Here, There And Everywhere by The Beatles

Album: Revolver (1966)

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Paul McCartney wrote this song while he was lounging at John Lennon's pool. It was at least partly inspired by The Beach Boys' song "God Only Knows." McCartney was asked in 1990 about the influence of The Beach Boys on this song by Brian Wilson biographer David Leaf. Said Paul: "It's actually just the introduction that's influenced. John and I used to be interested in what the old fashioned writers used to call the verse, which we nowadays would call the intro - this whole preamble to a song, and I wanted to have one of those on the front of 'Here, There and Everywhere.' John and I were quite into those from the old-fashioned songs that used to have them, and in putting that [sings "To lead a better life"] on the front of 'Here, There and Everywhere,' we were doing harmonies, and the inspiration for that was the Beach Boys. We had that in our minds during the introduction to 'Here, There and Everywhere.'I don't think anyone, unless I told them, would even notice, but we'd often do that, get something off an artist or artists that you really liked and have them in your mind while you were recording things, to give you the inspiration and give you the direction - nearly always, it ended up sounding more like us than them anyway."
John Lennon and Paul McCartney both mentioned this as one of the most underrated Beatles songs. In 2005 interviews, McCartney said that of all the songs he has written, this is his favorite. He likes it best because of the way that it flows together, comparing it to the style of the Fred Astaire hit "Cheek To Cheek," one of his favorite songs. >>>
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Kristina - small town, NE
McCartney was trying to sing this like Marianne Faithfull, a popular singer in the '60s who was Mick Jagger's girlfriend. He would often approach a song from the perspective of a singer he admired; on "Lady Madonna," he evoked Fats Domino.
McCartney drew lyrical inspiration from the additional press coverage he was getting since he started going out with actress Jane Asher. At the time, McCartney may have been the most eligible bachelor on the planet, and it was a big deal when he began dating Asher, who acted in various stage productions and appeared in the movie Alfie. They broke up in 1968.
McCartney played this in the opening sequence of his 1984 movie Give My Regards to Broad Street. After this scene, the movie goes pretty much downhill, following McCartney as he tries to recover missing master tapes.
The self-taught guitar prodigy George Benson covered this on this on this 1989 album Tenderly. Benson's arrangement features orchestral strings and a solo piano intro. Emmylou Harris also covered the song in 1976.
The Beatles never performed this song live, and McCartney didn't perform it until his 1991 acoustic appearance on MTV's Unplugged. He later played it on his 2002 Back In The US tour, where he added an accordion to the arrangement.
This was influenced by both the Great American Songbook and Brazilian music. "That song was coming off a lot of things," McCartney told Mojo magazine in 2012. "At the time there was Brazilian music coming in - Joao Gilberto recorded 'Fool on the Hill' (McCartney may be thinking of Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66's pop bossa version). There was cross-fertilisation going on. You'd hear it and think how lovely those Brazilian chords were, so you'd work it into something else. At the same time I found myself really loving all these old songs and trying to write something that was comparable in skill and structure."
According to Paul McCartney, John Lennon only praised his songwriting once. Speaking in 2018 as part of a 60 Minutes profile interview for CBS, Macca disclosed it was "Here, There And Everywhere" that prompted the rare Lennon compliment. He recalled: "John says just as it finishes, 'That's a really good song, lad. I love that song.' And I'm like, 'Yes! He likes it!'"
The Beatles released an animated video for this song in 2022. Directed by Rok Predin, it shows the group on some of their famous adventures, with a dancing figure joining them at times to represent the muse. It was part of a special edition release of the Revolver album.
In the biography of The Beatles bodyguard and roadie Mal Evans titled Living The Beatles Legend: the Mal Evans story, Kenneth Womack recalls that at one point while writing "Here, There And Everywhere," McCartney was stuck for a line. "I'm very eye conscious," Evans recalled, "and I came up with 'watching her eyes, and hoping I'm always there.' I'm very proud of that."

Other songs Evans helped McCartney write include Sgt. Pepper's title track and "Fixing A Hole."

Comments: 57

Mjh from Cape CodJust another ersatz show tune from McCartney.
Tomdef from Ct.Why does John Lennon sing lead on the recorded version of here there and everywhere ?
Angela from NcKen from Philadelphia - "When inspired, he could do extraordinary things (for example, after hearing Paul’s “Can’t Buy Me Love” early in the “Hard Day’s Night” recording sessions, John was so jealous the he proceeded to rapidly crank out 10 of the 12 other tracks that made the album), but when not inspired, he’d prefer to be sleeping."

