The Beatles' 1965 Hit Song Was John Lennon's Most Dangerous and Vulnerable Confession

"Help!" is one of the many early Beatles classics that first set them apart from the rest of the 1960s groups that were defining rock 'n' roll in that decade. It has an impossibly catchy groove, but the seemingly cheery melody and backing vocals usually distract from the somewhat disturbing content of the lyrics. When John Lennon first wrote it, it wasn't meant to be a fast-paced rock song; it was meant to be a slower ballad. But the others convinced him to make it into a rock track, and it worked. It was a hit, and to this day, it makes you tap your foot.