The Possible Meaning of The Beatles' Last Song Will Have Fans of the Band Holding Back Tears
No matter what age you are, songs from The Beatles have undoubtedly graced the soundtrack to so many memories. And, as it turns out, their songs are just as meaningful to the members of the band too.
Earlier today, the band, comprised of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the late John Lennon and George Harrison, announced the release of a new single, which will be their last song ever. The song, titled “Now and Then,” is many years in the making and combines and old tape of Lennon’s vocals that have been remastered with new technology, People reports.
And although the new single is exciting by itself, reports on the story behind the song, and why it was so important to release, has us reaching for a handkerchief. According to fellow musician Carl Perkins, the song’s title has a soft spot for McCartney as it includes the last thing Lennon ever told him before his tragic 1980 death.
“[Paul McCartney’s first wife Linda] said those were the last words that John Lennon said to Paul in the hallway of [John’s apartment at New York City’s] Dakota building,” Perkins told Goldmine, per People. “[Lennon] patted him on the shoulder and said, ‘Think about me every now and then, old friend.'”
With that in mind, when Lennon’s widower Yoko Ono reached out in 1994 with a tape of Lennon with “Now and Then” written on it, McCartney knew it was his next project. “Paul called me up and said he’d like to work on ‘Now and Then,'” remembered Starr in their announcement video. “He put the bass on, I put the drums on.”
Also in the announcement is Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon talking about its importance. “It’s the last song that my dad and Paul and George and Ringo would get to work together,” he says.
In addition to being a symbolic phrase that eternalizes Lennon’s lasting message to McCartney, the song’s music producer Giles Martin also hinted that the song’s meaning might have everything to do with Lennon wanting a Beatles reconciliation prior to his passing.
“I do feel as though ‘Now and Then’ is a love letter to Paul written by John,” Martin told People. “I mean, I’ve never really asked Paul about it, and I’m not sure whether Paul would say, ‘Oh, that’s definitely it,’ because he wouldn’t want to second guess John. But that’s the sense I get. And I get the feeling that’s why Paul was so determined to finish it.”
“The split needed to happen for various reasons, but you get a sense of how painful it had to be,” Martin said of the band’s 1974 split. “I don’t think either one ever looked for another John Lennon or a Paul McCartney. They knew there wasn’t one. And so this does seem like a love letter to Paul to me.”
As an example, the outlet also included an excerpt of the lyrics: And now and then / If we must start again / We will know for sure / That I love you. Are you tearing up just yet? Because same!
The Beatles’ latest single and an accompanying music video will be released on Nov. 3. Two days prior, on Nov. 1, a 12-minute documentary film on the song will be released. We can’t wait to cry and sing along!
Before you go, click here for more documentaries about strong women in music.