rank the songs on rubber soul | Page 6 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

Interesting way you’ve ranked the songs above. Would you mind if I adopt it in a similar fashion?

Also nice ranking you’ve got there. I too do not understand why people do not like “Michelle “, and for a while I thought it was one of the top-tier songs in their career, up there in prominence with “While My Guitar Gently Weeps ” and “All You Need Is Love “.

Over the years most of the songs just wore out to me, not my favourite album of theirs:

14) What Goes On – yeah, Ringo’s third goddammit country song, and I still don’t like it, I never did, I never will. it’s the same as the two before it, it sounds trashy and it brings absolutely nothing to the table. 0/10

13) Think For Yourself – just… weird melodies, that don’t go together at all. George Harrison trying too hard and achieving close to nothing. 2/10

12) The Word – I like the idea of the lyrics John was going for, but in the end it came out forced and wannabe edgy instead of actually cutting edge. the instrumental is nothing pleasant either. 3/10

11) You Won’t See Me – overrated, I think it’s very simple and by the books, considering how innovative this album is considered to be. what I mean is this song doesn’t have an impact on anything the same way the best tracks on this album do. 4/10

10) Wait – not that impressive, nor creative, nor sonically very compelling, but the execution is decent enough to be a good transitional point on the album after In My Life . 5/10

9) Run For Your Life – I think this one gets a rough time just because the lyrics are said to be misogynistic, but in reality, it is one of the better melodically compelling tracks on the album, and the lyrics are pretty good: the song is singed from the point of view of a character that clearly is violent and insane. it is a totally aware song if you didn’t notice, and it is mostly about Lennon beating himself up, instead of endorsing that kind of behaviour. 5/10

8) Drive My Car – fun, I like the lyrics, even if the instrumental is kind of sketchy. decent opener. 6/10

7) Girl – a very good lyrical moment for John. the bridge kills the momentum, and the drumming is horrible, I don’t know why specifically, but it is, triplets onto a 4/4 time signature on the bridge sounds disgusting, but “when she was told when she was young that pain would lead to pleasure – did she understand them when they said – that a man must break his back to earn his day of leisure? – will she still believe it when he’s dead?” is just a spark of genius. the problem is that the same song contains the lyric “she’s the kind of girl who puts you down when friends are there – you feel a fool”, which is bollocks. it’s a very weird song, in the sense that has parts that are terrible and parts that are excellent. 7/10

6) I’m Looking Through You – lighthearted, with good guitar arrangements and chord progressions. it feels overall connected, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. 7/10

5) Nowhere Man – insightful and iconic, I like it as much as the next guy. 8/10

4) Michelle – very good, one of the “less is more” moments on Rubber Soul . the English/French dichotomy is ingenious, as well as the passion, which is palpable. 8/10

3) If I Needed Someone – underrated. killer hook, killer riff. a very well-earned George spot, and with a beautiful execution. 8/10

2) Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – to me, the first time a Beatles’ lyric actually impressed me. partially because of its structure, which is sharp as a knife. you can’t take any word out of the song, because it would stop making sense. and it doesn’t lack words either, it is a perfect lyrical moment. and on the other hand, because of the Dylan influence. it sounds to me a little bit like Oxford Town. 5 verses, little to no over-explanation and the mood of the track is very fitting, kind of melancholic, kind of sad. the riff is excellent, the melody that follows it is just as good, and the sitar does nothing but add to the magic of the track. 9/10

1) In My Life – one of John’s biggest masterpieces. a song that knows precisely what it is, with lyrics as sad as they are beautiful. the vocal harmonies behind John’s voice are gorgeous, the baroque solo is endearing, and the last falsetto verse reprise is one of the most beloved moments on the Beatles entire studio career, and rightfully so. In My Life is the first thing I think of when I think of Rubber Soul , it is the perfect amount of everything. 10/10