![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1_Beatles-Portrait.jpg\")
The Beatles pose for a portrait in circa 1965(Image: Michael Ochs Archives\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nIt is a song loved by many but John was never a fanThe Beatles pose for a portrait in circa 1965(Image: Michael Ochs Archives\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote the vast majority of The Beatles’ host of classic songs together but they weren’t always happy with what they produced. Especially after the band broke up in 1970, John wasn’t afraid to criticise their work and often took aim at Paul’s writing.<\/p>\n
In the early days of The Beatles, the two would write songs as they sat together in Paul’s childhood home on Forthlin Road in Allerton<\/a>. However, as they got older and artistic differences emerged within the band in the second half of the 1960s, John<\/a> and Paul tended to write independently before presenting songs to the other for final tweaks.<\/p>\n Those artistic differences led John to criticise Paul at times. After The Beatles split, John shared his dislike for the 1967 album ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’<\/a>, said he was never a fan of the single ‘Hello Goodbye’<\/a> and dismissed the closing medley of the 1969 album ‘Abbey Road’.<\/a><\/p>\n Another song primarily written by Paul which John didn’t like was ‘Let it Be’, which was written by Paul<\/a> in 1968. About the song’s origin, Sir Paul said the idea came to him in a dream during a particularly stressful period for The Beatles<\/a>, as the sessions for ‘The White Album’ caused tensions within the band<\/a>.<\/p>\n Paul’s mum Mary died from cancer in 1956, when he was just 14. She featured in the dream, telling her son that everything would be alright.<\/p>\n The song’s opening lyrics are: “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me. Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”<\/p>\n About the writing of the song, Paul<\/a>: “It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing ‘Let It Be’.”<\/p>\n The song, which is about hope, faith and resilience, means so much to so many<\/a>. It seems John<\/a> was never fond of it.<\/p>\n According to Chris Ingham’s ‘The Rough Guide to The Beatles’ John mistakenly assumed Sir Paul had just emulated the Simon and Garfunkel track ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’. However, ‘Let it Be’ was actually written a year before that.<\/p>\n During recording John took aim at the song’s message, asking: \u201cAre we supposed to giggle in the solo?\u201d. He continued to pour cold water on it after he left the band.<\/p>\n Asked about ‘Let it Be’, in a 1980 Playboy interview, he said: “That’s Paul. What can you say? Nothing to do with The Beatles<\/a>. It could’ve been Wings. I don’t know what he’s thinking when he writes ‘Let It Be’.”<\/p>\n The song lent its name to and featured on The Beatles’<\/a> final studio album, which was released in May 1970 – a month after the band split up. The ‘Let it Be’ single topped charts around the world but peaked at two in the UK.<\/p>\n In his review of ‘Let it Be’, NME’s Derek Johnson said: “As ever with The Beatles<\/a>, this is a record to stop you dead in your tracks and compel you to listen attentively.”<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_The-Waving-Beatles.jpg\")
John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, pictured on their arrival in London following a tour of Australia in 1964(Image: Fox Photos\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n