The song that marked the beginning of The Beatles' journey: "This is the one"
(Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
Wed 21 January 2026 16:26, UK
If you’re ready to engage in a passionate debate, let’s get one thing straight: claiming that The Beatles aren’t among the most significant, if not the greatest, musical acts ever is like trying to argue against the existence of gravity. Sure, they may not resonate with everyone's taste, and you might consider them overplayed and ubiquitous, which is a valid perspective. However, the impact these four young men from Liverpool had on the music landscape is irrefutable.
Even today, the fruits of their labor continue to flourish in the music industry. It’s one thing for a band to be acknowledged as pioneers of various rock genres, but it’s quite another to simultaneously hold the title of one of the best-selling groups in history while remaining culturally relevant sixty years after their debut. This level of enduring influence is something typically reserved for historical figures rather than musicians.
Every successful career must have a starting point, yet few kick off with a hit in the top 20. But then again, most bands are not The Beatles. John Lennon and Paul McCartney had been honing their songwriting skills for years before they finally struck gold with their first release under their own name. Their debut single, "Love Me Do," reached number 17 on the UK singles chart in late 1962.
As McCartney shared in his conversation with Barry Miles for the book "Many Years From Now," "‘Love Me Do’ was completely co-written. It might have started as my idea, but some parts were truly collaborative, and I believe this one was. It was simply Lennon and McCartney sitting together without either of us having a particularly groundbreaking concept."
He further elaborated on their creative journey, stating, "We loved creating it; learning how to become songwriters was fascinating. Our eventual strength came from writing extensively during our formative years. ‘Love Me Do’ was our first hit, ironically one of the two songs we own, because when we first signed with EMI, their publishing company, Ardmore and Beechwood, took both ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘P.S. I Love You.’ Fortunately, through some negotiations, we managed to regain ownership of those tracks."
Lennon, however, offered a slightly different account. In a 1980 interview with David Sheff, he said, "‘Love Me Do’ is primarily Paul’s creation. He wrote it as a teenager. I might have contributed to the middle eight, but I can't say for sure. I do recall him having the song even back in Hamburg, long before we considered ourselves songwriters."
Lennon also reminisced about their early days of introducing original material, stating, "It began in Liverpool and Hamburg. ‘Love Me Do’ was among the first songs we composed, initiated by Paul when he was just about 15. Taking that leap to perform our own music was quite daunting because we had previously played so many incredible songs from artists like Ray Charles and Little Richard." He concluded by saying, "It felt challenging to sing ‘Love Me Do’ at first; we thought our own compositions seemed a bit weak. However, as time went on, we overcame that hesitation and decided to give them a shot."
While Lennon may have felt a touch of apprehension, the rest of the band was ecstatic when the record was finally pressed. Ringo Starr expressed his excitement in a 1976 interview, recalling, "For me, nothing was more significant than that first piece of vinyl. You can’t imagine how amazing it felt. We were officially a recording artist!"
"Love Me Do" served as the initial stepping stone on The Beatles' path to global fame. For McCartney, it was the moment they realized they were destined to make a lasting impact. "In Hamburg, we clicked. At the Cavern, we clicked. But if you ask me when we knew we’d made it, it was when ‘Love Me Do’ entered the charts," McCartney reflected. "That was the pivotal moment. It gave us direction, and that’s crucial.
Starting is often the hardest part. Those who dismiss the band as merely a simplistic pop group often share a similar sentiment towards the works of artists like Andy Warhol or Mark Rothko, arguing their art lacks depth due to its simplicity. However, such views miss the essence of the matter. The Beatles seized the opportunity to craft songs they wished to dance to and lyrics they wanted to sing, and they followed through on that vision.
While "Love Me Do" may not frequently be hailed as the band's finest work—and I would certainly raise an eyebrow at anyone who claims otherwise—it ignited a chain reaction of creativity that ultimately established them as perhaps the most significant band of the modern era. Therefore, it can be argued that this song is indeed the one that initiated it all.
