Comments on: Not A Second Time

By: Leandro Rigobello

Leandro Rigobello — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 08:14:04 +0000

I’m looking at the score of the song and I see that there are two staves for the guitars. So they play two guitars and the second guitar just reinforces some points. Both guitars are Gibson J160E.

By: Paul Beaulieu

Paul Beaulieu — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 14:59:56 +0000

Pretty haunting and dramatic for a bit of album filler.

By: Tony_M_1956

Tony_M_1956 — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 10:43:56 +0000

Thank you SergioQ for the YouTube link, which shows how beautiful the melody of Not A Second Time is. There are times when creating a beautiful melody in a rock and roll song becomes second to the beat or rhythm. Two or three minutes is hardly long enough to display one’s grasp of an Aeolian Cadence when trying to match chords with the basic melody and flow of a song. I believe Lennon did not dwell on too many songs while his fans were obsessed because he was far too busy touring, and preparing for the next Beatles’ project. Ringo and George had all the time in the world for they need only do their thing in the studio and did not have the pressure of creating songs from nothing for singles or albums. There must have been such a rush to produce song after song in the early years of the Beatles that I can understand Lennon wanting to re-record all the Beatles songs once the pressure of being a Beatle was off his shoulders. Not A Second Time is another underrated Beatles song whether it was written as a filler, or not.

By: Travis

Travis — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 16:23:12 +0000

Um, I think you’re missing quite a bit. I LOVE John’s songs on AHDN, but, just for example, India/first getting with Yoko/The White Album was just as inspired a period for John songwriting-wise (he even wrote the original “Jealous Guy”, one of his all-time greatest melodies, during that ’68 period).
Additionally, he was still “the leader” of the Beatles just as much with “For Sale” and dominated “Help”(aside from “Yesterday” lol) almost as much as AHDN, maintaining that penchant for turning out classic melodies(even songs he didn’t like such as “It’s Only Love”). Paul started to catch up on Rubber Soul and Revolver, but John’s vision still colors the heart of those albums (not to mention numerous other straight classics-“Nowhere Man”, “In My Life”, “Girl”, “Tomorrow Never Knows”, “She Said She Said”). Sure, Sgt Pepper saw a bored, uninspired John, and Paul mostly running the show…except some song called “A Day In The Life”! Then we got “Because”, “Across The Universe”, “Strawberry Fields Forever” “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”…and so many more; regardless, my favorite pop songwriter ever as well (didn’t Strauss compose “Thus Spake Zarathustra” in the 20th century? Yeah, lets stick with “pop”).

By: Elias

Elias — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 05:15:05 +0000

Maybe I m crazy but I listen to Paul s vocals supporting the whole song and at the end it s clear because it’s out of sync with Lennon s vocal

By: John Pepper

John Pepper — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 16:58:07 +0000

There are two absolutely two guitars. Lennon seems to be playing an acoustic, audible on both channels, prominently the left. It was likely double tracked. Then there’s the electric “lead” rhythm guitar playing quickly triplets along with the piano in the left channel, definitely George.

By: Tom Jr. Morgan

Tom Jr. Morgan — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 23:27:07 +0000

John was really the best of all. The rhythmic cadence on Not A Second Time (7 bar verses!?) is unbelievable. No wasted space in that song. And yes, the song’s on Hard Day’s Night are untouchable! Couple those songs with something like I Am A Walrus and you have a songwriter that is absolutely unparalleled. THE artistic genius of the 20th century in my estimation.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 21:22:57 +0000

I don’t have much of substance to add, but I have always loved the way you can hear one of the lads yell out a little “Oh!” at about :45 or :46. I have always fancied it to be Paul, but it’s kind of hard to tell. As far as the song itself goes, I have always liked it. It does feel a bit slapdash, and clearly isn’t one of their barnburners, but it’s still a great little track. I like the darkness of the lyric against the upbeat tempo, abd the thick, textural sort of feel the piano gives it.

