We Can Work It Out by The Beatles

Album: Past Masters, Vol. 2 (1965)

Charted: 1 1

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Songfacts®:

Paul McCartney wrote this about his girlfriend, an actress named Jane Asher. They split for good in 1968.
The Beatles recorded this specifically for release as a single at two quick sessions while they were making the Rubber Soul album in October 1965. When it was released as a single backed with "Day Tripper," debate raged over which was the A-side. Most pop groups put B-sides on their singles that were far inferior, but The Beatles often came out with 45s containing two great songs.
John Lennon sang the "life is very short" part (which he also wrote); McCartney sang the rest. >>>
Suggestion credit:
John - Jacksonville, FL
A promotional film - one of the first music videos - was made to support this song. This was done in a shoot on November 23, 1965 at a film studio in London, where they recorded clips for four others songs as well. The Beatles did this so they could get their songs broadcast without actually appearing on the TV shows, clearing their schedules for other matters. They did three different version of "We Can Work It Out," all with John Lennon at the organ.
Stevie Wonder covered this on his 1970 album Signed, Sealed and Delivered. His version, which hit US #13, plays during the end credits of the 2005 movie Kicking And Screaming.

In 2014, Wonder performed the song on the CBS special The Beatles: The Night That Changed America, which aired exactly 50 years after the group first performed on the Ed Sullivan Show. Wonder introduced the song by saying that he first heard it when he was 15 years old. "It had a nice thing to it, but I said, Someday I'm going to do it again, with a little more funky thing with it," Wonder said when he introduced the song.
In England, a cover by a soundalike group was used in commercials for Hewlett-Packard.
The only time The Beatles played this live was on their final British tour in November/December 1965. McCartney didn't perform the song until 1991, when he played it on his 1991 MTV Unplugged appearance. On his 2002 Back In The US tour, McCartney played a solo version on his acoustic guitar.
In many KUMON (reading and writing centers) in Canada, there are posters of Paul and at the bottom, it says "We Can Work It Out." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Scott Baddwin - Edmonton, England
This song was covered by The Four Seasons later in their career. Ironically, it was the popularity of The Beatles which was the major cause of the Seasons' dwindling success in the mid-late 1960s. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Nick - Tampa, FL
The line "There's no time For fussing and fighting, my friend" was used in the song "You" by Bad Religion. The songs share the theme of a fighting couple. >>>
Suggestion credit:
David - Flint, MI

Comments: 45

Michael Goncalves from Slam Francisco, Also Known As 'the City' Or Oz, Any Of These Will WorkThis song is from the Beatles MIDDLE PERIOD of 1965. Released DEC1965 it obtained #01 in the USA in JAN 1966. The Beatles just came off of their Rubber Soul (Folk Rock) LP and it is a serviceable tune for JAN 1966. Me, I like John's middle 8 which gives the song it's 'Sweet & Sour' Flavouring. This song should have been the B side to DayTripper which was also serviceable 1965

Beatlemania (Mersy-Beat/British Invasion) had just crashed with a thud and everyone was waiting for the next BIG THING. Had the Beatles kept writing songs in this groove, they would have been forgotten by 1967 and would have been exiled and/or enshrined with Elvis, Wayne Newton & Liberace at Las Vegas...along with oldie acts Cillia Black, Chad & Jeremy, Billy J. & the Dakotas, your oldies act here. M-O-N-T-H-S later, the Beatles would release their MeisterWerke REVOLVER which pushed the known limits of ROCK & ROLL.

When I first heard REVOLVER's 2D Track, Elenor Rigby, I turned to my best friend and said 'THIS IS NOT ROCK...THIS IS THE FUTURE!!!' Then the Beatles release Penny Lane/ Strawberry Fields Forever and I screamed 'THE BEATLES A-R-E ROCK & ROLL'. Just when I thought NOTHING CAN POSSIBLY TOP THIS...SGT PEPPER dropped during the Summer of 1967 and mankind briefly touched the face of God. I wept when the Beatles broke up in 1970, but YOKO was right---their exit was perfectly timed and they have become the standard of musicianship perfection is measured against.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 3rd 1965, the Beatles embarked on their final concert tour of the United Kingdom; it was a nine show tour starting in Glasgow, Scotland and ending at the Capitol Cinema in Cardiff, Wales...
On the third day of the tour they played their hometown of Liverpool...
{See next post below}.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 5th 1965, the Beatles performed at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, it was the last time they appeared in concert in their hometown...
Eleven days later on December 16th, 1965 the quartet's *"We Can Work It Out" b/w "Day Tripper" would peak at #1 {for 5 weeks} on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
And in the U.S.A. the record would entered the Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart on Dec. 12th at position #36; and three weeks later on January 2nd, 1966 it peaked at #1 for two weeks...
R.I.P. John and George...
*Their set consisted of eleven songs; "We Can Work It Out" was the eighth song in the set while "Day Tripper" was the tenth {their final song was "I'm Down"}.
Susan from Atlanta, GeorgiaI may be the only person who sees this song NOT the great compromise song it pretends to be -- "We can work it out" sounds like it preaches "we can work together", while the lyrics tell a different story entirely. Try to see it my way and it might work out; if we see it your way, only dire consequences are possible. Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong, but if we see it your way, well, we have to say good night. That doesn't sound like much of a compromise to me; it sounds more like "My way or the highway".

