Love You II: How The Beatles Use the II Chord

Yesterday I discussed the lydian plagal cadence, and how the lydian leanings of the II chord were sometimes thwarted by the plagal cadence that immediately followed it. It lead me to wonder what other ways The Beatles use the II chord.

There are two aspects that must be considered when analyzing how the II functions in Beatles songs: first, how it's approached (in other words, what comes immediately before the II); second, how it progresses (what comes immediately after the II). 72 of The Beatles' 211 officially recorded and released tracks between 1963-70 employ at least one II chord. The list below shows precisely how each song's II chords are approached and how they progress.

[4] 'Ask Me Why'
II: 2 approach: iv x2
progress: V x2

[9] 'Hold Me Tight'
II: 10 approach: ii x2, IV x8
progress: V x10

[9b] 'Anna (Go To Him)'
II: 2 approach: IV x2
progress: V x2

[10] 'From Me To You'
II: 2 approach: IV x2
progress: V x2

[12] 'She Loves You'
II: 3 approach: vi x3
progress: IV x1, iv x2

[13] 'I'll Get You'
II: 1 approach: I x1
progress: V x1

[13b] 'You Really Got A Hold On Me'
II: 3 approach: IV x3
progress: V x3

[13d] 'Devil In Her Heart'
II: 3 approach: iv x3
progress: V x3

[13e] 'Till There Was You'
II: 2 approach: ii x2
progress: V x2

[14] 'It Won't Be Long'
II: 1 approach: bIII x1
progress: bII x1

[16] 'I Wanna Be Your Man'
II: 6 approach: I x3, VI x3
progress: V x6

[17] 'Little Child'
II: 8 approach: I x2, IV x5, VI x1
progress: V x8

[20] 'Don't Bother Me'
II: 10 approach: III x10
progress: I x10

[22] 'This Boy'
II: 1 approach: IV x1
progress: V x1

[30] 'I Call Your Name'
II: 8 approach: Ø x1, iv x2, VI x5
progress: IV x4, V x2, bVI x2

[32] 'I'll Cry Instead'
II: 4 approach: iii x2, vi x2
progress: V x4

[33] 'I'll Be Back'
II: 1 approach: vi x1
progress: IV x1

[35] 'Things We Said Today'
II: 4 approach: IV x4
progress: V x4

[36] 'When I Get Home'
II: 5 approach: IV x5
progress: V x5

[37] 'Baby's In Black'
II: 2 approach: vi x2
progress: IV x2

[40] 'I Don't Want To Spoil the Party'
II: 4 approach: vi x4
progress: IV x4

[41] 'What You're Doing'
II: 26 approach: I x19, vi x7
progress: Ø x2, I x15, vi x9

[43] 'Eight Days A Week'
II: 20 approach: I x14, vi x6
progress: I x4, IV x16

[46] 'I'll Follow the Sun'
II: 10 approach: I x5, iii x5
progress: I x5, V x5

[48] 'Another Girl'
II: 2 approach: Ø x2
progress: I x2

[49] 'I Need You'
II: 2 approach: V x2
progress: V x2

[50] 'Yes It Is'
II: 2 approach: I x2
progress: V x2

[52] 'You Like Me Too Much'
II: 6 approach: iii x2, vi x4
progress: iii x2, V x2, VI x2

[59] 'Yesterday'
II: 5 approach: vi x5
progress: IV x5

[60b] 'Act Naturally'
II: 2 approach: I x2
progress: V x2

[61] 'Wait'
II: 4 approach: Ø x2, vi x2
progress: V x4

[64] 'Drive My Car'
II: 4 approach: vi x4
progress: V x4

[65] 'Day Tripper'
II: 3 approach: I x3
progress: Ø x3

[67] 'In My Life'
II: 3 approach: vi x3
progress: iv x3

[75] 'You Won't See Me'
II: 15 approach: I x15
progress: IV x13, V x2

[89] 'I Want to Tell You'
II: 6 approach: I x6
progress: ii x2, V x4

[90] 'Good Day Sunshine'
II: 6 approach: VI x6
progress: V x6

[94] 'When I'm Sixty-Four'
II: 3 approach: VI x3
progress: V x3

[97] 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
II: 9 approach: Ø x1, I x8
progress: IV x8, V x1

