With A Little Help From My Friends
The Beatles Lyrics
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What would you think if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing out of key
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends
What do I do when my love is away?
Does it worry you to be alone?
How do I feel by the end of the day?
Are you sad because you're on your own?
No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends
Do you need anybody?
I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love
Would you believe in a love at first sight?
Yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time
What do you see when you turn out the light?
I can't tell you, but I know it's mine
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, get high with a little help from my friends
Oh, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends
Do you need anybody?
I just need someone to love
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends
Oh, I get high with a little help from my friends
Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends
With a little help from my friends
The Beatles' song "With a Little Help from My Friends" is a classic tune about friendship and love. The song's protagonist, identified as "Billy Shears," asks listeners what they would think if he sang out of tune, and wonders if they would walk out on him. "Lend me your ears," he implores, "and I'll sing you a song, and I'll try not to sing out of key." The song then transitions to the chorus, where Billy confesses that he "gets by with a little help from my friends," and that he "gets high with a little help from my friends." He plans to "try with a little help from my friends" to overcome his challenges.
The song's second verse introduces a new theme: loneliness. Billy asks, "What do I do when my love is away? / Does it worry you to be alone? / How do I feel by the end of the day? / Are you sad because you're on your own?" The chorus then repeats, with Billy once again affirming that he gets by with help from his friends. The final verse poses several questions, including "Would you believe in a love at first sight?" Billy concludes that he will "get by with a little help from my friends" and "gonna try with a little help from my friends" to find someone to love.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy Shears
Starting the song by introducing a new persona
What would you think if I sang out of tune?
Asking the listener how they would react if the singer failed at singing
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Questioning if the listener would abandon the singer in their time of need
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
Asking for the audience's attention to share a piece of music
And I'll try not to sing out of key
Making a promise to attempt not to sing poorly
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Acknowledging that the singer's friends help them survive life's challenges
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Suggesting that the singer uses substances to cope with life's difficulties
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends
Expressing a determination to tackle life's obstacles with the support of friends
What do I do when my love is away?
Questioning how to manage life without the supportive presence of a romantic partner
Does it worry you to be alone?
Asking the audience if they share the singer's fear of solitude
How do I feel by the end of the day?
Reflecting on their emotional state at the end of a day
Are you sad because you're on your own?
Asking the listener if they experience sadness from being alone
No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Asserting that the singer's friends provide support in difficult times
Mm, get high with a little help from my friends
Repeating the previous suggestion about substance use for coping
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends
Reiterating the singer's determination to face and overcome challenges alongside their friends' support
Do you need anybody?
Questioning if the listener desires human companionship
I need somebody to love
Admitting that the singer wants to find love and companionship
Could it be anybody?
Asking the listener if they believe anyone could fulfill the singer's desire for love
I want somebody to love
Repeating the desire for a loving partner
Would you believe in a love at first sight?
Asking the listener if they think love can be instantaneous
Yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time
Asserting that the singer believes in and has witnessed love at first sight
What do you see when you turn out the light?
Asking if the listener experiences an internal vision when they close their eyes
I can't tell you, but I know it's mine
Admitting that the singer experiences an internal vision when they close their eyes but can't explain it to others
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Reiterating the importance of the singer's friends in their life
Mm, get high with a little help from my friends
Repeating the previous suggestion of using substances to cope
Oh, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends
Emphasizing the singer's determination to continue relying on their friends for support
Do you need anybody?
Repeating the previous question about the listener's desire for companionship
I just need someone to love
Emphasizing the simple, basic desire for love and companionship
Could it be anybody?
Repeating the previous question about the potential availability of a loving partner
I want somebody to love
Reiterating the desire for a loving partner
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Closing the song with a repetition of the importance of friends in the singer's life
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends
Reiterating the singer's determination to face life's challenges with the support of their friends
Oh, I get high with a little help from my friends
Repeating the suggestion of using substances to cope
Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends
Final repetition of the central message of the song: the importance of friends as a source of support and comfort
With a little help from my friends
Closing the song with a repetition of the title, emphasizing the central message once more
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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