By: TRAVIS A JONES

TRAVIS A JONES — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 15:31:09 +0000

A GENIUS effort, especially for it’s time. Unlike anything else going when it was recording, and I don’t know if I’ve heard much from later Beatle work or much of any pop/rock achieving the very strange but satisfying, “dark yet poppy” feel of this track. I think the Beatles and Martin considered it a throwaway because even they didn’t really understand what they had just created at the time. As the years have gone by, “hits” from this album like “It Won’t Be Long” and “All My Loving” and even “I Want To Hold Your Hand” have gotten beyond old for me, but I don’t think this song will ever get boring for me. That’s a lot of the brilliance of Lennon at his best – there’s so much complexity, nuance and interesting “Lennon-isms” going on that you can listen to it a thousand times and still come away with a feeling of satisfaction. I agree with so many of the comments people! This song, along with “All I’ve Got To Do” and “Don’t Both Me” capture the feel of “With…” that begins with that moody cover art. This song may in fact not only definitely NOT be a throwaway, but in fact the final and most prominent version of the theme that another commenting about that runs through the album, this sort of ominous streak running through the songs that, instead of making them less accessible, makes them far most interesting while still very catch than things like “All My Loving” which are eventually kind of boring, by-the-numbers Beatle pop (which is still the best kind, don’t get me wrong!).

By: Patricio García

Patricio García — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 07:03:46 +0000

Nice thought

By: Patricio García

Patricio García — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 07:01:19 +0000

It’s one of my favorite Beatles songs, It’s a masterpiece, John Lennon was really inspired at these years, his songs in With The Beatles and A Hard Days Night are probably the best he ever did.

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 03:00:37 +0000

Rubbish? Not a Second Time is a Great Song! The melody & words are haunting & beautiful! With the middle piano bridge breathtaking! One of the best so called filler songs The Fabs ever done! This tune could have been a hit with many other bands of the time, but The Fabs were top heavy with number ones! Check out the Pretenders version of this song, it’s very good! I’m sure John would agree. GOD BLESS… .

By: Pablo Castro

Pablo Castro — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 07:56:04 +0000

There is no audible acoustic guitar here, and there´s certainly at least an electric one. There is no reason why George wouldn´t be on this track. He´s there, likely doing the rhythmic guitar with John. Paul´s bass is definitely there also.

By: OldFartBassPlayer Walt

OldFartBassPlayer Walt — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 16:14:57 +0000

I’m surprised no one has yet mentioned the drumming. Powerful, omninous,
driving. Ringo added a LOT to the ambiance of this track!

By: Kelly Wing

Kelly Wing — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 04:12:37 +0000

Something for Not A Second Time (NAST) must be said. If you study the lyrics of the songs up until NAST, you see they tend to be submissive, passive. The woman is in charge: Please, please me. Baby take a chance on me. The world is treating me bad- misery. NAST represents a break from this type of lyric in that JL is putting his foot down and saying, “NO MORE.” NAST is a turn in a new lyrical direction of the man calling the shots, and without this song you don’t get to I Want To Hold Your Hand, You Can’t Do That, Hard Days Night, When I Get Home, et. al. NAST is a key song in the lyrical development of the whole group.

By: rockie coppolella

rockie coppolella — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 05:19:01 +0000

Thoroughly enjoyable.

By: SergioQ

SergioQ — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:03:56 +0000

Am always scouring the net for guitar solos of Beatles’ songs. I know some people are dismissive of this tune, and even Lennon himself was quite harsh on a lot of his best works (probably most artists are).

But whether you like, dislike, or think this is a filler song: Check this link out, it’s a beautiful melody, an actual piece of art.

http://youtu.be/wUg6R8t1jeg

By: Baggio

Baggio — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 05:23:28 +0000

I think this is a song that starts up really well (I love the beginning) but doesn’t keep up all the way to the end… The piano solo in particular doesn’t work very well here.

I feel the same way about Every Little Thing – great start but doesn’t go anywhere.

By: Bongo

Bongo — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 01:21:29 +0000

Calling this: one of Lennon’s greatest is a little strecth Lennon fan, but even Beatles throw away songs like this one are very good indeed

By: Darren J Ray

Darren J Ray — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 17:40:43 +0000

Sorry but it’s definitely all John on that coda.