[99] 'Fixing A Hole'
II: 6 approach: V x6
progress: V x6

[100] 'Only A Northern Song'
II: 4 approach: bVI x4
progress: V x4

[102] 'Lovely Rita'
II: 6 approach: vi x6
progress: V x6

[103] 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'
II: 4 approach: I x4
progress: Ø x2, V x2

[106] 'She's Leaving Home'
II: 12 approach: vi x12
progress: I x2, IV x1, V x5, vi x4

[108] 'Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)'
II: 4 approach: I x4
progress: Ø x1, IV x1, V x2

[112] 'You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)'
II: 7 approach: vi x7
progress: IV x7

[115] 'Your Mother Should Know'
II: 7 approach: VI x7
progress: V x7

[116] 'I Am The Walrus'
II: 7 approach: Ø x1, bIII x2, V x1, bVI x3
progress: Ø x1, I x3, bIII x3

[120] 'Hello Goodbye'
II: 1 approach: i x1
progress: IV x1

[128] 'Blackbird'
II: 7 approach: I x7
progress: V x7

[130] 'Good Night'
II: 1 approach: ii x1
progress: v x1

[133] 'Cry Baby Cry'
II: 7 approach: vi x7
progress: bVII x7

[135] 'Sexy Sadie'
II: 2 approach: IV x2
progress: bII x2

[138] 'Mother Nature's Son'
II: 5 approach: vi x5
progress: I x1, V x4

[140] 'Rocky Raccoon'
II: 17 approach: vi x17
progress: V x17

[144] 'Glass Onion' *
TOTAL
II: 11 approach: I x4, IV x7
progress: Ø x1, I x1, iii x3, IV x6

* = 'Glass Onion' is harmonically ambiguous, which means its numbers could easily be interpreted otherwise. The above accounts for interpretations in both C major and in a minor.

[147] 'Piggies'
II: 9 approach: V x1, vi x8
progress: V x5, vi x4

[149] 'Honey Pie'
II: 12 approach: I x1, VI x7, vi x4
progress: I x2, V x10

[150] 'Savoy Truffle'
II: 4 approach: I x4
progress: IV x4

[151] 'Martha My Dear'
II: 8 approach: V x2, VI x4, vi x2
progress: V x5, vi x3


[163] For You Blue'
II: 1 approach: IV x1
progress: V x1

[166] 'One After 909'
II: 4 approach: I x4
progress: V x4

[167] 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'
II: 6 approach: i x6
progress: bVI x6

[170] 'Something'
II: 8 approach: IV x4, vi x4
progress: IV x4, V x4

[171] 'Oh! Darling'
II: 2 approach: I x2
progress: V x2

[172] 'Octopus's Garden'
II: 1 approach: I x1
progress: Ø x1

[173] 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
II: 3 approach: I x3
progress: bIII x3

[174] 'Her Majesty'
II: 2 approach: I x2
progress: V x2

[177] 'Here Comes The Sun'
II: 5 approach: IV x5
progress: I x5

[178] 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer'
II: 8 approach: I x5, V x3
progress: V x8

[180] 'The End'
II: 3 approach: I x1, IV x2
progress: bIII x1, V x2

[181] 'Sun King'
II: 2 approach: IV x2
progress: I x1, IV x1

Those 72 tracks use a total of 396 II chords, which break down as follows:

APPROACH
Ø : 7 instances (1.8%) in 5 songs

• x1 'I Call Your Name'
• x2 'Another Girl'
• x2 'Wait'
• x1 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
• x1 'I Am The Walrus'

