“What Goes On” is one of the most unusual songs on Rubber Soul. Released on 3 December 1965 as the opening track on side two of the album, it later became the B-side of the US single “Nowhere Man”. It stands out immediately because it is the only Beatles song credited to Lennon-McCartney/Starkey.
That unique credit is only part of the story. “What Goes On” reaches further back than most Rubber Soul songs, with roots in John Lennon’s pre-fame writing. It also gave Ringo Starr his only lead vocal on the album. Add in its country-rock feel, Paul’s private demo for Ringo before the session, and the late-night one-take recording. Together, those details make it far more interesting than its reputation as a minor album track suggests.
Key Facts
- Release Date: 3 December 1965 (UK album release), 21 February 1966 (US single B-side)
- Recorded: 4 November 1965
- Studio: EMI Studios, London
- Genre: Country rock
- Track Duration: 2:50
- Record Label: Parlophone (UK album), Capitol (US single)
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney/Starkey
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Norman Smith
Performers And Instruments
- Ringo Starr: lead vocal, drums
- John Lennon: backing vocal, electric guitar
- Paul McCartney: backing vocal, bass guitar
- George Harrison: electric guitar
Where To Find “What Goes On”
- Rubber Soul Album
- North American album: Yesterday and Today
- US single: “Nowhere Man” / “What Goes On”
What Goes On: Song Background
“What Goes On” began life long before Beatlemania. Lennon later described it as an early song from the days when the group were still effectively the Quarrymen or close to it, and most writers date its origins to 1959. By the time the Beatles finally recorded it for release, only the basic chorus idea seems to have survived from that original version.
That long gestation matters because it helps explain why “What Goes On” feels slightly different from the rest of Rubber Soul. Much of the album is forward-looking and tightly modern for late 1965. This song, by contrast, carries an older rockabilly and country streak, which makes it sound like a surviving fragment from an earlier Lennon style that had been reshaped for a later Beatles album.
Lennon later described “What Goes On” as an early song from before The Beatles’ fame, dating back to the Quarrymen period or close to it. He also suggested that it had been revived with a new middle eight, probably helped by McCartney, because the group needed a Ringo song and Lennon disliked wasting usable ideas.
The 1963 False Start
The Beatles had already considered recording “What Goes On” on 5 March 1963 during the session that produced “From Me To You” and “Thank You Girl”. They also wanted to tackle “One After 909”, but there was only enough time left for one more song, so “What Goes On” was left behind.
That is a strong detail because it shows how old the song really was by the time it surfaced on Rubber Soul. John and Paul are also reported to have taped a demo version in 1963, but it has never been officially released, which leaves the finished 1965 master as the only version most listeners know.
Why Ringo Got A Credit
“What Goes On” is the only released Beatles song credited to Lennon-McCartney/Starkey. Therefore, it holds an obvious place in Beatles trivia. Starr later joked that he had written “about five words”, but even that small contribution was enough to earn him a share of the writing credit.
The credit matters for another reason too. This was not just a paperwork novelty. The song was specifically reworked to become Ringo’s vocal spot on the album. As a result, his role shaped the finished record more than the short writing joke suggests.
Paul’s Private Demo For Ringo
One of the least-mentioned details in the song’s history is that Paul McCartney prepared a private multi-track demo to show Ringo how “What Goes On” should sound. According to Neil Aspinall, Paul put down his own guide version with himself singing, playing lead guitar, bass, and drums, and then let Ringo hear it before the proper studio session.
That is exactly the kind of detail that makes the song more interesting than a routine album filler. It shows how deliberately the Beatles were shaping Ringo’s vocal features by late 1965. At the same time, the song itself had originated years earlier.
Recording At EMI
The Beatles finally recorded the released version late on 4 November 1965 at EMI Studios in London. The session began at 11 pm and ran into the early hours. This says a lot about the pace of the Rubber Soul deadline.
The basic track was secured in a single take. Ringo handled drums and a guide vocal, while Paul played bass and John and George played electric guitars. Overdubs then completed the performance. Starr replaced the guide vocal with his finished lead, and John and Paul added backing vocals.
There is also a small studio in-joke buried in the track. Just before George Harrison’s lead break, Lennon can be heard saying, “We already told you why!”, a quick nod back to the Beatles’ earlier song “Tell Me Why”.
The Same-Night Link To “12-Bar Original”
Once “What Goes On” was complete, the Beatles stayed in the studio and recorded the instrumental “12-Bar Original”. That track was not used on Rubber Soul and remained unreleased until Anthology 2 in 1996, but the pairing is still worth noting because both recordings came from the same late-night push.
That makes “What Goes On” part of a more interesting session than many quick summaries suggest. It was not an isolated Ringo feature dropped casually onto the album. It came out of one of the key late-night bursts that helped finish Rubber Soul.
Why “What Goes On” Still Matters
“What Goes On” is rarely listed among the towering songs on Rubber Soul, and that is fair enough. It is not trying to be “In My Life” or “Norwegian Wood“. Its value lies elsewhere.
It preserves one of Lennon’s oldest surviving song ideas. Moreover, it gives Ringo his only lead vocal on the album and the only Lennon-McCartney/Starkey credit in the Beatles’ catalogue. It also keeps alive the band’s country and rockabilly instincts. Meanwhile, the rest of Rubber Soul was pushing into more sophisticated territory. That combination makes it much more than a throwaway track.
Take A Listen To The Beatles Song “What Goes On”
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Sources And References For The Song “What Goes On”
- The Beatles – Official song facts and unique credit.
- The Beatles – Official Rubber Soul album context.
- The Paul McCartney Project – Background, demo, and US release details.
- The Paul McCartney Project – Recording session and overdub notes.
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