THEGarcia+Lennon IndexEVERY SONG IS SOMEWHERE.

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The Beatles

Strawberry Fields Forever

Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane · 1967 · Lennon–McCartney

GLI94
Pure Lennon
Confidence 90% · evidence quality, not position
The BeatlesPhotograph loading from archive
The Beatles performing at the Hollywood Bowl, 1965.
Robert W. Young · Public domain

Two takes in two keys at two tempos, joined. Nobody ever played what you hear.

GARCIAPerformance creates the music
DEAD CENTERNeither wins
LENNONComposition creates the music

Hollow marks: the other 49 scored songs · Hatched band: the Crossover Zone

The case

The strongest honest argument for each side, then the ruling.

The Garcia argument

The song was found by playing it. It moved through many takes and two complete arrangements, changing tempo, key and instrumentation on the way, and the band did not know which version was the song until late.

The Lennon argument

The released master is two different takes, 7 and 26, recorded in different keys at different tempos, with one sped up and the other slowed until they met in the middle of the second chorus. No group of musicians ever played what you hear. The work exists only as that splice.

The verdict: GLI 94

Exploration happened, but all of it happened before the object was fixed, and the object is unperformable by design. Recording Specificity is at the maximum. It ranks a little under Eleanor Rigby because its form was discovered in the studio and not written out in advance.

What is fixed

  • The splice
  • Tape speed and pitch
  • Every overdub
  • The false ending

What is open

  • Nothing, once the master was cut

Evidence dimensions

Each runs from 0, Garcia, to 100, Lennon. Their weighted composite is 94. The published GLI is 94, the same.

Structural FixityHow much of sequence, form and duration is settled beforehand?
94
ElasticFixed

Fixed, down to a false ending and a fade back in.

Performance ConsistencyHow far can two performances differ and still be the same work?
92
TransformativeReproducible

No group of musicians ever played what is on the record.

PredeterminationHow much of what matters exists before the performance begins?
92
EmergentPredetermined

The song was explored across many takes, but all of that happened before the object was fixed.

Development MethodHow does the music move forward?
94
ExploratoryComposed

Editing. Two arrangements were joined after the fact.

Recording SpecificityDoes the recording document an occurrence, or define the object?
100
Documents eventDefines work

The maximum. The work exists only as a splice.

Transformational tolerance

The tune can be sung. The record cannot be performed.

Confidence: 90%

The construction of the master is documented in detail.

Keep arguing

Every placement is relative. These are the songs this one was measured against.

GLI neighbours

Numerically closest

YesterdayThe Beatles · Help!, 1965GLI 93BecauseThe Beatles · Abbey Road, 1969GLI 95Happiness Is a Warm GunThe Beatles · The Beatles (White Album), 1968GLI 92

Cross-band twin

Closest song from the other band

Attics of My LifeGrateful Dead · American Beauty, 1970GLI 88The most Lennon song the Dead played, and a choir could sing it.Compare the two

Editorial counterpart

Chosen because it argues back

RippleGrateful Dead · American Beauty, 1970GLI 81

Two fixed songs. Ripple can be handed to anyone with a guitar. This one can only be played back.

Compare the two

The record

  • The master joins take 7 to take 26. They were recorded in different keys at different tempos; one was sped up and the other slowed until they matched.Source ↗
  • The join falls in the middle of the second chorus.Source ↗

Catalog facts

Catalog no.
GLI·TB·007
Artist
The Beatles
Writers
Lennon–McCartney
Release
Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane (1967)
Released
13 February 1967
Duration
4:07

Sources

Classified 5 October 2026