15 Classic Beatles Songs That John Lennon Couldn’t Stand

15 Classic Beatles Songs That John Lennon Couldn’t Stand

While Paul McCartney often leaned toward polished pop and optimistic melodies, Lennon preferred grit, honesty, and experimentation. So when a song felt too “cute” or “safe,” he didn’t hold back. From early chart-toppers to worldwide anthems, some of the band’s biggest hits left Lennon completely unimpressed.

1. A Taste of Honey

Few Beatles songs felt as out of place to Lennon as “A Taste of Honey.” Borrowed from a Broadway tune, the track had a lounge-singer vibe that clashed with the band’s raw, youthful energy. Lennon famously dismissed it as “Paul’s kind of thing,” a polite way of saying he wanted nothing to do with it.

During recording, Lennon reportedly found the process tedious and uninspiring. He preferred the band’s grittier covers — songs that made audiences dance, not sway politely. To him, “A Taste of Honey” sounded more like background music for an elevator than a rock record.

Though it made their debut album Please Please Me, Lennon felt the song never captured what The Beatles were really about. Fans might call it charming, but he called it dull — a “sweet” song that left a sour taste in his mouth.

2. Eight Days a Week

One of the band’s earliest number-one hits didn’t impress Lennon much at all. He later said, “I never liked it — it was lousy,” feeling it was too formulaic.

Recorded during the height of Beatlemania, “Eight Days a Week” was designed for radio perfection. Lennon thought it lacked substance, calling it a “work song” that represented the band’s overworked schedule more than their creativity.

Fans adored it, of course. But Lennon always saw it as one of those songs that belonged to the audience, not the artist.

3. Yes It Is

Written as a follow-up to “This Boy,” Lennon’s “Yes It Is” was meant to capture the same emotional depth. Instead, he later admitted it was “trying too hard.” The harmonies were lush, but Lennon felt the lyrics were forced and sentimental in a way that didn’t ring true.

Recording the song was reportedly frustrating. Lennon wanted to push the band’s sound forward, but instead found himself stuck in a formula that had already run its course. He saw it as a sign of creative repetition — something he was desperate to escape.

Despite his disappointment, “Yes It Is” became a fan favorite for its haunting harmonies. Lennon, though, dismissed it as one of his lesser works — a song that reminded him of how easily artistic inspiration could slip into imitation.

4. It’s Only Love

Even Lennon himself couldn’t defend “It’s Only Love.” In later interviews, he called it “lousy” and admitted he was embarrassed by the lyrics. The song, featured on Help!, came from a time when he was struggling to balance commercial success with personal expression.

For Lennon, the line “I get high when I see you go by” sounded shallow and unimaginative. He often blamed the band’s fast-paced schedule for forcing them to churn out songs that lacked meaning. “It’s Only Love” was one of those fillers — something he wished had never made the album.

Still, the song showcases Lennon’s ability to sound sincere, even when he wasn’t. It’s proof that his voice could make even a song he hated sound effortlessly cool.

5. Run for Your Life

When Lennon called a song “my least favorite Beatles track,” you knew he meant it. “Run for Your Life,” the closing number on Rubber Soul, is infamous for its dark lyrics about jealousy and control. Lennon later admitted he “regretted writing it completely.”

He said it reflected a version of himself he no longer recognized — a possessive young man influenced by the macho culture of the 1960s. As he grew older, the song made him cringe, calling it “a throwaway.”

Fans may remember it for its catchy rhythm, but Lennon’s discomfort was real. What was once seen as edgy rock now stood as a reminder of his personal growth — and how far he’d come from the insecure writer who penned it.

6. Yesterday

One of the most beloved Beatles songs of all time was also one of Lennon’s least favorites. “Yesterday,” written and sung entirely by Paul McCartney, left Lennon feeling disconnected. He once said it “wasn’t really a Beatles song” — and he wasn’t wrong.

With only McCartney and a string quartet on the recording, Lennon had no involvement in the track. While he respected its success, he admitted it didn’t fit The Beatles’ spirit. To him, it was the moment when Paul began drifting into his own musical world.

Even so, Lennon couldn’t ignore its impact. He called it “a beautiful song,” but not one that represented him or the band’s collective energy. In his mind, it was Paul’s masterpiece — and his headache.

7. When I’m Sixty-Four

McCartney’s cheeky ode to aging gracefully never struck the same chord with Lennon. He thought “When I’m Sixty-Four” sounded like something from his parents’ record collection — charming, yes, but painfully old-fashioned.

To Lennon, The Beatles were supposed to be about breaking boundaries, not crooning about retirement plans and knitting sweaters. He reportedly called it “Paul’s kind of music — for your dad.” It was a playful jab, but also an honest reflection of his frustration with McCartney’s nostalgia.