I suppose if I don't think too hard about the actual message, it is a good song, but the message messes with my head too much for me to enjoy it.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 3rd, 1966, a video of the Beatles' "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out" aired on the NBC-TV program 'Hullabaloo!'...
Capitol Records released it as a double A-sided record; and on December 12th, 1965 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart...
"We Can Work It Out" peaked at #1 (for 2 weeks) on January 2nd, 1966 and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100, while "Day Tripper" reached #5 (for 1 week) on January 16th and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks...
"We Can Work It Out" also peaked at #1 in the U.K., Ireland, & Canada, and in 1971 Stevie Wonder's covered version reached #3 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart and #13 on the Top 100...
R.I.P. John and George.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 6th, 1965, the Beatles' album 'Rubber Soul' was released in the U.S.A. (three days earlier on Dec. 3rd it was released in their native U.K.)...
The album contained 14 tracks, but none of them were released as a single...
But on that very same day in the U.S. Capital Records released "We Can Work It Out" b/w "Day Tripper"; and twelve days later the record entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart ("We Can Work It Out" peaked at #1 for 3 weeks and "Day Tripper" reached #5)...
R.I.P. John and George.
John from Eugene, OrI just saw a Youtube video of the Beatles singing "We Can Work It Out". I never saw this video before so it was a delight to see something new by the Beatles here at the end of 2010. It shows John 'playing' the harmonium and Paul is wearing the jacket he wore (with the Nehru collar) at Shea stadium. If you go to Youtube and you don't find it then go go songwriter Billy Steinberg's interview in Songfacts and you'll find a link for it there.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis song was #1 for three weeks, but not consecutively. On January 8th 1965 it reached #1 & stayed there for two weeks, then "The Sounds of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel took over the #1 spot for one week. But "We Can Work It Out" reclaimed #1 for one more week. Also this was a two-sided Top 10 record for the boys, "Day Tripper" peaked at No. 5!!!
Frank Loose from Atlanta, GaDoes anyone remember a short film that used this song as it's soundtrack, like a music video of sorts, only this one used black and white still images, edited to the music, and i believe had either an anti-war message or peace message. I'm fuzzy on that part, but I do remember seeing it on television multiple times --- on the Ed Sullivan show I believe.
Julia from Richland, WaHey, Liliana. I'm 14 years old, I LOVE The Beatles, and mostly get ridiculed for it because it's been, what, 30 years since they broke up. Anyway, I like this song too much, and I love the 4 men that had the genius to create songs like this. LONG LIVE THE BEATLES!!!!!!
Guy from Woodinville, Watrevor, We Can Work It Out originally appeared in the US on the Yesterday and Today album in 1966. It is absolutely true that this song is one of the best illustrations of the different perspectives that John & Paul brought to their collaboration, but I've also heard that it illustrates some of the more subtle influences that George had on their songs. The 3/4 waltz time at the end of each verse was George's idea!
Chloe from St. Louis, Moliliana, im 13. my friends are very supportive of my huge obsession, and most of them are beatlemaniacs as well. however, my dad and my older brother, who loves pretty much everything from van halen to hip-hop, somehow despise them. ironic, huh? this is one of my favorite songs right now- makes you feel great, like a song should.
John from Sao Paulo, BrazilInteresting to know, mainly for the youngsters , something that only The Beatles have accomplished. Singles discs , very popular in the 50 ´s and 60 ´s with an A plus B sides nprmally have a 'supposed' good song , the A side and another not very so, the B side.
But The Beatles delivered some singles discs where both the A and B sides rocket to Number One in the charts. This compact single with Day Tripper and We can work it out is one example.
There are others from The Beatles, and I put a claleege here: have another band accomplish this ever?
John-SP-Brazil
Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, Canice u.s flipside on the 45 from, was it Day
Tripper? nice organ sound..makes ya feel warm all over. kind of churchy.
Andy from Columbia, ScWhat can I say? I like this song.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScThe Beatles' version is probably the best, but Stevie Wonder's version is great also.
Guy from Woodinville, WaTrevor in SD and Russ in Seattle, We Can Work It Out originally appeared in the US on the Yesterday... And Today album released in 1966. This was the album with the infamous Butcher Block cover that was pulled from distributuin and hastily replaced with the lame portrait around a suitcase.
Krissy from Boston, MaGreat song I love it. If they wrote it late enough like 68,69 it could sound like problems going through the band. It could be used in a way that not about a girlfriend and boyfriend disagreeing. I am not sure how to really aexplain it. But like a band break up song. Does that make any sense ?
Josie from Funkytown, NcThis song so seamlessly drifts from 4/4 time to 3/4 time, and then back again. I love it.
George from Belleville, NjThis is one of the best pop songs ever written and proves why Lennon and McCartney were hard to beat as songwriters.The song has one of the catchiest melodies you will hear and lyrics that not only entertain but inspire as well.It's about hope in the midst of discouragement and a message to work things out together.
Russ from Seattle, WaTrevor in S.D., the answer to your question is, Past Masters Volume Two. John Lennon remarked in his 1980 Playboy interview "You've got Paul writing, 'We can work it out.' Real optimistic, and me, impatient, [with] 'Life is very short, and there's no time, For fussing and fighting, my friend."
Joe from Montvale, NjI think this is the first Beatles song that changes meter but I'm not sure. The accordian sounding instrument is really harmonium and the vocal harmonies make this one of the reason's why the Rolling Stones could not compete with the Beatles on the pop-rock format.
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnTesla covers this on Five Man Acoustical Jam - in fact, it leads directly into their better-known cover from that live album, "Signs".
Steve from Fenton, MoThis song is a prime example of the beauty of the Lennon/McCartney song writing partership. It is mostly a Paul song, but add Lennon's "life is very short and there's no time..." and it takes what would have been a good song and makes it a great song. Too bad John couldn't have provided input on the chorus to a later McCartney song "Ebony and Ivory" where the verses sound good but the "Ebony...Ivory...living in perfect harmony" part of the chorus sounds too cute. And there are some solo songs by John that could have used a touch of Paul's composing as well.
Jon from Oakridge, OrAm I the only one who thinks it sounds like they're saying "We gotta work it out"?
Mark from Worcester, MiPauls acoustic live version getting a lot of play here recently. Real good song. He stands on the "fussin and fussin and fussin..." Like it a lot.
Johnny from Los Angeles, CaDeep Purple does a very odd cover of this. Just to tell you because I'm listening to it now.
Bram from Zoetermeer, NetherlandsThis is indeed released with John's 'Day Tripper' and a good song. The original idea came from Paul, but it's a kind of 50/50-composition when Paul does the verses and John de middle eight.
Linus from Hamilton, On, CanadaI've never seen any 'KUMON' posters...
Kim from Glendale, AzThis is a perfect example of the difference between the writing of Lennon and McCartney. Paul is upbeat...We can work it out....and John is more downbeat...Life is very short....Put them together and it was the perfect mix.

