One night in 1967, the phrase "words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup" came to Lennon after hearing his then-wife Cynthia, according to Lennon, "going on and on about something". Later, after she'd gone to bed, he went downstairs and turned it into a song.

"Free as a Bird" was originally composed and recorded in 1977 as a home demo by John Lennon. In 1995, 25 years after the break-up of the band and 15 years after John's death, a studio version was released as a single, incorporating contributions from Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Roxy Music recorded "Jealous Guy" as a tribute to Lennon after his death in 1980. The song topped the UK charts for two weeks in March 1981, becoming the band's only No. 1 single.

George wrote "If I Needed Someone" as a love song to Pattie Boyd, the English model whom he married in January 1966. Following its inclusion in the set list for the Beatles' 1965 UK tour, the song became the only Harrison composition performed live by the group during their years of international fame.

"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" was voted the worst song of all time in a 2004 online poll organized by Mars, Inc. CNN journalist Todd Leopold reported in 2006 that Lennon "loathed" the song.

In verse 3 of "A Day in the Life", John sings:

I read the news today, oh boy
4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall

In "Band on the Run", Paul sings:

And the jailer man and sailor Sam
Were searching every one
For the band on the run

A common belief is that John says "I Buried Paul" at the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever" on the Magical Mystery Tour album. He actually says "Cranberry Sauce", not once, but twice.

Now somewhere in the black mining hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon

Lovely Rita, meter maid
Nothing can come between us
When it gets dark I tow your heart away