If anyone but the Beatles had done this -- and plenty of others have -- the average rating would be down two or three points.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
You can play the most obscure outtake from the absolute dregs of the Beatles catalogue and everyone falls all over each other to give it a 10. Honestly, people, this is only a so-so track. If all of the Beatles stuff were of this caliber they'd be no more famous today than the Eels will be in 10 years.
Are you sure that your username isn't really Physicsgenius? BTW, Who are the Eels?
crinky wrote:
This from someone who gives Tori Amos' version of "Smell Like Teen Spirit" a 10.
Oh no you didn't...?!
Odyzzeuz wrote:
You can play the most obscure outtake from the absolute dregs of the Beatles catalogue and everyone falls all over each other to give it a 10. Honestly, people, this is only a so-so track. If all of the Beatles stuff were of this caliber they'd be no more famous today than the Eels will be in 10 years.
Opinions are opinions,....and your opinions suck.