The best Beatles songs
The top 3 according to 50 votes from people: A Day in the Life · Strawberry Fields Forever · While My Guitar Gently Weeps. (Updated Jun 9, 2025.)
Starting from Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Beatles Songs (A Day in the Life at number one) and balanced with fans' favourites: the 20 songs that come up again and again.
Top 20
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1
A Day in the Life
Sgt. Pepper's, 1967. Lennon and McCartney's halves joined by a 40-piece orchestral crescendo; Rolling Stone's number one.
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2
Strawberry Fields Forever
Single, 1967. Lennon remembers a Salvation Army garden in Liverpool; two takes in different keys spliced together.
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3
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The White Album, 1968. Harrison's song with an uncredited guitar solo by Eric Clapton.
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4
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Single, 1963. Their first US number one, which launched Beatlemania in America.
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5
Something
Abbey Road, 1969. George Harrison's love song, which Frank Sinatra called one of the best ever written.
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6
Come Together
Abbey Road, 1969. Lennon's opening track with Ringo's distinctive drum pattern.
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7
A Hard Day's Night
A Hard Day's Night, 1964. That opening chord, still debated by guitarists today.
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8
Penny Lane
Single, 1967. McCartney's Liverpool, with a piccolo trumpet solo.
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9
Let It Be
Let It Be, 1970. McCartney's hymn inspired by a dream about his mother, Mary.
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10
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Rubber Soul, 1965. Harrison's sitar enters pop music for the first time.
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11
In My Life
Rubber Soul, 1965. Lennon looks back at places and people, with George Martin's 'baroque' piano solo.
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12
Across the Universe
Let It Be, 1970. 'Jai guru deva om': Lennon's lyrical meditation, later beamed into space by NASA.
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13
Yesterday
Help!, 1965. McCartney alone with a string quartet; one of the most covered songs in history.
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14
Here Comes the Sun
Abbey Road, 1969. Written by Harrison in Eric Clapton's garden; their most-streamed song on Spotify.
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15
Hey Jude
Single, 1968. Written by McCartney for Julian Lennon; over seven minutes, with its famous 'na-na-na' coda.
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16
She Loves You
Single, 1963. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah'; their best-selling single in the UK.
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17
Eleanor Rigby
Revolver, 1966. A string octet and a story of loneliness, with no Beatle playing an instrument.
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18
Blackbird
The White Album, 1968. McCartney alone with an acoustic guitar, inspired by the civil rights movement.
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19
Tomorrow Never Knows
Revolver, 1966. Tape loops and Lennon's voice through a Leslie speaker; the psychedelic future.
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20
Twist and Shout
Please Please Me, 1963. Lennon's shredded voice recorded in one take at the end of a 12-hour session.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 20… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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21
Help!
Help!, 1965. Lennon's cry for help disguised as an upbeat pop song.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (4)
'Now and Then' brought me back to this list, still not a top 20 song though.
Here Comes the Sun only #11?? It's the most streamed Beatles song!
Streams don't decide what's best though. In My Life should be top 3.
A Day in the Life at #1 is the right call, that orchestral crescendo still gives me chills