John Lennon was the most prolific songwriter in The Beatles, penning nearly 100 songs in under a decade. While many of his compositions became timeless classics, there were others he wished he could erase from history. As he reflected on his Beatles years, Lennon admitted to feeling embarrassment or outright disdain for certain tracks, either because they felt overworked or entirely uninspired.
During the band’s early years, Lennon pushed himself to craft radio-friendly hits, but over time, he grew to resent some of them.
Songs like ‘It Won’t Be Long’ and ‘I Should Have Known Better’ were written with commercial success in mind, and Lennon later dismissed them as hollow attempts at hit-making. He was particularly critical of ‘It’s Only Love’, calling it “a lousy song”, and ‘Run For Your Life’, which he described as “a throwaway”.
Ironically, in The Beatles’ later years, his frustration flipped—rather than putting in too much effort, Lennon felt he was barely trying. He labeled songs like ‘Good Morning, Good Morning’ as lazy, admitting that he wrote it with the television on in the background. ‘Cry Baby Cry’ and ‘Mean Mr. Mustard’ were also dismissed as “rubbish” and “garbage”, respectively.
Even some of The Beatles’ most famous tracks weren’t safe from Lennon’s criticism. He expressed disappointment with ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’, ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’, and ‘Dig a Pony’, songs that fans cherished but he viewed as either overproduced or meaningless.
Though Lennon left behind an incredible legacy, his complicated relationship with The Beatles meant that many of his own songs became a source of regret. Whether overworked or half-baked, these tracks serve as a reminder that even the greatest songwriters aren’t always satisfied with their work.