John found Paul's Wings career post-BOTR so uninspiring that he retired for five years. It wasn't until "Coming Up" that he felt he should get back to work.
Ken from PhiladephiaThey don’t explain the full story behind Paul writing this song by John’s pool. Paul was famously the “worker bee” of the Beatles. He considered songwriting to be no different than any other job in that it was something you had to wake up in the morning and do regardless of whether you felt particularly inspired that day. John was quite the opposite. When inspired, he could do extraordinary things (for example, after hearing Paul’s “Can’t Buy Me Love” early in the “Hard Day’s Night” recording sessions, John was so jealous the he proceeded to rapidly crank out 10 of the 12 other tracks that made the album), but when not inspired, he’d prefer to be sleeping. As a result, during their touring days, when they so rarely had time when they weren’t either on the road or in the studio, Paul liked to schedule writing sessions with John on their days off. To make it easier for John, Paul would agree to go to John’s house in the morning to spend the day writing. Invariably, John would sleep in anyway. Paul would have breakfast with Cynthia and then play with Julian a bit and when John stil wasn’t awake as the clocked ticked toward noon, Paul would get to work writing alone. “Here, There, and Everywhere” was thus composed by Paul while sitting at John’s pool waiting for John to drag his butt out of bed. I always considered this song to be Paul’s karmic payback for being so dutiful just I consider “Hey Jude” to be his karmic payback for being man enough to do what John should have done in the wake of his sudden breakup with Cynthia and gone to visit Julian to make sure he knew he was loved and that everything would be okay.
Edson from Brazil"Each one believing that love never dies...watching her eyes..."
Lennon & McCartney singing???
Glenn from Simi Valley, CaIt's amazing to me that not only was this brilliant song not a single, they never even played it live. This is a better song than "Yesterday", which was released as a single (in the US) and played live at every concert. They could afford to just throw out songs like this as if it were just another track. What an incredible group.
Jim from West Palm Beach, FlThe trademark Beatle harmonies help with it's unique sound.
Leigh from Cape Town, South AfricaMy favourite Beatles song, hands down!
Carl from Saint Louis, MoI consider this to be a perfect love song. I write music myself and I use this song as the gold standard when writing love songs.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyThe great Emmylou Harris took this song to No. 65 in 1976!!!
Ruth from Indianapolis, InThe band Locksley (known for their love of The Beatles and their own "Beatle-ish" tunes) covered this in a more up-beat style.
Howard from Wakefield, United KingdomI can see the similarities between this classic & the song 'do you know where you're going to' sung by Diana Ross. Listen to both songs & you will see what I mean.
Glenn from Marietta, GaThis is our wedding song and it is ageless. This is the best song from the best group of our generation. It was underrated then and still is now.
Dave from Calgary, AbThis is my favorite Beatles song. For writing it Paul McCartney gets a free pass for all the average stuff he's put out after Band on the Run.
And a shout-out to Steve(Fenton, MO.) for making that brilliant point about the Beatles singles being left off the album releases. As a matter of fact, my IPOD version of Revolver includes Rain and Paperback Writer and omits Love You To and Doctor Robert. These young music pundits who rank Radiohead ahead of The Beatles in polls, you just have to smile and shake your head.
David from Youngstown, OhLike nearly everyone who's commented on this song, it's a favorite of mine. This was a song written by Paul at his peak. Think of it: this song, Eleanor Rigby, Got To Get You Into My Life and For No One on one album. Those are four of the probably the greatest 200 or so songs ever done.
Chloe from St. Louis, Molovely song. paul's vocals are fantastic. and thats really saying something, that john said it was his favorite beatles song. i adore him, but he WAS really, really immensly vain.
Mark from Dublin, IrelandBefore writting words to this song Paul McCartney had offered this track to the shadows as a instumental,he told bruce welch of the shads that he would finish off a few bits and pieces on the track and send him the tape,the next time bruce welch heard the track was when he went out and bought the beatles album "revolver".....This track is def one of my favourite beatles songs even if the shadows missed out on it,but hank marvin of the shadows last year on his solo album "guitar man" check it out.....
Jeff from Austin, TxThis is without a doubt Paul McCartney's finest moment, and that's saying a hell of a lot.
Milagros from Córdoba, ArgentinaBest love song ever, Really love it! My favourite Beatle song
Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmGreat song! It's Beautiful! Revolver is like my fave album!
Adam from Los Angeles, CaI didn't know it was in "Friends".. Never actually watched it... But I know I will be singing this to my wife when I do get married. (I am Paul in a Beatles Tribute band and I can sing this one quite well actually... Everything else is hit and miss :))
Pougff from Manchester, MsThis is my mom's most favorite Beatles' song. She loves it when I play it on my clarinet.
John from New York, NyThe tune of this song was playing when Pheobe and Mike got marrried on Friends.
Maccaforever from Notl, CanadaAmazing song, it's one of my favourites! An instrumental version of this song was used on Friends (for Phoebe's wedding) which is perfect, because this song, like Tom said, is a wonderful wedding song.
George from Belleville, NjOne of the most beautiful melodies in existence.The structure of the chords and the electric guitar gives this soft ballad a rough edge to the sound of the song.Just brilliant.
Andy from Chattanooga, TnJOHN 1980: "That's Paul's song completely, I believe. And one of my favorite songs of the Beatles."
Sarah from Usa, IaI want three songs played at my funeral. This is one of them.
