Something inside, that was always denied, for so many years/
She’s leaving home, bye, bye.

“She’s Leaving Home” is about a young woman who is thinking of moving out of her parent’s house and going to live with her boyfriend. We know how she feels. She is exited to start her new life. It is based on a true story. She leaves a note and leaves as the parents sleep.

Her parents believe she is making a big mistake. And they are hurt. Haven’t they done everything for her? Does she not see how hard have they struggled to provide? Everything they did for her and all they got was a note? They gave her everything money could buy!

She’s Leaving Home is so beautifully crafted. Specifically, Lennon gives voice to the parents’ concerns in the “Greek Chorus”.  The harp is the main instrument on this song. It sounds unique and the arrangement is perfect. The strings sound great too. You can hear the upright bass being bowed to create the deep sounds. McCartney sings verses and Lennon sings the choruses.

If there is such a thing as a hidden gem of a Beatles song, “She’s Leaving Home” is it. The song also makes a great case as George Martin as “The Fifth Beatle”–he produced the song. I don’t believe any Beatles contribute instrumental performances on this song, joining Eleanor Rigby as the other song in their catalog with that distinction.

She’s Leaving Home Lyrics
Wednesday morning at five o’clock
As the day begins,
Silently closing her bedroom door,
Leaving the note that she hoped would say more.

She goes downstairs to the kitchen
Clutching her handkerchief.
Quietly turning the backdoor key,
Stepping outside, she is free.

She(we gave her most of our lives).
Is leaving (sacrificed most of our lives).
Home (we gave her everything money could buy).
She’s leaving home, after living alone, for so many years (bye bye).

Father snores as his wife gets into her dressing gown.
Picks up the letter that’s lying there.
Standing alone at the top of the stairs,
She breaks down and cries to her husband,
“Daddy, our baby’s gone.
“Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly?
How could she do this to me?”

She (we never thought of ourselves).
Is leaving (never a thought for ourselves).
Home (we struggled hard all our lives to get by).
She’s leaving home, after living alone, for so many years.

Friday morning, at nine o’clock
She is far away.
Waiting to keep the appointment she made.
Meeting a man from the Motortrade.

She (what did we do that was wrong)?
Is Having (we didn’t know it was wrong).
Fun (fun is the one thing that money can’t buy).
Something inside, that was always denied, for so many years,
She’s leaving home, bye, bye.

songwriters lennon/mccartney