Even Lennon couldn’t deny its craftsmanship, though. The song’s melody and clever lyrics made it timeless. Still, he saw it as the musical equivalent of a polite smile — nice enough, but not revolutionary.

8. Good Morning Good Morning

If there’s one song Lennon seemed to love and hate in equal measure, it was “Good Morning Good Morning.” Inspired by a cereal commercial, it was meant to be fun — but even Lennon later admitted it ended up as “a piece of garbage.”

The chaotic horns and clucking animals made it one of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’s most eccentric tracks. Still, Lennon found it aimless and frustrating. It was written during his LSD phase, and he later said he was “just writing nonsense.”

Ironically, that nonsense helped shape one of the most innovative albums in rock history. Lennon might have hated it, but “Good Morning Good Morning” became proof that even his throwaways could sound groundbreaking.

9. Hello, Goodbye

Paul McCartney’s upbeat anthem “Hello, Goodbye” was everything Lennon disliked in a pop song — cheerful, repetitive, and, in his words, “meaningless.” While it topped charts worldwide, Lennon thought it lacked depth and purpose.

He reportedly told McCartney that the song was “just another attempt at writing nonsense,” frustrated that it got more attention than his more experimental tracks like “I Am the Walrus.” Lennon preferred songs that challenged listeners, not ones that rhymed opposites for fun.

Still, the contrast between the two men’s songwriting styles made The Beatles magical. McCartney’s optimism balanced Lennon’s edge — even if it sometimes drove him mad. “Hello, Goodbye” was one of those moments where commercial success felt more like defeat.

10. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Although “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” became one of Lennon’s defining songs, he later grew tired of it — not because of the music, but because of the endless drug rumors. Fans insisted the title was code for LSD, something Lennon repeatedly denied.

He said the song came from his son Julian’s drawing of a classmate named Lucy. But no matter how many times he explained, people refused to believe him. Over time, he admitted he became “bored with the interpretations.”

Despite the frustration, the song remains a psychedelic masterpiece. Lennon’s dreamlike imagery turned an innocent picture into an anthem of the 1960s — one he eventually wished people would just enjoy without dissecting.

11. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Ask any Beatles historian about Lennon’s least favorite McCartney tune, and “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” tops the list. He famously called it “granny music,” rolling his eyes at its playful, ska-inspired rhythm.

Lennon reportedly hated recording it so much that he once stormed out of the studio. When he returned, he angrily banged out the opening piano riff that ended up on the final version. To him, the song symbolized everything he found too cute or commercial.

Despite his distaste, the song became a global hit — cheerful, catchy, and annoyingly unforgettable. Lennon may have despised it, but its success proved that even the songs he hated could define an era.

12. Across the Universe

Few songs meant more to Lennon than “Across the Universe,” yet he always said the recording never lived up to his vision. He felt the arrangement was too soft and failed to capture the song’s meditative power.

Lennon wrote it during a moment of spiritual reflection, inspired by his fascination with transcendence. But every version — from the Let It Be album to later remixes — left him unsatisfied. He said the vocals felt “sluggish,” and the production “ruined the atmosphere.”

Fans still regard it as one of his most poetic works. Lennon, however, remained convinced that “Across the Universe” was a missed opportunity — a masterpiece trapped in the wrong recording.

13. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer

If Lennon could’ve deleted one song from Abbey Road, it would’ve been “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” He described it as “Paul’s attempt at being clever,” but found the result “horrible.”

The song’s darkly comic lyrics about a murderer clashed with its upbeat melody, something Lennon found “embarrassing.” He refused to participate much in the recording sessions, leaving McCartney to labor over multiple takes.

For Lennon, it represented Paul’s perfectionism gone too far. While others saw it as quirky and creative, he saw it as “granny music with a hammer.”

14. Dig a Pony

Lennon didn’t mince words when describing “Dig a Pony.” He called it “rubbish” and admitted the lyrics “meant nothing.” Written during the Let It Be sessions, the song reflected the chaos and creative exhaustion within the band.

He said it was one of those songs where he “just threw words together.” Though the melody had potential, Lennon later regretted not taking it more seriously. The track’s cryptic lyrics became a symbol of the group’s fragmented focus.

Still, fans love its bluesy edge and live energy from the rooftop concert. Lennon may have dismissed it, but “Dig a Pony” remains an essential part of The Beatles’ final chapter.

15. Let It Be

Ironically, one of The Beatles’ most iconic songs left Lennon completely cold. He saw “Let It Be” as “too Paul” — too religious, too sentimental, and too detached from the band’s rock roots.

When McCartney introduced it, Lennon joked that it sounded like a hymn. He respected Paul’s sincerity but had no emotional connection to the song itself. To him, it was more about Paul finding peace than the group finding unity.

Of course, “Let It Be” went on to become one of their most beloved anthems. Lennon might have rolled his eyes, but even he couldn’t deny its timeless beauty — just not his kind of beauty.