When “Now and Then” finally emerged in 2023, it felt less like the release of a new single and more like the closing of a circle. Long whispered about as the “last Beatles song,” it was pieced together from a home demo by John Lennon, with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the spirit of George Harrison woven in — a collaboration that spanned decades, bound by memory, love, and loss.
The song opens with John’s voice, newly restored through modern technology, and the effect is breathtaking. Fragile yet resolute, it feels like a message from another time — intimate, human, and hauntingly present. When Paul and Ringo enter, the track blossoms into something unmistakably Beatles: not an imitation of the past, but a continuation of their story. George’s guitar ideas, preserved from earlier sessions, echo through the arrangement, ensuring that all four voices are represented, even across the years.
Lyrically, “Now and Then” is a meditation on love, absence, and the lingering threads that connect us. John’s words — “Now and then, I miss you” — are simple, but their weight is immeasurable. They carry the ache of separation, but also the enduring comfort of remembrance. For fans, it felt as though Lennon was singing not only to his bandmates, but to all of us who have carried the Beatles in our lives.
Musically, the track is understated, almost reverent. The piano anchors the melody, while strings rise gently, giving it a warmth that feels both intimate and grand. Paul’s harmonies wrap around John’s voice like a brother’s embrace, and Ringo’s steady drumming provides the heartbeat — reliable, grounded, eternal.
What makes “Now and Then” extraordinary is not just the song itself, but what it represents. It is proof that art, love, and friendship can transcend time. It’s a final gift from the Beatles, a reminder that though they began as four young men in Liverpool, their bond was something greater than any single moment.
In the end, “Now and Then” isn’t just a song — it’s a farewell, a reconciliation, and a promise. A farewell to what’s gone, a reconciliation with the past, and a promise that the Beatles’ music — and the love that created it — will endure now and then, and forever.
The Beatles – Now And Then