The Beatles often released songs that were of an expected length, usually under five minutes long. That was quite common for the 1960s. They released a few long-winded jams through the years, too, but they weren’t super common. And on even rarer occasions, they released songs that were extremely short. Let’s look at a few amazing songs that The Beatles released that clock in at under a minute long!
Videos by American Songwriter
“Her Majesty” (26 Seconds)
“Her Majesty” from Abbey Road is The Beatles’ shortest track of their recording career. At only 26 seconds long (or 23, depending on the version), this tune is actually a hidden track that closes out the album. It’s a brief, cheeky music hall tune that some consider to be the very first “hidden” track, a phenomenon that would become popular later in the 20th century.
“Dig It” (51 Seconds)
“Dig It” can be found on Let It Be, where it clocks in at only 51 seconds long. There are several longer versions of the song floating out there, including a full jam that is about 15 minutes long. On Let It Be, though, fans only got to hear 51 seconds of the tune, which is also one of the few songs from The Beatles’ discography to feature songwriting credits for all four members.
“Wild Honey Pie” (52 Seconds)
“Wild Honey Pie” is a super-short tune that made it to the 1968 album The Beatles, also known as the White Album. This Paul McCartney-penned tune is only 52 seconds long, with lyrics that are basically just the title chanted over and over again. McCartney performed this one without any of the other Beatles in attendance, apparently.
“Maggie Mae” (40 Seconds)
The Beatles rarely released cover songs after the early years of their career, but this little cover gem clocks in at under a minute, specifically at 40 or 41 seconds (depending on which version you’re listening to). “Maggie Mae” is an old folk song that was technically considered public domain, but the Fab Four didn’t just grab a random “free” song to throw on their album. This tune is actually a traditional Liverpool song, making it relevant to The Beatles’ origins. Their cover closes out the first side of Let It Be.
Photo by UPI/Bettmann via Getty Images












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