Who wrote The Beatles' songs?

Answer 1

John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the bulk of the Beatles' music, either together or separately, and often with one advising or encouraging the other by way of constructive criticism or suggestions.

George Harrison also wrote a good many great songs, but felt he was not getting his share of songs recorded (about one per album) which was a contributing factor in later years to his growing disenchantment with the Beatles. George wrote many songs that were never recorded by the Beatles which he later used for his solo albums.

Ringo Starr contributed two of his own songs during the life of the Beatles. He is given partial credit on several other songs, such as "What Goes On". Many of his songwriting efforts turned up on his solo recordings.

One song was credited to the whole group: "Flying" from Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. "Maggie Mae" from Let It Be was credited to the foursome as an arrangement; the song predated the band.

From well over 200 releases, the Beatles recorded fewer than 25 songs that were not Beatles compositions, and those were mostly on the early albums, which still had a greater than 50% Beatles songwriting content.

Carl Perkins has the honor of writing more Beatle songs than any other outside artist. He wrote "Honey Don't", "Matchbox", "Everybody Wants to Be My Baby".

Little Richard co-wrote "Long Tall Sally".

Larry Williams wrote "Slow Down".

Smokey Robinson wrote "You Really Got a Hold on Me".

Buddy Holly wrote "Words of Love".

The answer is that they all wrote songs at some point. However the main writers were always Paul McCartney and John Lennon. They collaborated on many of the songs.
Lennon and McCartney were the Beatles' primary songwriters. It's difficult to know which of them actually contributed the most because of the way they shared writing credits. After them would be George Harrison; Ringo Starr wrote the fewest songs of the four. John Lennon and Paul McCartney, though George Harrison and Ringo Starr had some of their own as well.

Answer 2

John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the bulk of the Beatles' music, either together or separately, and often with one advising or encouraging the other by way of constructive criticism or suggestions.

George Harrison also wrote a good many great songs, but felt he was not getting his share of songs recorded (about one per album) which was a contributing factor in later years to his growing disenchantment with the Beatles. George wrote many songs that were never recorded by the Beatles which he later used for his solo albums.

Ringo Starr contributed two of his own songs during the life of the Beatles. He is given partial credit on several other songs, such as "What Goes On". Many of his songwriting efforts turned up on his solo recordings.

One song was credited to the whole group: "Flying" from Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. "Maggie Mae" from Let It Be was credited to the foursome as an arrangement; the song predated the band.

From well over 200 releases, the Beatles recorded fewer than 25 songs that were not Beatles compositions, and those were mostly on the early albums, which still had a greater than 50% Beatles songwriting content.

Carl Perkins has the honor of writing more Beatle songs than any other outside artist. He wrote "Honey Don't", "Matchbox", "Everybody Wants to Be My Baby".

Little Richard co-wrote "Long Tall Sally".

Larry Williams wrote "Slow Down".

Smokey Robinson wrote "You Really Got a Hold on Me".

Buddy Holly wrote "Words of Love".

The answer is that they all wrote songs at some point. However the main writers were always Paul McCartney and John Lennon. They collaborated on many of the songs.
Lennon and McCartney were the Beatles' primary songwriters. It's difficult to know which of them actually contributed the most because of the way they shared writing credits. After them would be George Harrison; Ringo Starr wrote the fewest songs of the four. John Lennon and Paul McCartney, though George Harrison and Ringo Starr had some of their own as well.