I : 122 instances (30.8%) in 25 songs

• x1 'I'll Get You'
• x3 'I Wanna Be Your Man'
• x2 'Little Child'
• x19 'What You're Doing'
• x14 'Eight Days A Week'
• x5 'I'll Follow The Sun'
• x2 'Yes It Is'
• x2 'Act Naturally'
• x3 'Day Tripper'
• x15 'You Won't See Me'
• x6 'I Want To Tell You'
• x8 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
• x4 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'
• x4 'Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)'
• x7 'Blackbird'
• x4 'Glass Onion' *
• x1 'Honey Pie'
• x4 'Savoy Truffle'
• x4 'One After 909'
• x2 'Oh! Darling'
• x1 'Octopus's Garden'
• x3 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
• x2 'Her Majesty'
• x5 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer'
• x1 'The End'
  
  

i: 7 instances (1.8%) in 2 songs

• x1 'Hello Goodbye'
• x6 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'

ii: 5 instances (1.3%) in 3 songs

• x2 'Hold Me Tight'
• x2 'Till There Was You'
• x1 'Good Night'

bIII: 3 instances (0.8%) in 2 songs

• x1 'It Won't Be Long'
• x2 'I Am The Walrus'

III: 10 instances (2.5%) in 1 song

• x10 'Don't Bother Me'

iii: 9 instances (2.3%) in 2 songs

• x2 'I'll Cry Instead'
• x5 'I'll Follow The Sun'
• x2 'You Like Me Too Much'

IV: 55 instances (13.9%) in 16 songs

• x8 'Hold Me Tight'
• x2 'Anna (Go To Him)'
• x2 'From Me To You'
• x3 'You Really Got a Hold on Me'
• x5 'Little Child'
• x1 'This Boy'
• x2 'I Call Your Name'
• x4 'Things We Said Today'
• x5 'When I Get Home'
• x2 'Sexy Sadie'
• x7 'Glass Onion' *
• x1 'For You Blue'
• x4 'Something'
• x5 'Here Comes The Sun'
• x2 'The End'
• x2 'Sun King'

iv : 5 instances (1.3%) in 2 songs

• x2 'Ask Me Why'
• x3 'Devil in Her Heart'

V: 15 instances (3.8%) in 6 songs

• x2 'I Need You'
• x6 'Fixing A Hole'
• x1 'I Am The Walrus'
• x1 'Piggies'
• x2 'Martha My Dear'
• x3 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer'

bVI: 7 instances (1.8%) in 2 songs

• x4 'Only A Northern Song'
• x3 'I Am The Walrus'

VI: 36 instances (9.1%) in 8 songs

• x3 'I Wanna Be Your Man'
• x1 'Little Child'
• x5 'I Call Your Name'
• x6 'Good Day Sunshine'
• x3 'When I'm Sixty-Four'
• x7 'Your Mother Should Know'
• x7 'Honey Pie'
• x4 'Martha My Dear'

vi : 115 instances (29.0%) in 22 songs

• x3 'She Loves You'
• x2 'I'll Cry Instead'
• x1 'I'll Be Back'
• x2 'Baby's In Black'
• x4 'I Don't Want To Spoil The Party'
• x7 'What You're Doing'
• x6 'Eight Days A Week'
• x4 'You Like Me Too Much'
• x5 'Yesterday'
• x2 'Wait
• x4 'Drive My Car'
• x3 'In My Life'
• x6 'Lovely Rita'
• x12 'She's Leaving Home'
• x7 'You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)'
• x7 'Cry Baby Cry'
• x5 'Mother Nature's Son'
• x17 'Rocky Raccoon'
• x8 'Piggies'
• x4 'Honey Pie'
• x2 'Martha My Dear'
• x4 'Something'

PROGRESS:
Ø : 11 instances (2.8%) in 7 songs

• x2 'What You're Doing'
• x3 'Day Tripper'
• x2 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'
• x1 'Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)
• x1 'I Am The Walrus'
• x1 'Glass Onion' *
• x1 'Octopus's Garden'

I: 51 instances (12.9%) in 12 songs

• x10 'Don't Bother Me'
• x15 'What You're Doing'
• x4 'Eight Days A Week'
• x5 'I'll Follow The Sun'
• x2 'Another Girl'
• x2 'She's Leaving Home'
• x3 'I Am The Walrus'
• x1 'Mother Nature's Son'
• x1 'Glass Onion' *
• x2 'Honey Pie'
• x5 'Here Comes The Sun'
• x1 'Sun King'
  
