I once had a girl/
Or should I say she once had me…

“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” is a song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and released on their 1965 album “Rubber Soul.” The song is widely considered to be one of the first examples of psychedelic pop music, and its lyrics tell the story of a man who recalls a failed romantic encounter with a woman.

The song’s impact lies in its influence on the genre of psychedelic pop, which was a major movement in the 1960s. It’s also notable for being one of the first Western pop songs to incorporate elements of Indian classical music, with the use of a sitar in the instrumental section. The song’s imaginative and unconventional use of musical elements, combined with its introspective and somewhat cryptic lyrics, made it a hit among audiences and a standout track on “Rubber Soul”.

In terms of its lyrics, “Norwegian Wood” has been interpreted in a number of different ways over the years. Some have seen it as a simple love story, while others have interpreted it as a commentary on the changing social and cultural norms of the 1960s. The song’s ambiguous and open-ended lyrics have also contributed to its enduring popularity, as listeners are able to bring their own interpretations to the song.

Compare The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” with Dylan’s “Fourth Time Around”. It has the same theme and time signature. Both deal with uncomfortable encounters while trying to hook up with a new woman. Neither guy gets the girl. While “Norwegian Wood” is considered somewhat of an homage to Dylan, this song came out slightly before Fourth Time Around. The songs are so similar that it is hard to believe one was not inspired by the other.

Both are great. The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” is the more iconic song. “Fourth Time Around” is a deep track.

The presence of Harrison’s sitar provides the song with its signature sound. Supposedly this is the first rock song with a sitar. The sitar would become one of Harrison’s big contributions to rock—not just the sitar, but incorporating other culture’s music into Western music. In no time The Stones and The Byrds and others would also be incorporating a sitar into their songs.

“Norwegian Wood” is a little different from the typical Beatles love song in that it is really a story about a failed hookup. It is nice to know that even rockstars have off days.

Norwegian Wood Lyrics

I once had a girl
Or should I say she once had me
She showed me her room
Isn’t it good Norwegian wood?

She asked me to stay
And she told me to sit anywhere
So I looked around
And I noticed there wasn’t a chair

I sat on a rug biding my time
Drinking her wine
We talked until two and then she said
“It’s time for bed”

She told me she worked
In the morning and started to laugh
I told her I didn’t
And crawled off to sleep in the bath

And when I awoke I was alone
This bird had flown
So I lit a fire
Isn’t it good Norwegian wood?

written by lennon/mccartney