In My Life

Song meaning of In My Life by The Beatles

According to John Lennon, "'In My Life' was probably my first real, significant piece of work." "Until then, everything had been glib and superficial."

The song was inspired especially by a journalist's question: Why don't you write songs about your life? The ballad illustrates the serious direction the Beatles adopted with Rubber Soul. Lennon recalled that the song's original lyrics depicted him as being on a bus in Liverpool and that it was "the most boring sort of 'What I Did on My Holidays Bus Trip' song."

Lennon revised the song's lyrics to make it a beautiful reflection on his life before the Beatles. Near the song's conclusion, a characteristic "harpsichord" solo is actually George Martin playing an electric piano that has been sped up on tape.

Lennon claims that the idea for the song came from a comment made by English writer Kenneth Allsop, who suggested that Lennon write songs about his youth. Later, Lennon created a song that was essentially a lengthy poem reflecting on those times. The original lyrics named many locations viewed en route, including Penny Lane and Strawberry Field, and were based on a bus route he used to travel in Liverpool.

Later, Lennon described the original song as "the most boring sort of 'What I Did on My Holidays Bus Trip' song," calling the lyrics "ridiculous." He changed the language and included a more general meditation on his past in place of the individual experiences. The finished song only had a few lyrics from the first version. The lyrics "Some [friends] are dead and some are living/In my life I've loved them all" were a reference to Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe (who passed away in 1962), according to Lennon's friend and biographer Peter Shotton.

The English rock group the Beatles released the song "In My Life" in 1965 and it can be found on their album Rubber Soul. Lennon-McCartney is given credit for writing it, however John Lennon was principally responsible. The piano solo bridge was created by George Martin.

Song lyrics of In My Life by The Beatles

There are places I'll remember

All my life though some have changed

Some forever not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers

There is no one compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning

When I think of love as something new

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life I love you more

In my life I love you more