For No One (2:01)
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“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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Paul McCartney performing For No One.
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Albums featuring this track
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Revolver
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Revolver (MFCD Mono Remaster)
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Love Songs
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Shouts
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EleanorRigby15 wrote:
One of my favorite Beatles songs
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cumgum wrote:
this is my favorite track off revolver. it was hard to pick between eleanor rigby, she said she said, and tomorrow never knows, but this is it.
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terraxceles wrote:
*sigh* I couldn't love this song more if I tried. :) Simply brilliant.
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timmymagic76 wrote:
beautiful
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satbytheriver wrote:
perfection
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jordan10la wrote:
Greatest lyrics
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Facemelter_ wrote:
sooo good
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HinduWall wrote:
Favorite Beatles track.
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skelevisi0n wrote:
I love the trumpet in this track, so nostalgic
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theapril-sea wrote:
wonderful.plain&genius at the same time
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AurelioAraujo wrote:
Amazing song. I think it sounds a lot like the good bands we hear today, so it's safe to say this song was and still is extremely inspiring.
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Kylianvb wrote:
Mindboggling great.
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SeattleJQueen wrote:
McCartney's finest.
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RnB_Gentleman wrote:
i love i love i love this song
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ChiefKakashi wrote:
Brilliant lyrics. Just...Brilliant.
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A77AQUERO wrote:
¡Great song!
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Renifer_Cyryl wrote:
Oh my godness i love Paul McCartney.
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dominic_john wrote:
one of the first songs i immediately noticed when i first listened to revolver. such a great track!
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keisuh wrote:
Your day breaks your mind aches. classic
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GeekZombie wrote:
That French horn is awesome.
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