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'Yes It Is,' The Beatles: I Freakin' Love This Song

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'Yes It Is,' The Beatles
B-Side of 1965's 'Ticket to Ride' Single

As a B-side to 'Ticket to Ride,' this Lennon-composed tune may be one of the lesser-known songs from the Beatles canon, but back when I was in junior high and had really started to "discover" the Fab Four, 'Yes It Is' worked its way into my brain and hasn't come out since. With a striking vocal arrangement, unforgettable melody and simple-but-moving lyrics, the song is a work of pure pop perfection. It's also devastatingly sad.

Featuring gorgeous three-part harmony throughout, 'Yes It Is' is one man's plea to his date not to wear red, "for red is the color that my baby wore," and he'd rather not be reminded. Though I've always drawn some musical similarities between 'Yes It Is' and Brian Wilson's 'Surfer Girl,' the Beatles' song doesn't convey the same romantic teenage innocence. Instead, there is a sense of real tragedy below the surface. "I could be happy with you by my side/If I could forget her," Lennon sings. The question remains ambiguous: Is he pining for an old lover, or grieving over her death? Without giving us a clear answer, 'Yes It Is' beautifully portrays the pain of heartbreak and struggling with the reality that it's time to move on.

Read 'Yes It Is' Lyrics


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don

impeach obama...

October 05 2010 at 7:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to don's comment
bert

You must have been shouting for Bush's impeachment since he actually did something that was impeachable.

November 27 2010 at 10:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Greggy in SD

Yeah, great song. I believe John always dismissed it as a quickie knockoff of "This Boy." Sure, there are similarities (6/8 time, 3-part harmonies), but "Yes It Is" really highlights their growing lyrical and melodic sophistication in 1965. I particularly like George's volume swells on the guitar -- similar technique as he used on "I Need You", which was recorded around the same time, but much more subtle here.

October 04 2010 at 8:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply