Lennon Resented McCartney Over 'Yesterday,' Says Report

Collider reports that John Lennon resented Paul McCartney for writing "Yesterday," the Beatles song that became the most covered song in recorded music and a major commercial success. According to the article, McCartney said he woke with the tune in a spare bedroom at girlfriend Jane Asher's parents' house and initially thought it was someone else's song.

Producer George Martin liked it and convinced McCartney to use a string arrangement; McCartney recorded it alone and often sang it solo in live performances. The track was included on the Help! album but recorded too late for the film; the U.S. label released it as a single and it went straight to number 1, spending four weeks there.

The song's success, the piece says, altered the band's internal dynamic and challenged an unspoken hierarchy that had positioned Lennon as leader. The article says Lennon had trouble adjusting and held a grudge, with McCartney recalling, "The worst thing for John was that he didn’t write \"Yesterday,\" I did," he said.

Key Topics

Culture, John Lennon, Paul Mccartney, The Beatles, Yesterday, George Martin