The Night Before

Written by McCartney in late 1964, this song expresses Paul's troubles with his girlfriend, Jane Asher. It is the second track of the UK release, Help!. The song itself is a middle ground between rock and blues, and it features for the first time, John Lennon on electronic keyboards instead of rhythm guitar. Paul sings lead and plays the guitar solo -- twice, through the marvels of overdubbing. This song presages the notable shift in the Beatles' sound and musicianship from the so-called early period of up-tempo rock hits for screaming young fans to the more contemplative "middle period" marked by the release of Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper.