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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

John Lennon came up with this after struggling to write a song for the album. Said Lennon: "I thought of myself sitting there, doing nothing and getting nowhere."

This was used in the animated Beatles movie Yellow Submarine. They sing it to Jeremy Hillary Boob, PhD, who describes himself as an "eminent physicist, polyglot classicist, prize-winning botanist, hard-biting satirist, talented pianist, good dentist too." The Beatles decide to take him Somewhere, and he eventually helps them to defeat the Blue Meanies. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

This starts with a 3 part harmony sung by Lennon, Harrison, and McCartney.

This is probably the first Beatles song that has nothing to do with love.

Typical of many John Lennon compositions are the "falling" melodies, which can be heard in "Nowhere Man." Folk music often has falling melodies, indicating melancholy. In Baroque music, a falling melody means sadness. (thanks to Johan Cavalli, who is a music historian in Stockholm)

There is a very audible feedback 38 seconds into the song after the word "missin'." (Thanks to Ron Foster. More from Ron at oldiesradioonline.com.)

Natalie Merchant performed this at the 2001 special, Come Together: A Night For John Lennon's Words And Music. She did a mellow version, as the show was also a tribute to victims of the terrorist attacks on America.

In a 1971 interview with Rolling Stone, Lennon recalled the background to this song: "I remember I was just going through this paranoia trying to write something and nothing would come out so I just lay down and tried to not write and then this came out, the whole thing came out in one gulp."

In 2003, John Lennon's original handwritten lyrics to this song were auctioned at Christie's of New York for $455,500. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Comments:

i think this is the first of there songs to get into that artie and psychedelic phase of there music.
- Riley, Adelaide, Australia

My 4-year-old daughter has fallen in love with the Beatles in a big way, having seen "Yellow Submarine" a dozen times. She taught herself to sing "Nowhere Man" and sang the chorus of it for my family this Christmas.
- Karen, Manchester, NH

Jo in Tulsa - I believe you are correct about them having just met Elvis about this time. I don't know that the song was written about Elvis per se...but it certainly seems to fit because Elvis was a huge let down to the Beatles - especially John who immulated and loved Elvis - blasting his records at his Aunt's house until she cut the cord on his record player...because he (Elvis)was afraid that he was losing his edge at this time and took an immediate dislike to the Bealtes who were getting tons more air play than he.
- Linc, Beaumont, TX

Capital had to stop rearranging Beatle album when Sgt. Pepper was released. If you have ever listen to this album in its entirety there is no break between songs. This was done intentionally to keep Capitol from rearranging it and in doing so, whether totally intentional for this sole perpose or not, made it the first concept album.
- Linc, Beaumont, TX

I like to listen to this when im procrastinating!...which i am right now. im supposed to be writing a paper but instead im reading up on beatles songfacts. YAY! oh, and isnt "help" not about love as well? sure, he's speaking to a person and asking them to help, but it could easily be a friend or even a stranger.
- chloe, St. Louis, MO

kelly I'm like that too. this song makes me kinda sad because my copy you can here Jeremy Hillary Boob,PhD, crying
- Dylan, parma,

Another great Beatles song from John. This is from Rubber Soul yes. The UK version that is. Which infact was the original and the same one now sold in stores,etc. In America it was on the Yesterday And Today album. Which Capitol released after Rubber Soul. Most everyone knows how Capitol Records arranged Beatles albums in the U.S. to their own liking. Choosing the song selection and cover art,photos and lettering. Instead of leaving them as they already were in Britian. And the famous "Butcher Cover" was the original cover for Yesterday And Today. Until Capitol changed it and put the trunk cover in it's place. Capitol kept this up until Sgt. Pepper was released. Then the UK and U.S. albums would stay the same until the end. Getting back to "Nowhere Man". The"ding" sound from the guitar at the early part of the song is harmonics. An effect produced by holding a string tightly with one finger. And then hitting the string real fast with another finger.
- wayne, Salem, VA

When this single first came out, I remember a local deejay saying something like, "Do I detect a note of social commentary here?" Ha ha, little did he know what we were in store for.
- MrCleaveland, Cleveland,

Faith - 'Theres A Place' contains the line 'I love only you'. I think it's safe to say that song is about love and a specific relationship
- David, Glasgow, Scotland

Actually the first Beatles song that wasn't about love or relationships was their song "There's a Place". What a great song. =)
- Faith, Liverpool, --

its actually kida sad because its says that someone is trying to help him "Nowhere Man, please listen, You don't know what you're missing, Nowhere Man, the world is at your command" i think even though it has kinda of a up beat it was ment to be sad..
- Sarah, Newport, NC

I love this song! I especially love the twangy guitar solo. I've heard several times that this is the first only Beatles not song about love, but I think it's actually "Help!"
- Rosario, Naples, FL

I used to skip this song a lot when listening to Rubber Soul but now I love it. The three part harmony that ends the song is amazing.
- Eric, Buffalo, NY

Am I the only one who can't seem to hear the "audible feedback" at :38 seconds into the song after the word "missin'"? I've listened to it several times on my MP3 player (which is fabulous for picking up things I wouldn't normally hear on CDs) I just can't hear what they're talking about. And I love this song. I like those songs John writes to us to remind us that he's not a God...he's a guy with insecurities and problems just like the rest of us.
- Erika, Fox Valley, WI

how can you be picky and like twisted sister?
- nathan, from the country of, Canada

