The Beatles were well conscious of their songwriter limitations. On numerous occasions, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and the rest of the band demonstrated this. They provided unparalleled insight into the inner workings of the world’s most vital outfit.
Throughout his career, Lennon gave various scathing descriptions of The Beatles’ songs and why he despised them. Explanations range from ‘Twist and Shout‘ recorded during his cold to ‘It’s Only Love,’ a song with “abysmal” lyrics.
The guitarist, a fierce critic, held nothing back, scrutinizing both his work and the work of others. His critiques of Paul McCartney’s masterpiece ‘Yesterday‘ and ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da‘ were two of his most notable unfavorable charges. However, in a typical Lennon manner, he would save much of the antagonism for his material. Some of it he co-wrote with McCartney, while others he brought to life entirely on his own.
However, it wasn’t just Lennon who was harsh on himself. Paul McCartney, also known for his dependably pleasant demeanor, backed up his musical partner on multiple occasions and criticized popular songs. One of the most well-known is ‘Misery,’ the second tune on the band’s debut album, Please Please Me, released in 1963.
Lennon and McCartney, amidst the whirlwind of their tour with Helen Shapiro, found time to pen the song in late January 1963. In David Sheff’s All We Are Saying, John Lennon is reported as saying, “It was kind of a John song more than a Paul song, but it was written together.”
King’s Hall in Stoke-on-Trent played host to a pivotal moment in music history: the genesis of the Beatles’ ‘Misery’ by Lennon and McCartney. They finished it closer to home, in a place often credited with fueling their creative spark. This location is the McCartney family home at 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool.
However, McCartney expressed concerns about this early hit, even calling the band “hacks” for writing it. “It was our first stab at a ballad and had a little spoken preface,” he says in Barry Miles’ Many Years From Now. They wrote it collaboratively. “I don’t think either of us dominated on that one; it was just a job. If we rushed that song for someone, they might have called us hacks.”
Despite inner-band conflict and being one of The Beatles’ lesser-known compositions, ‘Misery‘ remains a testament to their ability. They could compose emotionally evocative melodies even in their early stages of success. These capture the essence of human feeling, even in their early stages of success. Its continuing appeal stems from simplicity and honesty, echoing relevant themes that enchant audiences of all ages.
