Who wrote the lyrics for What Goes On by the Beatles?
John Lennon wrote the song in early 1959, and Ringo Starr contributed five words to the lyrics. The official credit lists John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Richard Starkey as the writers.
Questions about What Goes On (Beatles song)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was the Rubber Soul version of What Goes On recorded?
The Rubber Soul version was recorded during a late-night session on the 4th of November 1965. It was captured in one take with overdubs added later that same night.
What is the release date of the U.S. single featuring What Goes On?
Capitol released the song as the B-side to the U.S. only single Nowhere Man on the 21st of February 1966. This release allowed the track to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Why do critics consider What Goes On weak compared to other Rubber Soul tracks?
Critics describe the song as lyrically formulaic and musically plain with a sloppy country-and-western ambience. Kenneth Womack calls it arguably the weakest and most incongruous track on the album.
How did Sufjan Stevens change the original Beatles recording of What Goes On?
Sufjan Stevens recorded a cover in 2005 for the compilation album This Bird Has Flown, A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul. He rearranged chords, rewrote melodies, overhauled rhythms, and resequenced large chunks of lyrics.