"In My Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, released on their 1965 studio album Rubber Soul. Credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership, the song is one of only a few in which there is dispute over the primary author; John Lennon wrote the lyrics, but he and Paul McCartney later disagreed over who wrote the melody. George Martin contributed the piano solo bridge.

According to Lennon, "In My Life" was his "first real major piece of work," diverging lyrically from the more simplistic romance typical of pre-Rubber Soul Beatles songs, and instead presenting a biographical meditation on his adolescent relationships.

In 2000, Mojo named "In My Life" the best song of all time. Rolling Stone ranked it number 23 on its 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and number 98 on the 2021 revised list, as well as fifth on its list of the Beatles' "100 Greatest Songs".

Lyrics

In a 1980 interview, Lennon referred to this song as his "first real major piece of work" because it was the first time he had written about his own life. According to Lennon, the song's origins can be traced to English journalist Kenneth Allsop's remark that Lennon should write songs about his childhood. Afterwards, Lennon wrote a song in the form of a long poem reminiscing on those years. The original lyrics were based on a bus route he used to take in Liverpool, naming various sites seen along the way, including Penny Lane and Strawberry Field. Few lines of the original version remained in the finished song. McCartney said he set Lennon's lyrics to music from beginning to end, taking inspiration from songs by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. In 1976, he commented: "I liked 'In My Life'. Those were words that John wrote, and I wrote the tune to it. That was a great one."

Recording

The song was recorded on 18 October 1965, and it was complete except for the instrumental bridge. At that time, Lennon had not decided what instrument to use, but he subsequently asked George Martin to play a piano solo, suggesting "something Baroque-sounding". Rolling Stone magazine ranked "In My Life" number 23 on its 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and number 98 on its 2021 list, as well as fifth on its list of the Beatles' "100 Greatest Songs". The song placed second on CBC's 50 Tracks. Mojo magazine named it the best song of all time in 2000.

Bette Midler covered the song in 1991 for her film For the Boys. The remake reached #20 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart in 1992.

Personnel

According to Walter Everett:

The Beatles

  • John Lennondouble-tracked vocal, rhythm guitar
  • Paul McCartneyharmony vocal, bass guitar
  • George Harrisonharmony vocal, lead guitar
  • Ringo Starrdrums

Additional musician

  • George Martinpiano, tambourine

Charts

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|-

!align="left"|Chart (2010)

!align="center"|Peak<br />position

|-

|UK Singles (Official Charts Company)

|align="center"|78

|-

|US Billboard Hot 100 Recurrents

|align="center"|9

|}

Certifications

References

Sources

  • Early handwritten draft manuscript of In My Life written by John Lennon at the British Library