My favorite song hands down.
- Andrew, Los Angeles, CA

I read somewhere that they wrote this after meeting Elvis Presley. Maybe I got bad information?
- Jo, tulsa, OK

LOL nice meaning. I love the tune and how the voices sound! This is the only song my sister likes that is sung by The Beatles. She's very picky, and usually likes Twisted Sister.
- Krista, Elyria, OH

I was reading Updike's "Rabbit, Run" for a college class when this song was released. There was a scene where the mid-twentish Rabbit, trying to re-live his college jock years, gets into a pick-up basketball game. It is a sad and pathetic scene but I thought this song would have been a perfect backdrop for a movie vversion of the book. (The movie did NOT use this idea). Before "The Graduate", rock music was rarely used in adult-oriented films. Had I gone into film-making back then, I would have been ahead of my time! Oh, well!
- Jerry, Brooklyn, NY

Coming to correct myself... apparently Harrison painted his Strat himself. The Fool painted various other pieces of Beatles gear, but not the Fender used on this track!
- Sam, Shanghai, China

Interesting to find out that Lennon was inspired by his own feelings to write this as it's one of the few where he writes in the third person. I believe in one of his interviews, Lennon said the interesting thing about this song was how soon the solo came in. McCartney's harmony at the end shows how good he was at that; too bad he only sings lead now! :-) I like Ringo's snare rolls in the transitions between parts.
- fyodor, Denver, CO

heard it yesterday as a cover by a local, very bohemian folk singer (who thinks he is Bob Dylan with his harmonica and guitar) at the local "alternative music club". very cool! actually made me appreciate the song more.
- Petter, Ã?ngelholm, Sweden

Hey Kelly... Wow it feels good to know that there are other socially inept people out there! That's exactly how I felt about the song! lol And Robb, I must say that the Beach Boys question was a little bit random...
- Sara, Nashville, TN

Lennon and Harrison aquired Sonic Blue fender Stratocasters in early 1965 and they both use them for this song. Harrison later had his painted in early 1967 in the heat of psychadelia
- Robb, Hamburg, NY

This is a great song, my favorite Beatles song, and I think one of John Lennon's five best songs. The guitar solo is beautifully melodic. I've always wondered, did George come up with this solo, and for that matter, it would have been interesting to know how much credit to give George for the guitar solos on John and Pauls songs. If he came up with most of them, I give him tons of credit.
- Steve, Fenton, MO

The guitar George uses on this is his psychadelic Fender Stratocaster, painted by Dutch Artists "the Fool". They also painted Eric Clapton's famous Gibson SG.
- Sam, Shanghai, China

The harmonies is this song are amazing. Who were the Beach Boys? The bassline is typical McCatney - very melodic. I think it brings the whole song together.
- Robb, Hamburg, NY

NOWHERE MAN IS AWESOME! for everybody is a nowhere man in some way....please dont take offense anyone...i myself am a nowhere man in a sense...when i wander my school halls i am a nowhere man...and i just float away in my dream world...like i am sitting ina nowhere land...well we at least know one thing for sure...Jeremy is a nowhere man
- kelly, woodstock, Canada

This song is very special to me as it is hte very first record i bought.A 45 rpm on Capitol.Still have it today.
- kevin, cincinnati, OH

I Love this song's guitar solo, The 4 greatest Beatles guiter solos: Nowhere Man, While my Guitar Gently Weeps,Hey bulldog, and And Your Bird can Sing
- Mike, Germantown, MD

We have all known a nowhere man at one time or another. Some of us have even BEEN nowhere men. Not their best song, but certainly not a bad song.
- lee, clearwater, FL

Oh by the way, I was wrong. There's A Place includes the line 'Like I love only you'. As you were, folks
- Calum, Edinburgh, Scotland

This is a very good song. At the end of the solo, you hear a DONG, it goes a long with the song
- Benjamin, Cheverly, MD

I always interpreted this song as referring to Lyndon Johnson, but really one could apply the lyrics to just about any politician. They're all in a nowhere land making plans for you and me.
- Matthew, Lexingt, VA

Alan, before the Yellow Submarine soundtrack, it was on the "Yesterday and Today" album, which wasn't released in the UK.
- Charlie, Cape Girardeau, MO

this is the most trebly of the beatles songs, between the vocals and the twangy guitar....... almost a test pattern for your treble control in the old stereos........
- Scott, chicago, IL

Re: This is probably the first Beatles song that has nothing to do with love. Apart from There's A Place on the Please Please Me album
- Calum, Edinburgh, Scotland

Their live version of this is astounding. You can see it in episode 5 of the beatles dvd anthology collection.
- chris, MIlwaukee, WI

Didn't make the US version of Rubber Soul; later appended to Yellow Submarine movie soundtrack-was in the movie also.
- Alan, City, MI

Paul Westerberg did a good job on this In "I am sam",but butchered "Two of us".
- Scott Baldwin, Edmonton, Canada

One of my favorites.
- Paulo, New York, NY

Wanting a tinny, metal sound to his guitar, Harrison ran his guitar through 3 attenuators in series with all full controls set to highs and all the mids and lows compeletly pulled out.
- Randy, Beaumont, TX

was played in the movie yellow submarine.
- noam, ein zivan, Israel

(2001) Paul Westerberg sang this song for the "I Am Sam" soundtrack.
- Carolyn, P'ville, CA

Hit #1 on the "Cashbox" singles chart, but stalled at #3 on "Billboard"'s Hot 100
- Brad Wind, Miami, FL