THE BEATLES - THE WORD (Lennon/McCartney) From RUBBER SOUL
album. Released on December, 3rd, 1965.
----------------------------------------------------------
Some authors have commented that THE WORD has a four bar
middle. It doesn't sound as a middle to me, but a short
verse, with a clear expositive quality to it. The lyrics
all but confirm that idea. The song has a twelve bar minor
structure, with long choruses with slight lyric variations
and short verses, interlude and coda. Paul is playing from
the beginning a D major chord in the studio Steinway while
John's D7#9 guitar chord contains the minor third, #9 in
John's chord (only one and a half steps, not two steps up
the tonic, as his piano D chord). It sounds bizarre to say
the least, but the fact is that they kept it going through
the whole number:
D Dm D Dm
| e | 5 5 |
| B | (7) (6) |
| G | 2 2 7 7 |
| D(4) (3) |
| A | 5 5 |
| E | |
D major and minor triads
Sure George Martin had an opinion on this issue. Maybe he
thought it was heavy enough to let ambiguity play a rol in
the song too. John also uses the minor third in his lead
vocal, backed by Paul who sings the fifth, which reinforces
the idea that it is a minor key:
| e | | 5 Paul |
| B | 6 8 (6) John |
| G | 7 9 | |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
Say the word ....
The two part harmony changes to three part, although a fourth
voice can be heard while singing "sunshine" (maybe an end of
the double tracked Lennon lead) when singing the syncopated:
It's
| e | 7 5 5 | 5 3 Paul |
| B | 8 5 | 6 3 George |
| G | 7 6 5 | 5 4 John |
| D | 7 (5 5) |
| A | | |
| E | | |
so fine It's
sunshine
It sounds really good (John's chromatic descending line is
just fine). John's solo lines are brief, but very confident.
His doubling vocal track sounds like an echo to the right.
The "I mean to show everybody the light" line persuasively
leads to a climactic vocal harmony that is topped by a doubled
falsetto (01:38), that adds a dramatic effect and gives way to
the interlude. George Martin plays harmonium, giving a wink at
the major/minor song key, using D, D5, D, Dsus4 and Dm to close
it and lead to the coda (02:10-02:14). The falsetto harmony
reappears to say goodbye.
Paul's bass part is nothing less than great and the same can
be said of Ringo's drumming, which is extremely intuitive, with
open hi-hat fours on the verses, some first class fills and
bass drum work, and always syncronized with the bass. The drums
sound may be considered a great achievement for that time and
place. (Paul and George play also maracas). George's guitar,
probably his Gretsch Tennessian, has a deep, clear tone and was
doubled in the verses. As a whole, a great song with a "message"
and a paradox on Macca's account, very telling on future things
to come.
Say the word and you'll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard? The word is love
It's so fine, it's sunshine
It's the word, Love.
In the beginning I misunderstood,
But now I got it, the word is good.
Spread the word and you'll be free
Spread the word and be like me
Spread the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard? The word is love
It's so fine, it's sunshine
It's the word, Love.
Everywhere I go I hear it said
In the good and the bad books that I have read.
Say the word and you'll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard? The word is love
It's so fine, it's sunshine
It's the word, Love.
Now that I know that for you must be right
I mean to show everybody the light.
Give the word a chance to say
That the word is just the way
It's the word I'm thinking of
And the only word is love
It's so fine, It's sunshine
It's the word, love
Say the word, love
Say the word, love
Say the word, love
Say the word, love.
G G7
D
| e | 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| D | | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
Say the
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
CHORUS
00:05
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
word and you'll free say the
be
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
word and be me say the
like
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
D7#9
G7
| e | 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 3 |
| B | 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 |
| G | 4 4 4 4 | 4 4 4 4 |
| D | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 3 |
| E | | 5 |
word I'm thinking Have
of you
| e | 3 3 | 3 3 |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| D | x x | x x |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | 3 3 | 3 3 |
D
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
heard? the word love It's
is
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
00:21
G A F G
| e | 7 5 | 5 3 |
| B | 8 5 | 6 3 |
| G | 7 6 | 5 4 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
so fine sunshine It's
it's the
D
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| E | | |
word Love.
