Aboutsarah Expertise I'm already an expert for Paul McCartney category. I can answer anything relates to the Beatles, above all their personal life, chronological facts, discography, lyrics, gossip!
Experience I'm already an expert for Paul McCartney, I play music, I have a degree in musicology and the Beatles are my passion. I read a lot of books over the past years.
Question Hi, thank you for taking my questions. I know that both John and Paul wrote both music and lyrics and collaborated on many songs. However, is it known who wrote more lyrics? In using Lennon/McCartney for songwriting authorship, was it just an early agreement, or did one tend to write more music and the other lyrics in the beginning? I believe the tradition has been for the musician's name to come first and lyricist second? I know that Paul has modified the credits recently (and appropriately I believe) on the songs where he did the majority of the work. Thank you, I appreciate your help, Gene.
Answer Dear Gene,
it is true, Paul and John collaborated on many songs, particularly in the early days and until '65-'66. Some songs like Day Tripper, I want to Hold Your Hand were written together but for the most of the song they used to write almost the entire piece at home, then go to the studio and fix it together. As for the credits there was an early agreement for which every compositions, even the compositions written solely by one writer should be addressed to McCartney & Lennon. For example, Yesterday which was written by Paul at home, is credited Lennon & Mccartney...and the fact that Lennon came before McCartney is due to the fact that L came before M! :-)
