Best Song on The Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’? Poll

"What Goes On" to my ears, if imagined as a physical geometric shape, is the most asymmetrical shape ever. Weird way to describe it but I often think of songs in such a way. To me, it is very hard to follow structurally. And of course the melody is far from their greatest of moments. It is a really bizarre song. It's like country music written by aliens or something. lol

 

Side 1 has two of the 'big three' and is my favourite
Side 2 is let down by the opening track but is otherwise solid and also has "In My Life"

 

Girl. Beautiful and poignant song.

One of the very few cases where a mainly John song is my favourite in a Beatles album.

The two most voted ones though, In My Life and Nowhere Man, and songs I like a whole lot less than most people seem to. Neither is among my favourites in their catalog. More like middle of the road for me.

 

In My Life

 

In My Life
Gets the edge over Nowhere Man and Norwegian Wood.
I still think 'I've Just Seen A Face" belongs on RUBBER SOUL and it would have gotten consideration as it is a perfect opener for this album. I like Drive My Car a lot too. Would have been a great opener to side two.

 

In My Life

 

"In My Life" got my vote

But Honorable Mentions:
"Nowhere Man"
"The Word"

 

True, Lennon was the primary songwriter on most of the 'important' songs 1962 to early 1965. However without Macca & George to flesh them out, I don't think those songs would have been sonically what they needed to be the platform for superstardom they were launched into. I will always maintain that The Beatles were the amazing sum of 4 parts.

 

Actually for me "Think For Yourself" holds a very special place due to when I first heard it at a certain time of life.

 

That and she said she said

 

I'm Looking Through You has long been my favorite.

 

Nowhere Man, but it could as easily have been In My Life. The overall quality of the album is amazing though.

 

My favorite song is on side 2 but side 1 is my favored side.

 

Perhaps you have synesthesia.

 

I went for ‘Norwegian Wood’ but I could’ve picked ‘In My Life’ or ‘Nowhere Man’ or ‘I’m Looking Through You’ or ‘Girl’ or ‘Think For Yourself’ or any bloody song from it, because it’s a masterpiece.

Well, maybe I couldn’t pick ‘What Goes On’ or ‘Run For Your Life’ because they’re the two weak tracks from the LP in my opinion. Imagine ‘Day Tripper’ and ‘We Can Work It Out’ in their place?... Wow!

 

"I've Just Seen A Face" definitely belongs and made a great opener for the US version. But "Nowhere Man" is indispensable too. I had to make up my own CD back in the day, conflating both US and UK versions, and skipping "Drive My Car" which--thematically--doesn't seem to fit with this album. Anyway, it remains my favorite of their albums.

 

Same here.

 

What Goes On always seems to get the put downs. I mean c'mon, George's awesome country licks, Ringo's super fine swing beat, and those delicious harmonies, what's not to like? Well, ok maybe Ringo's lead vocal, but even that works for me, although admittedly it's not everyone. Still, it's a charming, very unique Beatle song, like no other in the catalog. It get thumbs up in my book.

 

I’ve made my own deluxe version of the album with those songs on it, and at least where I put them, they sound like they were always part of the album!

 

It is charming! But I still think it sound like country music written by aliens.

 

I’d be interested in seeing your version.

Here’s mine:

Drive My Car
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
You Won’t See Me
Run For Your Life
•••
Think For Yourself
The Word
Michelle
What Goes On
—
Day Tripper
Girl
I’m Looking Through You
In My Life
•••
Wait
If I Needed Someone
We Can Work It Out
Nowhere Man

 

'Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)'

runner up :
'Nowhere Man'

A pretty tough call between those two,
the pair among John's very best efforts
of his career. The Rock Kingdom belonged
to John at this point in history.
For a brief moment in time, he was King.

 

My favorite is "Wait" but I wouldn't call it the best song on the album. Two entirely different things and best just means sports competition to me Love the 1965 stereo mix btw.

 

Would be a perfect album with the two singles included

My sequence

Day Tripper
Drive My Car
Norwegian Wood
You Won't See Me
Nowhere Man
Think For Yourself
The Word

Michelle
We Can Work It Out
Girl
I'm Looking Through You
Wait
If I Needed Someone
In My Life