The Beatles Lyric That Paul McCartney Liked Because of Its Momentum
The Beatles always seemed to be hurtling forward with relentless momentum during their recording years. Despite their breathless pace, they still managed to keep things under control when it came to the music that they made.
In that way, “I’ve Just Seen A Face”, found on the group’s 1965 album Help!, stands as a pretty good approximation of their career. Even as the song flies by at sizzling speed, it stays on the rails and delivers its poignant message.
“Face” Dances
Folks often mention Rubber Soul and Revolver as the LPs where The Beatles started to make complete artistic album-length statements. Help!, the record released directly preceding those two, doesn’t get that same kind of recognition. Some of the tracks lack the ambition that would soon become the hallmark of just about every Fab Four song.
But one factor that stood out on Help! was the group’s willingness to go outside their comfort zone when it came to song styles. There was gentle folk (“You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”) and heavy pop (“Ticket To Ride”). String quartets (“Yesterday”) hung out next to screaming rock (“I’m Down”).
“I’ve Just Seen A Face” played into that adventurous spirit. It’s a bit odd because there’s no bass on the song, which pretty much prevents it from being characterized as rock. Instead, The Beatles attack the song with a three-pronged acoustic guitar approach. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison are all strumming.
Paul McCartney did the bulk of the writing on the song. He explained in the book Many Years From Now how “I’ve Just Seen A Face” impressed him by acting as something of an unstoppable force:
“It was slightly country and western from my point of view. It was faster, though, it was a strange uptempo thing. I was quite pleased with it. The lyric works: it keeps dragging you forward, it keeps pulling you to the next line, there’s an insistent quality to it that I liked.”
Exploring the Lyrics of “I’ve Just Seen A Face”
McCartney is right on the money with the quote above. Just because he comes to the end of a musical line, that doesn’t mean he has ended his thought. Take, for example, the opening lines: “I’ve just seen a face I can’t forget / The time or place where we just met.” He could have stopped at “forget.” But he surprises us by making that the focus of the next idea.
In that way, the structure of the song mimics the whirlwind romance at the heart of the song. The narrator can’t help but thank his good fortune. “Had it been another day,” McCartney sings. “I might have looked the other way / And I’d have never been aware / But as it is, I’ll dream of her tonight.”
Source: americansongwriter.com/Jim Beviglia
