The meaning behind The Beatles' "Yesterday" still tickles fans' imagination and curiosity decades after the band released it.
The Beatles' "Yesterday" became one of the band's most famous tracks, securing No. 1 spots on different charts. Like the rock band's other songs, the track has an interesting backstory which most people are still curious about.
Paul McCartney previously noted the repeated inquiry during an interview with producer Rick Rubin. During the discussion, the major producer spoke about the documentary, "The Beatles Anthology," and revealed that he watched it.
McCartney said he has told certain anecdotes over and over again, including the story behind "Yesterday."
"But I'll still talk to someone, and they say, 'What? You dreamed 'Yesterday?' And so I'll tell the story again, but it's like, 'You sure you haven't heard this?' But not everyone has," he said.
According to Cosmopolitan, the Fab Four's track - which was composed by Paul McCartney - talks about longing to go back to the time when things were better as the lyrics suggest: "Suddenly / I'm not half the man I used to be," he sings. "There's a shadow hanging over me / Oh, yesterday came suddenly."
Per McCartney, he woke up with a song in his head while filming the band's movie, "Help!" He reportedly started playing the piano keys to translate the tune in his head.
As he completely finished it, McCartney felt worried he probably - unconsciously - plagiarized it. As a result, he held onto it before they finally completed it.
With that, the singer said "Yesterday" is the most complete song he has ever written.
But before the song received its heartfelt lyrics, McCartney initially sang about breakfast food and called the song "Breakfast Eggs." He jokingly performed it during his appearance on "The Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" in 2013.
The Beatles' "Yesterday" Also Pays Tribute to Paul McCartney's Mother
Fans always thought "Yesterday" is about a breakup. But some suggested that the song also talks about his late mother, Mary, who died when he was just 14.
"My mother's death broke my dad up," McCartney said. "That was the worst thing for me, hearing my dad cry. I'd never heard him cry before. It was a terrible blow to the family."
In 2013, McCartney said he did not realize he was singing about his mother until he performed the song for years.
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