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
VERSE
00:28
D C
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 3 3 3 3 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 5 5 5 5 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 5 5 5 5 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
In the beginning I misunderstood,
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 3 0 3 3 | 3 0 3 3 |
| E | | |
F5 G5
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | 0 0 0 0 |
| D | 3 3 3 3 | 0 0 0 0 |
| A | 3 3 3 3 | 5 5 5 5 |
| E | 1 1 1 1 | 3 3 3 3 |
but now I got it the word good. Spread
is the
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 3 0 3 3 | 3 0 0 3 |
| E | | |
CHORUS
00:36
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
word and you'll free spread
be the
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 0 | 0 0 |
| E | | |
word and be me spread
like the
| e | | |
| B | 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 3 |
| B | 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 |
| G | 4 4 4 4 | 4 4 4 4 |
| D | 5 5 3 | 5 5 5 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
word I'm thinking Have
of you
| e | 3 3 | 3 3 |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| D | x x | x x |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | 3 3 | 3 3 |
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
heard? the word love It's
is
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
00:52
| e | 7 5 | 5 3 |
| B | 8 5 | 6 3 |
| G | 7 6 | 5 4 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
so fine sunshine It's
it's the
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 | |
| E | | |
word Love.
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
VERSE
00:59
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 3 3 3 3 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 5 5 5 5 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 5 5 5 5 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
Everywhere go I hear said
I it
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 3 0 3 3 | 3 0 3 3 |
| E | | |
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | 0 0 0 0 |
| D | 3 3 3 3 | 0 0 0 0 |
| A | 3 3 3 3 | 5 5 5 5 |
| E | 1 1 1 1 | 3 3 3 3 |
In good the books that have read. Say the
the and bad I
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 3 0 3 3 | 3 |
| E | | 5 3 5 3 5 3 1B |
CHORUS
01:07
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 0 | 0 0 |
| E | | |
word and you'll free say the
be
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
word and be me say the
like
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 3 |
| B | 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 |
| G | 4 4 4 4 | 4 4 4 4 |
| D | 5 | 5 5 5 5 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 |
| E | | |
word I'm thinking Have
of you
| e | 3 3 | 3 3 |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| D | x x | x x |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | 3 3 | 3 3 |
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
heard? the word love It's
is
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
01:23
| e | 7 5 | 5 3 |
| B | 8 5 | 6 3 |
| G | 7 6 | 5 4 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
so fine sunshine It's
it's the
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
word Love.
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
VERSE
01:31
Now that I know that for you must be right
I mean to show everybody the light.
CHORUS
01:38
Give the word a chance to say
That the word is just the way
It's the word I'm thinking of
And the only word is love
It's so fine, It's sunshine
It's the ....
01:58
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | |
| E | | |
word Love.
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | | 8 4\3 1 |
| B | | |
| G | | 5 1P0 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
Harmonium
INTERLUDE
02:02
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 3 3 3 3 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 5 5 5 5 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 5 5 5 5 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 3 0 3 3 | 3 0 3 3 |
| E | | |
D5 D7
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | 0 0 0 0 |
| D | 3 3 3 3 | 0 0 0 0 |
| A | 3 3 3 3 | 5 5 5 5 |
| E | 1 1 1 1 | 3 3 3 3 |
I
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 3 0 3 3 | 3 |
| E | | 5 3 5 3 5 3 1B |
F6 G5
02:10
D
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 0 | 0 0 |
| E | | |
Say the
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | 2 2 | 3 3 1 |
| B | 3 3 | |
| G | 2 | |
| D | 0 | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
D D5 D Dsus4 Dm
CODA
02:14
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 0 | 0 0 |
| E | | |
word Love Say the
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 |
| B | 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 |
| G | 4 4 4 | 4 4 4 |
| D | 5 | 5 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
word Love Say the
| e | 3 3 | 3 3 |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| D | x x | x x |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | 3 3 | 3 3 |
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 0 |
| E | | |
word Love Say the
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | 7 5 | 5 3 |
| B | 8 5 | 6 3 |
| G | 7 6 | 5 4 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
word
| e | 5 5 5 | 5 |
| B | 7 7 7 | 7 |
| G | 7 7 7 | 7 |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 0 0 | |
| E | | |
Love
| e | | |
| B | 6 6 | 6 6 |
| G | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | 4 4 | 4 4 |
| A | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| E | | |
| e | | 8 4\3 1 |
| B | | |
| G | | 5 1P0 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
02:34
| e | 5 5 5 5 | 3 3 3 3 |
| B | 7 7 7 7 | 5 5 5 5 |
| G | 7 7 7 7 | 5 5 5 5 |
| D | | |
| A | | |
| E | | |
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | |
| D | 0 | 0 |
| A | 3 0 3 3 | 3 0 3 3 |
| E | | |
........................... Fade out ..........................
| e | | |
| B | | |
| G | | |
| D | 3 3 3 3 | |
| A | 3 3 3 3 | |
| E | 1 1 1 1 | |
I
...............................
B Bend
R Release
/ Slide up
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H Hammer-on
P Pull-off
~ Vibrato
+ Harmonic
x Mute note
. Play note like a dot in standard notation
^ Ties two notes together
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