Jt from Tullahoma, TnOne of my favorite Beatles songs. THis is one of the best on Revolver, it's too good for words really
Bob from Birmingham, EnglandMy wife and I had this wonderful song played at our wedding, the words still mean everything,and we are still very much in love.
Bob, Birmingham,England.
Sal from Bardonia , NyThe sound of a horn at the end of the song is actually Harrison on guitar using a volume tone pedal put through a leslie speaker another innovative guitar sound George.
Sal, Bardonia, NY
Pibe from Lima, PeruBest love song ever
Tom from Pittsburgh, PaPerfect song to be played at a wedding. Truly one of there most beautiful songs. I disagree that it shouldve been on the White Album though. It was still in the older style of such albums like Rubber Soul and Help!, whereas the White Album was much more experimental. It would not have fit anywhere on that record.
Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaFinally! Someone who isn't complaining about the release of Beatles music on CD!
Dennis from Anchorage, AkThe guitars on this sound a bit less twangy on the CD remix than on the original vinyl. George Martin went back to the masters and re-engineered the whole Beatles catalog for CD. They all sound much different because the original mixes were intended to be played on the much poorer quality audio equipment most people owned back in those days, and to compensate for the sonic limitations of AM radio and the cheap radios most people listened to music on (especially young people listening to rock and roll). With better sound quality on radio and MUCH better stereos to play the music through, he could take a lot of the echo and brittleness out of the mix and let the real performances shine through. Much of the earler Beatles songs sound more raw and yet more gentle on CD than they ever did on vinyl. This song sounds much sweeter. It used to bother me hearing it on my lp because it's such a sweet song, but the guitars bothered me. The CD version was a great relief.
Bob from Los Angeles, MsIt wasn't number one because it was not released as a single. The single of this album (Revolver) was Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby. Still, a beautiful, soothing, fantastic song.
Steve from Fenton, MoWhen publications attempt to rate the best albums (CDs) of all time, the Beatles alblums rate very high and deservedly so. But the albums could have been even stronger if the Beatles would have included all of their singles on the albums as well. Rubber Soul would have included We Can Work It Out and Day Tripper. Revolver would have included Paperback Writer and Rain and possibly Lady Madonna. Sgt. Pepper would have included Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever. The White album would have included Hey Jude and the version of Revolution on the B side of the Hey Jude single. The Beatles enter this competition after the fact with one hand tied behind their collective backs. That's why no other group or artist can touch them.
Mike from Newark, NdMy favorite Beatle love song. Beautiful lyrics and tight harmonies. Perfect.
Kristina from Small Town, NeRevolver was such a great album (my #1) and the songs that are on the album fascinate me, but I never thought this one fit in. It would have been better suited to the White Album than to Revolver. I think it would have gotten more reconigition if it was not between Love You To and Yellow Submarine. Love You To, is a little too experimental to lead into such a beautiful melody, as this one has.
Mick from Las Vegas, NvJonh Lennon stated on several occasions that this was his favorite Beatles song. With Lennon's ego, that says something.
George from Itaberaba, Brazil"Something" and "Here, there and everywhere" are the best Beatles' love songs. I love hearing it.
Michael from Kearny, NjHELLO!!!!! It's Paul's favorite Beatles song.
Jordan from Wimette, IlHELLO!!!!! It's Paul's best song!!!!! (I can't beleive it wasn't #1).
Barry from New York, NcFor such a tender love song, the guitars that are twanging along in the background are rather raunchy. Listen to em twang a la "Taxman."
By the way, it took me quite a while to get used to the song, I found McCartney's vocal style a bit cloying to say the least. Some might find this hard to believe, but I prefer the version of this tune on the soundtrack to GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROAD STREET with the nice brass ensemble. Perhaps the original tune would have benefited with the brass instead of Harrison's raunchy style guitars.
Ken from Louisville, KyJohn Lennon was quoted, years later, as saying it was his favorite Paul McCartney song. Paul's favorite John Lennon song was "Strawberry Fields Forever".
Nessie from Sapporo, JapanIt's the transitions that do it. "I want her everywhere..."
Erik from Lund, SwedenTrivia: this is Art Garfunkel's favorite song in the world, ever.
Elise from Chicago, Ilthis is the most beautifully simple love song on earth.
David from Waco, TxIts a great song. Jane Asher is the sister of Peter Asher of the duo "Peter and Gordon" who had a hit with the Lennon&McCartney song "A World Without Love".
Louise from Preston, Lancs, Englandit's a lovely song!
Angelica from La Puente, CaGive John a break. He wasn't saying Clay Aiken is a musical genius, he's just saying he sang it well.
Janelle from New York City, Nythis such a great song, really this song is one of the most underrated beatles songs.
Adrian from Wilmington, DeAlong with "Taxman" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" this is my favorite song on Revolver and it's definitely one of Paul's best. The melody is delicately soft and inviting. A beautiful track.
Don from Rapid City, Sdokay, John from West Covina, I am going to be blunt:
To even begin to consider to compare Clay Aiken to Paul McCartney is pure and simple blasphemy.
Tavers from Mesa, AzLet's face it though, Clay Aiken isn't even in the same world of talent as Paul McCartney.
Maddie from Yakima, WaIt's my favorite Beatles song.
John from West Covina, CaI think Clay Aiken did this pretty good on American Idol.
Conrad from Los Angeles, CaOne of my favorite songs.

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