Songs > Ticket To Ride

Ticket To Ride

(Lennon/McCartney)

Song background
Noted by John as "one of the earliest heavy metal records ever made", "Ticket To Ride" indeed featured a driving riff and heavy beat and was influenced by the Kinks "You Really Got Me". It was later revealed by journalist Don Short, a friend of the band, that John had coined the phrase "ticket to ride" during the band's 1962 Hamburg trip in reference to one who was billed medically fit to ride the trains.

Recording dates ...

Release dates

• April 9, 1965 (UK) ("Ticket To Ride/Yes It Is" single)
• April 19, 1965 (US) ("Ticket To Ride/Yes It Is" single)
• August 6, 1965 (UK) (on Help!)
• August 13, 1965 (US) (on Help!)
• April 2, 1973 (US) (on 1962-66)
• April 19, 1973 (UK) (on 1962-66)
• March 22, 1982 (US) (on Reel Music)
• March 29, 1982 (UK) (on Reel Music)
• November 14, 2000 (UK & US) (on Beatles 1)

Recording notes ...

Chart performance

• #1, April 22 - May 12 (3 weeks), Record Retailer (UK)
• #1, May 22 (1 week), Billboard (US)

Quotes ...

Awards ...

Other notes ...

Notable covers

• The Carpenters (from Ticket To Ride)