  

bII: 3 instances (0.8%) in 2 songs

• x1 'It Won't Be Long'
• x2 'Sexy Sadie'

ii: 2 instances (0.5%) in 1 song

• x2 'I Want To Tell You'

bIII: 7 instances (1.8%) in 3 songs

• x3 'I Am The Walrus'
• x3 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
• x1 'The End'

iii: 5 instances (1.3%) in 2 songs

• x2 'You Like Me Too Much'
• x3 'Glass Onion' *

IV: 79 instances (19.9%) in 17 songs

• x1 'She Loves You'
• x4 'I Call Your Name'
• x1 'I'll Be Back'
• x2 'Baby's In Black'
• x4 'I Don't Want To Spoil The Party'
• x16 'Eight Days A Week'
• x5 'Yesterday'
• x13 'You Won't See Me'
• x8 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
• x1 'She's Leaving Home'
• x1 'Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)
• x7 'You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)'
• x1 'Hello Goodbye'
• x6 'Glass Onion' *
• x4 'Savoy Truffle'
• x4 'Something'
• x1 'Sun King'

iv: 5 instances (1.3%) in 2 songs

• x2 'She Loves You'
• x3 'In My Life'

V: 195 instances (49.2%) in 47 songs

• x2 'Ask Me Why'
• x10 'Hold Me Tight'
• x2 'Anna (Go To Him)'
• x2 'From Me To You'
• x1 'I'll Get You'
• x3 'You Really Got A Hold On Me'
• x3 'Devil In Her Heart'
• x2 'Till There Was You'
• x6 'I Wanna Be Your Man'
• x8 'Little Child'
• x1 'This Boy'
• x2 'I Call Your Name'
• x4 'I'll Cry Instead'
• x4 'Things We Said Today'
• x5 'When I Get Home'
• x5 'I'll Follow The Sun'
• x2 'I Need You'
• x2 'Yes It Is'
• x2 'You Like Me Too Much'
• x2 'Act Naturally'
• x4 'Wait'
• x4 'Drive My Car'
• x2 'You Won't See Me'
• x4 'I Want To Tell You'
• x6 'Good Day Sunshine'
• x3 'When I'm Sixty-Four'
• x1 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
• x6 'Fixing A Hole'
• x4 'Only A Northern Song'
• x6 'Lovely Rita'
• x2 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'
• x5 'She's Leaving Home'
• x2 'Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)'
• x7 'Your Mother Should Know'
• x7 'Blackbird'
• x4 'Mother Nature's Son'
• x17 'Rocky Raccoon'
• x5 'Piggies'
• x10 'Honey Pie'
• x5 'Martha My Dear'
• x1 'For You Blue'
• x4 'One After 909'
• x4 'Something'
• x2 'Oh! Darling'
• x2 'Her Majesty'
• x8 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer'
• x2 'The End'

v: 1 instance (0.3%) in 1 song

• x1 'Good Night'

bVI: 8 instances (2.0%) in 2 songs

• x2 'I Call Your Name'
• x6 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'

VI: 2 instances (0.5%) in 1 song

• x2 'You Like Me Too Much'

vi: 20 instances (5.1%) in 4 songs

• x9 'What You're Doing'
• x4 'She's Leaving Home'
• x4 'Piggies'
• x3 'Martha My Dear'

bVII: 7 instances (1.8%) in 1 song

• x7 'Cry Baby Cry'

To illustrate of this information visually, here are two pie graphs: the first showing how II chords are approached, the second showing how II chords progress.

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I visit Vermont for the second time in my career tomorrow night:

Wednesday, 5 October 2016, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St, Rutland, VT
The Beatles: Band of the Sixties
Explore the music of The Beatles in this 60-minute multimedia presentation (part history and part musical analysis) spanning the full 1960's: beginning with the band's seminal visits to Hamburg, continuing through Beatlemania, and concluding with Abbey Road. The program will be supplemented with audio clips of music and excerpts from interviews with the band members.