John Lennon’s Least Favorite Beatles Song: ‘A Sly Dig at Business Deals Gone Wrong’
The Beatles are known for creating some of the most beloved songs in music history, but not every track was equally cherished by the band members themselves. In fact, some songs caused tension within the group or served as outlets for personal frustrations. John Lennon, known for his candid nature and raw emotionality, had strong opinions about many Beatles songs—some he adored, others he despised. One song, in particular, stood out as a source of irritation for Lennon, a track he felt was tainted by underlying frustrations with the Beatles’ business dealings. This article explores Lennon’s disdain for this song, the underlying reasons for his dislike, and the complex dynamics that shaped the Beatles’ later years.
The Beatles and the Business of Music: Tensions Behind the Scenes
In the early years of their career, the Beatles were focused primarily on music. As their fame skyrocketed, however, the business side of the industry became increasingly significant, and cracks started to appear in the band’s unity. Their initial manager, Brian Epstein, was instrumental in shaping their image and helping them navigate the music business, but his unexpected death in 1967 left the Beatles without a trusted figure to handle their affairs. Suddenly, the Fab Four were left to confront the harsh realities of the industry on their own, facing pressures that they hadn’t previously understood or anticipated.
Following Epstein’s death, the Beatles began to wrestle with complex financial and legal matters, often with conflicting ideas about how to proceed. Paul McCartney advocated for a cautious and business-savvy approach, while Lennon was less interested in the business side of things, often frustrated by how it impacted their creative work. This friction led the band members to bring in new advisors, but the choice of representation would ultimately create more problems than it solved.
The Entry of Allen Klein: A Source of Controversy
One of the most controversial figures to enter the Beatles’ orbit was Allen Klein, an American business manager who had previously worked with artists like The Rolling Stones. Klein was known for his aggressive negotiation style and his ability to secure lucrative deals for his clients. Impressed by Klein’s reputation, Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr wanted him to take charge of the Beatles’ financial affairs, believing he would protect their interests and steer them towards financial success.
However, Paul McCartney was deeply suspicious of Klein and felt that his intentions weren’t in line with the band’s best interests. McCartney’s reluctance to work with Klein created a rift within the band, as he preferred his in-laws, Lee and John Eastman, who were respected New York lawyers. This disagreement over management became a significant source of tension, causing a divide that ultimately played a role in the Beatles’ eventual breakup.
Klein’s tenure as manager proved to be as contentious as McCartney feared, with business decisions that often led to misunderstandings and frustration among the band members. It was against this backdrop of strained business relationships, legal disputes, and financial complications that Lennon came to despise a particular Beatles song—one that he felt was inextricably linked to these complex issues.
The Song That Lennon Hated: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” is a song from the Beatles’ 1968 “White Album,” penned by Paul McCartney as a lighthearted tune with reggae influences. McCartney intended it to be a fun, feel-good song with catchy, simple lyrics. While the song’s upbeat rhythm and cheerful message quickly resonated with fans, Lennon saw the track in a very different light. To him, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” represented the frivolity that he felt was overshadowing the Beatles’ more meaningful work. Lennon found the song repetitive, trite, and devoid of the emotional depth he valued in music.
Lennon’s aversion to “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was so strong that he famously called it “granny music” and expressed irritation every time they had to rehearse it. He felt that the song was out of place on the “White Album,” an album filled with experimental sounds, political messages, and introspective lyrics. He resented the time spent perfecting the track, which he felt detracted from their artistic direction. But beyond mere musical differences, Lennon’s distaste for the song was also colored by his growing frustration with the band’s business arrangements and the creative conflicts that had begun to overshadow their work.
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” as a Symbol of Frustration
By the time the Beatles were working on the “White Album,” tensions among the band members were at an all-time high. While “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was a relatively innocent, upbeat tune, Lennon came to see it as a symbol of McCartney’s growing influence over the band’s creative direction. To Lennon, McCartney’s insistence on including “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was an example of Paul’s desire to control the Beatles’ output, sidelining Lennon’s own contributions in favor of lighter, more radio-friendly songs.
This was also a time when Lennon was diving deeply into more introspective and sometimes darker themes in his music, often inspired by his relationship with Yoko Ono and his desire for authenticity in his work. Songs like “Happiness is a Warm Gun” and “Revolution” reflected Lennon’s evolving artistic sensibilities, which were vastly different from the upbeat feel of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.” This creative divergence made Lennon feel increasingly alienated within the Beatles, viewing “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” as a stark contrast to the music he wanted to create.
Lennon’s hatred for the song reached such a point that he once stormed out of the studio, leaving the band to continue rehearsing without him. When he eventually returned, he reportedly played a louder, more aggressive piano intro, giving the song a harsher tone that revealed his frustration. While this new version was ultimately used on the album, Lennon’s disdain for “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” persisted, cementing it as one of his least favorite Beatles songs.
The Impact of the Business Strain on the Beatles’ Music
Lennon’s disdain for “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” can be seen as part of a broader frustration with the Beatles’ business dynamics. The band members were struggling to reconcile their creative ambitions with the growing complexity of their business obligations. With the dispute over Klein, McCartney’s distrust of his bandmates’ managerial choice, and the looming legal battles, Lennon began to feel increasingly detached from the Beatles as a cohesive unit. His aversion to “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” became symbolic of his dissatisfaction with the direction the band was heading, both musically and professionally.
For Lennon, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” wasn’t just a musical irritation; it represented the commercialization of the Beatles’ legacy, a legacy he felt was being compromised by the band’s financial and business decisions. In later years, Lennon would reflect on how the pressures of maintaining the Beatles’ image and brand often clashed with their creative freedom, further intensifying his resentment toward songs that he felt lacked substance.
The Song’s Legacy: A Reflection on Lennon’s Vision for the Beatles
Despite Lennon’s distaste, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” became one of the Beatles’ most popular songs. Its cheerful melody and lighthearted lyrics made it a fan favorite, and it remains a staple of their catalog. However, Lennon’s rejection of the song serves as a reminder of the creative conflicts and personal frustrations that were brewing within the Beatles during their later years. His criticisms reflect a desire to protect the Beatles’ artistic integrity, even if that meant clashing with his bandmates.
Lennon’s aversion to “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” ultimately highlights his commitment to authenticity in music, a quality that he carried into his solo career. While he may have disliked certain songs produced by the Beatles, his honesty and refusal to compromise his artistic vision became defining characteristics of his legacy. His later solo work, with its raw emotionality and often political undertones, was a direct response to the constraints he felt within the Beatles, constraints that “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” symbolized in his eyes.
A Window into the Beatles’ Creative Conflict
The story of John Lennon’s disdain for “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” is more than a tale of musical preference; it’s a window into the larger creative conflicts and business frustrations that defined the Beatles’ final years. Lennon’s negative view of the song reflects his desire for deeper meaning and artistic freedom, qualities that he felt were increasingly compromised by the Beatles’ commercial obligations and internal disagreements.
Today, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” continues to be a beloved song for many fans, but it also serves as a reminder of the tension that characterized the Beatles’ later years. Lennon’s opinion may not have changed the song’s success, but it reveals the complexities of his relationship with the Beatles and his personal struggle to balance fame, artistic integrity, and the business pressures of being part of one of the world’s most famous bands.
For those who look back on the Beatles’ discography, the story behind “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” is a testament to the creative and personal challenges faced by Lennon and his bandmates. It reminds fans that even within a group as iconic as the Beatles, differing visions and personal frustrations can shape the music, leaving behind a legacy that is both celebrated and deeply human.
