The Beatles » Tracks » For No One

The Beatles – For No One (1:57)

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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.
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Albums featuring this track

  • Revolver
    The Beatles Play
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  • Love Songs
    The Beatles Play
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  • Beatles 'n' Choro
    The Beatles Play
    Buy
  • Revolver (MFCD Mono Remaster)
    The Beatles Play
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See all 9 albums

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  • WarriorJones

    Immediate.

    17 days ago

  • BiIIyShears

    This is really one of my most favorite songs ever. It's perfect in almost every way and the horn solo in this gives me chills, definitely the best track off of Revolver (TNK is a very close second though :P) and really one of their greatest songs ever.

    26 days ago

  • oiGlush

    PERFECTION

    last month

  • liquidnature

    So sweet sad and wonderful. Forever my favorite Beatles track.

    last month

  • nandsvctr

    Perfect. . .

    March 2012

  • PulpJunkie

    Best break up song ever??

    February 2012

  • lis_sofobia

    My favourite Paul composition.

    February 2012

  • xtwntraphq

    Ahhh ! REVOLVER ! Next song......" I Want To Tell You"

    January 2012

  • MrMorizon

    Good heavens the french horn kills me. EVERY fucking time.

    January 2012

  • RafaeloFratelo

    MAYBE, the best Beatles' song.

    December 2011

  • silversurfer250

    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

    December 2011

  • silversurfer250

    EPIC

    December 2011

  • silversurfer250

    WOW...This is the second song I've heard played by the Beatles! Has someone opened their vault??? It's about time!

    December 2011

  • obscurecendo

    THIS IS PERFECTION.

    December 2011

  • AlCapwnUK

    one of paul's best.

    November 2011

  • basedBiTCH-

    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

    November 2011

  • crawlpalmetto

    Perfect vocal performance.

    October 2011

  • Lou_rock

    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.

    October 2011

  • 2morrowww

    Paul's voice here... AAAAAAHHH perfection

    October 2011

  • EatenUpInside

    it's perfect

    September 2011
See all 259 shouts

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