For No One
(Lennon/McCartney)
Originally recorded by: The Beatles
Your day breaks
Your mind aches
You find that all her words of kindness linger on when
She no longer needs you

She wakes up
She makes up
She takes her time and doesn't feel she has to hurry
She no longer needs you

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You want her
You need her
And yet you don't believe her when she says her love is dead
You think she needs you

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You stay home
She goes out
She said that long ago she knew someone but now he's gone
She doesn't need him

Your day breaks
Your mind aches
There will be times when all the things she said will fill your head You won't forget her

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

Documentation

The original title was "Why Did It Die?"

This was recorded on May 9, 16 and 19, 1966 by only two Beatles - Paul singing and playing the keyboard and bass, and Ringo on percussion. 

Paul McCartney wrote this when he was skiing in Switzerland. 

McCartney used this in his 1984 movie Give My Regards to Broad Street.


The original title, "Why Did It Die" was the original chorus and the final chorus "and in her eyes you see nothing", etc., does not appear in the original manuscript. The verses are the same as the final, but there is an additional verse on the manuscript that did not make it to the final version.
- Mike, New Point, VA 
"Alan Civil" is credited in the Revolver liner notes, probably the first non-Beatle to receive an album credit. Other people had played before on Beatles albums but not fully credited. For instance, Brian Jones played on a few Beatle tracks, the string quartet on Yesterday, and the orchestras on Day in the Life and I Am a Walrus. Also, George Martin played piano on some tracks.


John Lennon and Paul McCartney have said that this is probably the most underrated Beatles song.

This appears on The Revolver album

This has also been covered by Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris, and Liza Minnelli (ack)

 

This song appears on Rick's Anthology cd and  The Day After Yesterday.  Rick performed part of this song in Milwaukee on 5/11/05.
Footnote - the background picture was taken in Milwaukee, WI on 5/11/05 by Renata Hearn during the performance of For No One.