And these memories lose their meaning/
When I think of love as something new.

Should we think of each love as something new? That is, when you meet the love of your life, is it fair to say “this is different” or “I never knew what love was before I met you”? Lennon does not want to make this declaration to his new love because he knows that it diminishes the importance of his lovers and friends in the past.

In “In My Life” The Beatles argue that those people were important, and he would like to think of them fondly from time to time. It won’t change his love or affection for his current significant other. She shouldn’t feel the need to diminish his past by insisting he think of love as something she only experienced with her.

He has a point. And “In My Life” is one of the most popular Beatles songs, so I think many people echo his sentiments. I think a bit differently. I would like to think that when you find your forever-love it is a bit different. That there is a special aspect that makes it unique and truly worthy of the word “love”. Something beyond semantics.

This is the beginning of the transition from the middle to the late Beatles. Here, Lennon begins to tackle important topics with more nuanced and experimental music. The most interesting part is obviously the choice of solo instrument. George Martin played a harpsichord (I believe) in half speed and then sped it up when he recorded it. That would be wild to play in real-time (though it is doable).

In My Life Lyrics

There are places I’ll remember,
All my life, though some have changed.
Some forever, not for better,
Some have gone, and some remain.
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall.
Some are dead, and some are living:
In my life, I’ve loved them all.

But of all these friends and lovers,
There is no one compares with you.
And these memories lose their meaning,
When I think of love as something new.

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before.
I know I’ll often stop and think about them;
In my life, I’ll love you more.

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before.
I know I’ll often stop and think about them.
In my life I’ll love you more.
In my life I’ll love you more.

written by lennon/mccartney