Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Recorded by The Beatles
No Reply is a classic song about unfaithfulness, suspicion, jealousy and heartbreak. While more Lennon than McCartney, the song is a beautiful example of The Beatles' blossoming songwriting as they entered the mid-1960s.
Our protagonist is trying to track down his girl, but the gatekeepers that share her home (parents, roommates, landlady?) tell him that she’s not there. He’s called, he’s knocked on the door, but the answer is always “get lost.” But he knows she’s there. Not only can he see her through a window, he just watched arrive home – escorted, “hand in hand with another man!” My heart drops just thinking about it. She might as well have just walked across his face like the doormat she thinks he is. But is he? Does he somehow possess the strength to tell her exactly how he feels? Let’s go to the bridge!
If I were you, I'd realize that I
Love you more than any other guy
And I'll forgive the lies that I
Heard before, when you gave me no reply
We enter the bridge with a shift in instrumentation and arrangement, and there are a few things happening. The rhythm moves from a swingy bossa nova groove to a straight-up rock n’ roll beat, aided by hand claps on every beat and a driving piano part, courtesy of producer George Martin. McCartney’s intense and beautiful harmonies add to this clear and definite message: “Stop this deceit and listen to me! Can’t you see a good thing when it’s right in front of you?”
The pain is tangible, his message is commanding, but while the music remains this way throughout the bridge, does his message stray? Halfway through the bridge, he’s already promising her forgiveness? You can feel his confidence wane. And when we get to the word “before,” it’s all crystal clear: that pain has not gone away, and despite his pleas, he knows she will hurt him again. There is something about McCartney’s harmony on the word’s second syllable, “fore.” It’s so sad. I feel so bad for this guy.
And as soon as the bridge moves into the final verse, he’s back on the phone, he knows she’s there, but he’s once again informed that she isn’t home. Lies!
While “No Reply” has my favorite bridge from my favorite band, it doesn’t mean that it’s the best of the Best Bridges Blog, but it’s close. We have many more bridges to cross but for now, if you leave a comment, I promise, I will reply.
-MJK
Recorded by The Beatles
No Reply is a classic song about unfaithfulness, suspicion, jealousy and heartbreak. While more Lennon than McCartney, the song is a beautiful example of The Beatles' blossoming songwriting as they entered the mid-1960s.
Our protagonist is trying to track down his girl, but the gatekeepers that share her home (parents, roommates, landlady?) tell him that she’s not there. He’s called, he’s knocked on the door, but the answer is always “get lost.” But he knows she’s there. Not only can he see her through a window, he just watched arrive home – escorted, “hand in hand with another man!” My heart drops just thinking about it. She might as well have just walked across his face like the doormat she thinks he is. But is he? Does he somehow possess the strength to tell her exactly how he feels? Let’s go to the bridge!
If I were you, I'd realize that I
Love you more than any other guy
And I'll forgive the lies that I
Heard before, when you gave me no reply
We enter the bridge with a shift in instrumentation and arrangement, and there are a few things happening. The rhythm moves from a swingy bossa nova groove to a straight-up rock n’ roll beat, aided by hand claps on every beat and a driving piano part, courtesy of producer George Martin. McCartney’s intense and beautiful harmonies add to this clear and definite message: “Stop this deceit and listen to me! Can’t you see a good thing when it’s right in front of you?”
The pain is tangible, his message is commanding, but while the music remains this way throughout the bridge, does his message stray? Halfway through the bridge, he’s already promising her forgiveness? You can feel his confidence wane. And when we get to the word “before,” it’s all crystal clear: that pain has not gone away, and despite his pleas, he knows she will hurt him again. There is something about McCartney’s harmony on the word’s second syllable, “fore.” It’s so sad. I feel so bad for this guy.
And as soon as the bridge moves into the final verse, he’s back on the phone, he knows she’s there, but he’s once again informed that she isn’t home. Lies!
While “No Reply” has my favorite bridge from my favorite band, it doesn’t mean that it’s the best of the Best Bridges Blog, but it’s close. We have many more bridges to cross but for now, if you leave a comment, I promise, I will reply.
-MJK
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