8 Beatles Tracks That Reveal What They Really Thought of One Another

When Music Became Their Message

Breakups are never simple—especially when it’s between four men who redefined popular music. When The Beatles split, their conversations didn’t end; they just moved from recording sessions to solo albums. Instead of sitting down to talk things out, they used their instruments and lyrics to express what they couldn’t say face-to-face. The result was a mix of bitterness, humor, and quiet affection that painted a picture of friendship under strain.

Even apart, John, Paul, George, and Ringo couldn’t resist addressing each other through music. The songs they wrote after the breakup show how the bond between them shifted—sometimes sharp, sometimes forgiving, but always real.

1. “Too Many People” – Paul McCartney

From the album: Ram (1971)
Paul opens with subtle sarcasm that doesn’t stay subtle for long. Aimed at John and Yoko, the song hints at frustration over their public preaching and controlling attitude. When Paul sings, “Too many people going underground,” it feels like a sigh from someone who’s had enough—but still can’t look away.

2. “How Do You Sleep?” – John Lennon

From the album: Imagine (1971)
If Paul threw pebbles, John brought a wrecking ball. Backed by George Harrison’s slide guitar, Lennon fires direct shots with lines like, “The only thing you done was ‘Yesterday’… and since you’ve gone you’re just ‘Another Day.’” It’s a biting response to Ram, raw and unapologetic, the sound of friendship turned friction.

3. “Back Off Boogaloo” – Ringo Starr

From the single: Back Off Boogaloo (1972)
Ringo’s rock anthem has long fueled theories that it was aimed at Paul. Lyrics such as “Wake up, meathead” drew attention, especially since Paul was famously vegetarian. Whether intended as a joke or a jab, the song carries the rhythm of old mates teasing through music instead of words.

4. “Dear Friend” – Paul McCartney

From the album: Wild Life (1971)
After the storm, Paul extended what sounded like a musical handshake. “Is this really the borderline?” he asks, his voice weary but open. It’s less of a song and more of a letter—sad, honest, and quietly hopeful that time could mend what pride had broken.

5. “Jealous Guy” – John Lennon

From the album: Imagine (1971)
Though not written directly for Paul, the emotion behind “Jealous Guy” mirrors Lennon’s regrets during the Beatles fallout. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he sings, revealing a softness that rarely appeared in public. It’s a song that replaces anger with reflection, showing that behind John’s sharp edges was a man still learning to forgive.

6. “Early 1970” – Ringo Starr

From the B-side to: It Don’t Come Easy (1971)
Ringo’s tune feels like a friendly roll call of the band’s post-Beatles lives. He mentions Paul on the farm, John in New York, and George still willing to jam. It’s lighthearted and genuine—a reminder that despite the tension, Ringo was always the peacemaker trying to keep the circle unbroken.

7. “God” – John Lennon

From the album: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
When Lennon declared, “I don’t believe in Beatles,” it wasn’t anger—it was release. The statement signaled the end of the myth and the beginning of honesty. It was John drawing a line between the man and the legend, choosing to exist outside the shadow of what he’d helped create.

8. “All Those Years Ago” – George Harrison

From the album: Somewhere in England (1981)
Written after John’s death, George’s tribute carries warmth and sorrow. “You were the one who imagined it all,” he sings, blending memory with gratitude. It’s a quiet acknowledgment of their shared past—a goodbye written in melody rather than words.