The Beatles – We Can Work It Out

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  General Comment:This is what - a love song about the need to put up with each other - or a song about the need for international peace? A little of both of course.
  
  I think the author meant to be obscure about this double meaning. It's more poetic this way.

  Flag dagoion December 03, 2012   Link

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  Song Meaning:It's difficult to know what Paul's relationship with Jane Asher was like up close but the Rubber Soul sessions make it pretty clear it was heading for troubled waters by 1965. Jane was a successful actress working with the RSC and Paul was a red blooded male flying around the world as a Beatle. Paul wanted a stay at home wife but Jane went to join the Bristol Old Vic. "We Can Work It Out" is certainly a plea from the heart. John was on hand to give his friend a verse written from the heart.

  Flag winsfordtownon October 29, 2012   Link

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  Song Meaning:This song is about a couple rowing. The row begins because the narrator is a positive person, the person he's talking to is a negative person. The narrator is trying to get through to the person he's talking to explaining that they must both be positive for their love to survive.

  Flag bwals92on February 21, 2012   Link

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    Rowing? I doubt its specifically about rowing but the imagery is cute.

    Flag bellababyon February 21, 2012  
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  General Comment:It's saying:stop being so bull-headed. Try compromising for once. :)
  Good song.

  Flag Thia007on November 26, 2011   Link

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    Stubborn asses. Ugh!

    Flag bellababyon February 21, 2012  
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  General Comment:My favorite part of the song is the merry go round music with the chorus. Really makes you feel like these people are going round and round and not getting anywhere.

  Flag jeff1970on July 23, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:my ex boyfriend always told me this song was about a drug deal..though i can see it fitting a relationship the drug deal reference makes sense to me too

  Flag livineasyyyon January 04, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:It was Pauls way of apologizing to John and trying to keep their friendship intact. At this point the two of them were at ends over who would take over for Brian. Paul wanted Lindas father, John had someone else in mind and didn't like Mr. Eastman. This caused a rift between the two of them, but I guess they worked it out for a while. Peace.

  Flag FritzTon November 30, 2009   Link

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  Song Meaning:I know the intentional fallacy does not always alow this, but think about the time when this was written, circa 1963-1964, I would get the exact date but I am two stoned to use wikipedia right now, so just allow me to be unspecific for a moment. Now, knowing it was written in this time period, one must look at what was occuring at this time period, ummm the cuban missile crisis, yes. Anyhow, as the cuban missile was occuring right now, and the beatles were obviously worried about what could happen in the world, and so hope that kennedy and kruschev "can work it out," both kruschev and kennedy are singing to one another and so it is "we can work it out," of course, kruschev is banging his shoe in the beat as he is doing it. Also, it should be worthy to note that the chorus or middle eight "life is very short..." is being sung in between kruschev and kennedy's bickering by fidel castro, che guevara, and winston churchill. Hopefully with this information the song will know make sense to you. Love One Another.

  Flag MatthewArnold72on March 27, 2009   Link

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    The beauty of the Beatles is that their songs often had multiple meanings depending on the listener. We Can Work it Out is a great example of that. There is the obvious relationship angle that most posters have discussed. There is also the angle that MatthewArnold72 mentioned. I agree with his assessment---this song is an obvious commentary on the Cold War. Think about the constant threat of nuclear war, brinksmanship foreign policy and the emerging counterculture that believed they should focus on more issues than simply the threat of nuclear holocaust. This is a VERY political song that happens to double as a relationship song. And, THAT, is the brilliance of the Beatles---nobody before or since has managed to write music as well.

    Flag christoryon May 11, 2009  
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  General Comment:first I was like 'oh- sweet song' till I heard/saw that he doesn't sing something about him getting the other's point, but just 'you should get MY point' but still, beautiful song with a important message

  Flag Gin_inteacupson February 27, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:To me it's 100% obvious that this song is about growing differences between Paul and John. (So I agree with DOGbreath, Uncommon & born to run.)
  
  I'm fairly certain that each wrote the part they sing, since the words totally match their personalities. Paul (the controller) has the parts that start "Try to see it my way...". John (the rebel) has the parts that start with "Life is very short..." Really the lyrics should have spaces between these parts, since they are so distinctly different.
  
  The reason I feel so certain is that it exactly describes my bro (Paul-like) vs me (John-like). So I know this dynamic close up. Ain't pretty.

  Flag HenryKrinkleon January 06, 2008   Link

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