For no one

"For No One" is a song written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon–McCartney) that originally appeared on the Beatles' seventh album, Revolver. A baroque pop song about the end of a relationship, it was one of McCartney's most mature and poignant works upon its release. Mostly performed by the composer, the track is distinguished by its French horn solo, performed by Alan Civil and used as an obbligato in the final verse.
John Lennon said of the song, "One of my favourites of his—a nice piece of work."


McCartney recalls writing "For No One" in the bathroom of a ski resort in the Swiss Alps while on holiday with his then girlfriend Jane Asher. He said, "I suspect it was about another argument." The lyrics end enigmatically with "...a love that should have lasted years..."
The song's working title was "Why Did It Die?" It is built upon a descending scale progression with a refrain that modulates to the supertonic minor.
The song was recorded on 9, 16 and 19 May 1966. McCartney sang and played clavichord (rented from George Martin's AIR company), piano and bass guitar, while Ringo Starr played drums and tambourine. John Lennon and George Harrison did not contribute to the recording.
The French horn solo was by Alan Civil, a British horn player described by recording engineer Geoff Emerick as the "best horn player in London".During the session, McCartney pushed Civil to play a note that was beyond the usual range of the instrument. According to Emerick, the result was the "performance of his life."Civil said that the song was "recorded in rather bad musical style, in that it was 'in the cracks' neither B-flat nor B-major. This posed a certain difficulty in tuning my instrument."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6iAykoKLog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo2UbO1JMQo


Revolver was the last Beatles album to have different US and UK versions. In 2002, Rolling Stone readers voted it the greatest album of all time. The album cover was created by artist Klaus Voormann, who became friends with the band when they were playing clubs in Hamburg, Germany in the early '60s. 


Lyrics:

Your day breaks, your mind aches
You find that all her words of kindness linger on
When she no longer needs you

She wakes up, she makes up
She takes her time and doesn't feel she has to hurry
She no longer needs you

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind her tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You want her, you need her
And yet you don't believe her when she says her love is dead
You think she needs you

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You stay home, she goes out
She says that long ago she knew someone but now he's gone
She doesn't need him

Your day breaks, your mind aches
There will be times when all the things she said will fill your head
You won't forget her

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind her tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years



Like others said before, I too say: "Sad and beautiful" andalso: "one of my favorites" and finally: "usually under-rated!".

So much more advanced and deep compared to "You Won't See Me" on Rubber Soul. But similar in theme: it discribes a situation in which you are invisible to the one you love.

The line "No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one" has a big pause right in the middle of it. But those tears that she cries are for no one, since you don't even exist for her anymore. So really its one line, but it sounds like two. The way that the song is sang, its more like THIS is one line: "Cried for no one -- a love that should have lasted years" makes it sound like something said and done after she has left and you are alone. Too late, too sad.

The French Horn is a beautiful solo (Alan Civil). I read somewhere that the musician who played it was late, and ran up a hill to the studio and was out of breath, so he had to take a minute or two before he was ready to do his part. Little anectodes add up to the strangeness of  it all, but may be just fairy tales.

Anyway, the horn solo is a wonderful counterpoint to the sad lyrics and deliberate - almost PLODDING - rhythm of the song. In my opinion it symbolizes the deep contrast between her carefree attitude about breaking up and going on with her life, on one side, with his desperation from being helplessly left alone. And secondly, its a bright and shiny encouragement to get up and get over her: a reminder that there will be better times. And it sounds so cultured, precise, and cheerful that it almost makes you think the entire song is going to take a big turn ... but it is just an interlude.
Lingering sorrow and regret elbow their way back in..... fascinating.