Here, There and Everywhere

‘Here, There and Everywhere’ is in every sense a more ambitious song than ‘You Can’t Do That’. ‘You Can’t Do That’ is a fairly straightforward rocker with a limited melodic range, simple chords and an awesome, slightly Latin groove, courtesy of the best drummer in the world: Ringo Starr. The simple fill he plays just before each time John sings: “O, you can’t do that,” is one of the songs main hooks. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it symbolizes the singer’s right hook: At the precise moment when John sings: “Because I told you before,” Ringo’s percussion mimics the sound of a man’s fists knocking a woman to the floor.

‘Here, There and Everywhere’ is ostensibly a different kettle of fish. It is a rather more complex composition with a number of elegant melodic surprises. McCartney himself has often referred to it as his finest effort.

Lyrically, however, the two songs cover the same territory.