About This Track
“For No One” is a song written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) that originally appeared on The Beatles’ seventh album, Revolver. A ballad about the end of a relationship, it was one of McCartney’s most mature and poignant works to date. Musically the track is particularly distinguished by its French horn solo.
John Lennon said of the song, “One of my favourites of his - a nice piece of work.”
McCartney recalls writing “For No One” in the bathroom of a ski resort in the Swiss Alps. He said, “I suspect it was about another argument.” The song’s working title was “Why Did It Die”.
The song was recorded on May 9, 16 and 19, 1966. McCartney sang, played clavichord (rented from George Martin’s AIR company), piano, and bass, while Ringo Starr played drums and tambourine. Lennon and George Harrison did not contribute to the recording.
The French-horn solo was by Alan Civil, a British horn player. Prior to the session, Civil thought he was playing for a classical album, mistaking the words “For No One” on a lead sheet as “For No. One”, an abbreviation for “Symphony Number One”. During the session, McCartney pushed Civil to play a note that was beyond the usual range of the instrument (pitched on an F horn, it is a Super-D sharp, that is, an octave above the standard ‘high D#’). The result was the “performance of his life,” high praise for someone who was known as the best French horn player in London at the time.
John Lennon said of the song, “One of my favourites of his - a nice piece of work.”
McCartney recalls writing “For No One” in the bathroom of a ski resort in the Swiss Alps. He said, “I suspect it was about another argument.” The song’s working title was “Why Did It Die”.
The song was recorded on May 9, 16 and 19, 1966. McCartney sang, played clavichord (rented from George Martin’s AIR company), piano, and bass, while Ringo Starr played drums and tambourine. Lennon and George Harrison did not contribute to the recording.
The French-horn solo was by Alan Civil, a British horn player. Prior to the session, Civil thought he was playing for a classical album, mistaking the words “For No One” on a lead sheet as “For No. One”, an abbreviation for “Symphony Number One”. During the session, McCartney pushed Civil to play a note that was beyond the usual range of the instrument (pitched on an F horn, it is a Super-D sharp, that is, an octave above the standard ‘high D#’). The result was the “performance of his life,” high praise for someone who was known as the best French horn player in London at the time.
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Albums featuring this track
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Revolver
The Beatles
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Love Songs
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Beatles 'n' Choro
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Revolver (MFCD Mono Remaster)
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Shouts
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PulpJunkie wrote:
Best break up song ever??
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lis_sofobia wrote:
My favourite Paul composition.
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xtwntraphq wrote:
Ahhh ! REVOLVER ! Next song......" I Want To Tell You"
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MrMorizon wrote:
Good heavens the french horn kills me. EVERY fucking time.
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RafaeloFratelo wrote:
MAYBE, the best Beatles' song.
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silversurfer250 wrote:
When he heard the title, Alan Civil, who played the French Horn on this, thought this was an orchestral piece called "For No. One http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=110
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silversurfer250 wrote:
EPIC
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silversurfer250 wrote:
WOW...This is the second song I've heard played by the Beatles! Has someone opened their vault??? It's about time!
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obscurecendo wrote:
THIS IS PERFECTION.
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AlCapwnUK wrote:
one of paul's best.
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basedBiTCH- wrote:
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. < 3
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crawlpalmetto wrote:
Perfect vocal performance.
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Lou_rock wrote:
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.
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2morrowww wrote:
Paul's voice here... AAAAAAHHH perfection
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EatenUpInside wrote:
it's perfect
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Sheik777 wrote:
Love the trumpet/horn!
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WorldInColour wrote:
This just feels insanely true.
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Taip wrote:
she says that long ago she knew someone but now he's gone; she doesn't need him
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katjoaz91 wrote:
my favourite beatles' song!
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brainmachine04 wrote:
I like the discrepancy between the grey lyrics and the cheery music.
Track Stats
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Recent Activity
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martyfka added For No One to the playlist Битлы. 53 minutes ago
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martyfka added For No One to martyfka’s library. 53 minutes ago
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Nayeli_Flowers, TaayM, MaRsHaL_Br and 2 other people loved The Beatles – For No One. 6 hours ago
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vinastorr added For No One to vinastorr’s library. Saturday evening
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spandex_ballet, bezgustna, geoffreykyle_89 and 16 other people loved The Beatles – For No One. Saturday evening
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chelleez added For No One to chelleez’s library. Thursday morning
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chelleez added For No One to a deleted playlist. Thursday morning
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FiLLa-FaS, brunnax3, CaptVocabulary and 10 other people loved The Beatles – For No One. Thursday morning
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maiara_marques added For No One to the playlist The Beatles. Wednesday morning
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