The Shortest Beatles Songs That Became Hits
via The Beatles / YouTube
The Beatles are known for packing a lot of creativity into their songs—most of which stick to the standard length of under five minutes, as was the norm in the 1960s. But once in a while, the Fab Four broke away from expectations and gave us something surprisingly short. These blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tunes still stand out, even with runtimes under a minute. Let’s take a look at four of the shortest Beatles songs that somehow left a lasting impression.
“Her Majesty” – 26 Seconds of Surprise
Topping the list is “Her Majesty”, the shortest official Beatles track ever released. Found at the very end of Abbey Road, this cheeky little music hall-style song runs for just 26 seconds—or 23 seconds, depending on the version. Originally intended to be part of the album’s medley, it was cut but later tacked on at the end as a surprise. Many believe it’s one of the first true “hidden” tracks in rock history—a trend that became popular years later.
“Dig It” – Just a Taste of a Jam
“Dig It”, from the Let It Be album, is only 51 seconds long in its official version. But believe it or not, there are much longer versions out there, including one 15-minute jam. What makes this snippet especially interesting is that it’s one of the rare Beatles songs credited to all four members—John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
“Wild Honey Pie” – A Solo Moment from Paul
At just 52 seconds, “Wild Honey Pie” is short, quirky, and totally Paul McCartney. Featured on The Beatles (aka The White Album), this track consists mostly of Paul chanting the title repeatedly over fuzzy guitar sounds. None of the other Beatles performed on the track—it’s all Paul from start to finish.
“Maggie Mae” – A Nod to Liverpool Roots
Clocking in at 40 seconds, “Maggie Mae” is a brief but meaningful cover that appears on Let It Be. It’s based on a traditional Liverpool folk song, tying directly back to the band’s roots. While the Beatles stopped recording many covers by the end of their run, this one feels like a sentimental tribute to where it all began.
