Skip to content

We Can Work It Out - Episode 104 with Scott DeVeaux

October 30, 2026 · 1 h 23 min

Show notes

On this episode of our Beatles podcast, music historian Scott DeVeaux joins Kenyon and Peter to explore the song We Can Work It Out. The song originated from a fight between Paul and Jane Asher, but wasn't considered complete until John came in with a darker middle 8 to complete the composition.


We are just getting into Rubber Soul season, and if the first few songs are any indication, it's going to be a great ride.


We cover:


-Paul McCartney's relationship with Jane Asher, Margaret Asher, and the importance of the Asher family

-The mysterious "Lucy from Littletown" demo and Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle

-John Lennon's middle eight and competing interpretations of the song's lyrics

-George Harrison's suggested shift into 3/4 time and the Beatles' evolving use of unusual meters

-The October 1965 recording sessions

-The harmonium and the its place in the emerging Rubber Soul sound

-The three promotional films filmed at Twickenham Studios

-The double-A-side release with Day Tripper


Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All episodes of The Beatles: Note By Note

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.