Kim Glendale, AZ
Lee from Clearwater, Fl This came along when a girlfriend and I needed to work it out. (We didn't, but what the hey?!)
George from Itaberaba, BrazilMy father loves this song. I LOVE All BEATLES' SONGS and I think this is one of their best.
Vic from Santiago, ChileThe walsy part on chorus is the work of George. The chorus is Lennon, and the verse is Paul.
But the walsy vibe at the chorus was Georges.
Andrew from Seatle, WaI'm a hippie. I love the the beatles. This is one of there great songs.
Trevor from San Diego, Cawhat album was this released. I know its on one and the red album but was it released on anything else?
Mary C. from Chicago, IlI'm 14, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Beatles. Thanks to my mom for introducing me to good music from back in the day.
Laura from Santa Fe, NmI'm 12 Liliana.Everyone at school thinks I'm a nerd/geek because I like the beatles. And I like reading. And I'm a Harry Potter junkie. I have a band and most of what we play is beatles. THEY ROCK! LITTERALLY! so It doesn't matter!
Katie from AustraliaThis really is one of the best Beatles songs. Did Chaka Khan do a version of this?
Alan from City, MiLennon said in one of his interviews about he wouldn't mind having the "fussing and fighting" bridge part he wrote being used for his epitaph.
Jason from Mesa, AzLiliana, I'm not a teen, but you keep listening to The beatles and spread the word to your friends. There's so much crap out there that teens are listening to. Music doesn't get any better than this. If any band can change your life or teach you about life, it's The Beatles. Keep Listening!
Joe from West Creek, NjOne of the best number 1 singles of all time, no doubt about it.
Liliana from Huntley, Ilyea, this song has a strong message... it needs more comments. I mean how clearer can you say it: life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting...
by the way, i'm 15. any other teens around here?
Nick from Buffalo, NyIt would have been a good song,even without Lennon's part in the song. When Lennon off sets the tempo of the song & w/McCartneys harmony the song becomes ABSOLUTELY phenominal. And this is one of the reasons why they were the greatest hands down...
Paulo from New York, NyOne of the Beatles' best. I'm surprised there's only one comment on this song.
Amy from Baton Rouge, LaHeather Nova sang this for the I Am Sam soundtrack

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