- 14
- Feb.
- 2025
Born from a curious dream of Paul McCartney’s, “Yesterday” by The Beatles overcame the band’s initial doubts to become a timeless legend. From its enigmatic origins to its global triumph, here is the fascinating story of the legendary Beatles hit.
Some songs leave an everlasting mark on the history of music. Melodies that, from the very first notes, transport us to another world. “Yesterday,” an ageless masterpiece by The Beatles, is one of them. But did you know that this legendary ballad was born from a dream and almost never came to light? Let’s revisit the story of this mythical song.
It’s 1965. The Beatles, already at the peak of their fame, are about to revolutionize music once again with a song of disarming simplicity. A voice – that of Paul McCartney – carried by a simple string quartet. No drums, no electric guitar. Just a pure melody, poignant lyrics. “Yesterday” is born, and nothing will ever be the same again.
But to understand the magic of this song, we must go back two years. One night in 1963, McCartney has a strange dream. He wakes up with a fully formed melody in his head, so clear, so obvious, that he rushes to the piano to play it, convinced he has composed a masterpiece in his sleep. Yet, a doubt quickly creeps in: what if this melody wasn’t his? What if, unconsciously, he had plagiarized another artist?
Obsessed with this idea, McCartney embarks on an unprecedented journey. For weeks, he plays the melody to everyone he meets – musicians, producers, friends – hoping that someone will recognize it. But no one has ever heard it before. Gradually, he has to accept the truth: this song, which seemed to come from elsewhere, was indeed his own creation.
For months, however, “Yesterday” remains in a drawer. McCartney plays it occasionally, under the temporary and amusing title Scrambled Eggs, with improvised lyrics that make those around him laugh. “Scrambled eggs, oh my baby, how I love your legs...” But time passes, and he struggles to find the right words to match his melody.
Finally, in 1965, during a trip to Portugal with his partner Jane Asher, inspiration strikes. On the road to Albufeira, a word comes to him, as if by fate: “Yesterday.” Back in London, he gets to work on the lyrics, and at last, the words are born, imbuing the ballad with profound melancholy.
A Historic Recording
On June 14, 1965, McCartney heads to Abbey Road Studios for a historic recording. For the first time on a Beatles track, Paul McCartney is alone. Alone with his acoustic guitar and a string quartet arranged by producer George Martin. A stripped-down, intimate take that starkly contrasts with the band’s usual sound.
This approach is not unanimously accepted within The Beatles. John Lennon, in particular, is skeptical, finding the song too far removed from their style. Tensions are high, but McCartney stands firm. He believes in his melody, in the power of his lyrics. And he is right.
From the moment of its release, “Yesterday” achieves phenomenal success. Its simplicity, its universal message of loss and regret, immediately resonate with audiences far beyond the rock sphere. The song becomes a standard, covered by hundreds of artists worldwide, from Frank Sinatra to Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye.
The numbers are staggering. With over 2,200 recorded versions, “Yesterday” is now considered the most covered song of all time. In the United States, it breaks radio play records, surpassing 7 million broadcasts. In 1997, BMI even estimated that it had been played, on average, once per minute worldwide since 1965!
Beyond the statistics, it is the emotion it evokes that makes “Yesterday” a musical monument. Its timeless melody, its simple yet poignant lyrics, make it the perfect vessel for nostalgia, lost loves and regrets. Everyone can relate to it, finding echoes of their own story within it.
Over time, the song has transcended The Beatles’ repertoire to become part of global popular culture. It has become one of those rare songs that surpass eras, generations and musical styles. One of those melodies that leave an indelible mark from the very first listen.
And to think it all started with a dream! Even today, McCartney himself is amazed by the mysterious origins of his most beautiful song, as if it had been whispered to him by a higher force on that night in 1963.
Lennon would eventually acknowledge the genius of “Yesterday,” despite his initial reluctance. With his legendary caustic humor, he would even joke that the song would have been perfect for McCartney’s solo career. As for George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they had nothing but praise for this unique ballad.
So, the next time you hum those familiar notes, remember that without McCartney’s distant dream, without his persistence in believing in it, the world might have missed out on an absolute masterpiece.
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