John Lennon Only Had 1 Regret About The Beatles But He Stood Idly By

Regrets often come from what we didn’t do, and for John Lennon, there was one lingering guilt tied to his time with The Beatles. Though he admitted he didn’t feel strongly enough to act on it, it remained a sore spot.

It’s the kind of realization that comes with hindsight. Creative differences, ego, and the passage of time often bring clarity—sometimes more than we’re ready to face.

Lennon’s Regret Over Songwriting Royalties

In David Sheff’s All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Lennon opened up about his life, career, and lingering thoughts on The Beatles. Conducted in August 1980, just months before his tragic death, the interview shed light on Lennon’s feelings about his former bandmates and their legacy.

One of his regrets involved George Harrison and Ringo Starr’s compensation for the Beatles’ songs. Reflecting on remarks Harrison made in his memoir, Lennon shared his guilt about how publishing royalties were divided. Lennon told Sheff:

“It was because of me that Ringo and George got a piece of John and Paul’s songwriting.
“Under [manager] Allen Klein’s auspices, John and Paul own completely anything that [publishing company] Maclen published. I always felt bad that George and Ringo didn’t get a piece of the publishing. Not bad enough to do anything about it, but slightly guilty about it.”

He continued:

“Under Klein’s maneuvering-and-management period when the opportunity came to give them only five percent each of Maclen—which is still a lot of money for songwriting—it was because of me that they got it. Not because of Klein and not because of Paul, because of me. Paul had to say ‘yes’ because he couldn’t say no. But it was under my instigation that they got it.”

Complicated Feelings About His Bandmates

The Beatles’ breakup and ensuing conflicts are well-known, but Lennon’s interview highlighted his complex feelings. While he fought for Harrison and Starr to receive royalties, he also felt misunderstood by them. Lennon explained:

“That’s why I might have sounded resentful about George and Ringo.
“Because of the Apple business going on and the attitude they conveyed that somehow, ‘John has forsaken us and John is tricking us.’ It just wasn’t true.”

Despite defending his actions, Lennon didn’t shy away from justifying the larger share he and McCartney held. “I think it’s possible for John and Paul to have created the same thing with two other guys,” Lennon mused. “It may not have been possible for George and Ringo to have created it without John and Paul.”

Though Lennon’s words reflect a mix of guilt and pride, they offer a deeper understanding of the personal and professional dynamics that shaped The Beatles’ legacy.