Formal structure of [133] "Cry Baby Cry": Chorus 0:00-0:11* Verse 1 0:11-0:28 Chorus 0:28-0:40 Verse 2 0:40-0:58 Chorus 0:58-1:10 Verse 3 1:10-1:27 Chorus 1:27-1:40 Verse 4 1:40-1:58 Chorus 1:58-2:10 Chorus 2:10-2:21 Chorus 2:21-2:34 Coda (ind.) 2:34-3:01 Comments: This is the 10th Beatles song so far to open with a chorus (following [12] "She Loves You", [14] "It Won't Be Long", [23] "Can't Buy Me Love", [34] "Any Time at All", [36] "When I Get Home", [48] "Another Girl", [55] "You're Going to Lose That Girl", [69] "Nowhere Man", and [86] "Eleanor Rigby"). It is also the 8th Beatles song so far to use contiguous choruses (following [44b] "Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey", [58] "I'm Down", [73] "Think For Yourself", [90] "Good Day Sunshine", [113] "It's All Too Much", [114] "All You Need Is Love", and [117] "Blue Jay Way"). Since the chorus both starts and ends with the same title lyrics, these contiguous choruses overlap, resulting in slightly shorter choruses than heard earlier in the song. This will be most easily understood visually (click the graphic to enlarge): This example illustrates how the 5th through 7th iterations of the chorus overlap. All the chords, lyrics, and the melody are identical through each chorus until the very last chord (G), which is not omitted from the last 3 choruses, but rather overlaps with the start of each chorus (which also uses the same chord of G). This removes 2 beats from each chorus, which is why the 5th and 6th choruses incorporate a 2/4 bar.
The coda ("Can you take me back where I came from...?") is entirely independent from the rest of the song, somewhat reminiscent of [120] "Hello Goodbye".
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[121] "The Inner Light" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 8 or 9 measures and 23 or 18 seconds each time (the second iteration transitions to the coda, accounting for the slightly shortened duration), totaling 26.3% (41/156) of the song's duration. [122] "Lady Madonna" The middle 8 is used thrice (with the middle of those three replacing vocals with a saxophone solo), lasting 8 measures and 18 or 17 seconds each time, totaling 38.7% (53/137) of the song's duration. The middle 8s also modulate from A Major to C Major. [123] "Across the Universe" "Across the Universe" is the 46th Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [124] "Hey Bulldog" "Hey Bulldog" is the 47th Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [125] "Revolution 1" "Revolution 1" is the 48th Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [126] "Don't Pass Me By" "Don't Pass Me By" is the 49th Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [127] "Revolution 9" "Revolution 9" is the 50th Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [128] "Blackbird" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 4.5 measures and 11.5 seconds each time, totaling 16.7% of the song's duration. [129] "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey" "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey" is the 51st Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [130] "Good Night" The middle 8 is used thrice, lasting 4 measures and 14 or 15 seconds each time, totaling 22.3% of the song's duration. [131] "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 8 measures and 15 seconds both times, totaling 16.0% of the song's duration. The middle 8 tonicizes IV. [132] "Revolution" "Revolution" is the 52nd Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [133] "Cry Baby Cry" "Cry Baby Cry" is the 53rd Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [134] "Helter Skelter" "Helter Skelter" is the 54th Beatles original not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as contrast to the verses. [135] "Sexy Sadie" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 5.5 measures and averaging 11.5 seconds each time, totaling 11.9% of the song's duration. [136] "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 16 measures and 34 seconds each time, totaling 23.69% of the song's duration. The middle 8 modulates from A minor to A major. [137] "Hey Jude" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 11.5 measures and 37.5 seconds each time, totaling 17.5% of the song's duration. [138] "Mother Nature's Son" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 7.5 measures and 21 seconds each time, totaling 25.1% of the song's duration. [139] "Yer Blues" The middle 8 is used thrice, lasting 4 measures and averaging about 10 seconds each, totaling 12.1% (29/239) of the song's duration. [140] "Rocky Raccoon" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 8 measures the first time and 9 measures the second (because the second middle 8 concludes the song), averaging 24 seconds each, which totals 22.6% (48/212) of the song's duration. [141] "Wild Honey Pie" "Wild Honey Pie" is the 55th Beatles song not to use a middle 8. The novel structure of the song has no need for a middle 8. [142] "Back in the USSR" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 10 measures and 17 seconds each time, totaling 14.7% (24/163) of the song's duration. [143] "Dear Prudence" The middle 8 is used once, lasting 5.5 measures and 17 seconds, totaling 7.2% (17/235) of the song's duration. [144] "Glass Onion" The middle 8 is used once, lasting 10 measures and 19 seconds, totaling 13.9% (19/137) of the song's duration. This middle 8 concludes with two bars borrowed from the end of verse B. [145] "I Will" The middle 8 is used once, lasting 8 measures and 19 seconds, totaling 18.1% (19/105) of the song's duration. [146] "Birthday" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 10 measures and 14 seconds each time, totaling 17.3% (28/162) of the song's duration. The middle 8 modulates form A major to C major. [147] "Piggies" The middle 8 is used once, lasting 7 measures and 18 seconds, totaling 14.6% (18/123) of the song's duration. [148] "Happiness is a Warm Gun" "Happiness is a Warm Gun" is the 56th Beatles song not to use a middle 8. The novel structure of the song has no need for a middle 8. [149] "Honey Pie" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 8 measures and 13 seconds each time, totaling 16.3% (26/160) of the song's duration. [150] "Savoy Truffle" The middle 8 is used twice, lasting 8 measures and averaging 15.5 seconds, totaling 21.1% (31/174) of the song's duration. [151] "Martha My Dear" The middle 8 is used twice, with the first iteration incorporating a substantial extension. The first middle 8 (extension included) is 15.5 measures and 42 seconds long; the second is 8.5 measures and 23 seconds long. Combine these two, and the middle 8 totals 43.9% (65/148) of the song's duration. [152] "Long Long Long" The middle 8 is used once, lasting 7.5 measures and 26 seconds, totaling 14.1% (26/185) of the song's duration. [153] "I'm So Tired" "I'm So Tired" is the 57th Beatles song not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as a contrast to the verses. [154] "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" is the 58th Beatles song not to use a middle 8. Instead, the chorus serves as a contrast to the verses. [155] "Why Don't We Do It In The Road" "Why Don't We Do It In The Road" is the 59th Beatles song not to use a middle 8. (There is no contrast to the verses, with the possible exception of the percussion introduction). [156] "Julia" The middle 8 is used once, lasting 5 measures and 18 seconds, totaling 10.2% (18/176) of the song's duration. Updated cumulative chart:
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