by Roger Kraemer

Created on: May 01, 2008

First and foremost, I am a dyed-in-the-wool, die-hard Beatles fan. I had Beatles wallpaper when I was a child (and I am a guy), Beatles trading cards, every album, and more, so who better to comment on favorite Beatles songs than I?

But first, a little about my favorite song by a Beatle, and that would be Imagine. Elegant in its simplicity, beautiful, touching, moving and shocking, and that is only the music. When I first heard the intro, it pulled me up short. Then, add in the brilliant lyric laying out what we all might want the world, and ourselves, to be, and it ranks, for me, as one of the greatest pieces of pop music ever.

While it may not compare to Beethoven, or Bach or even Mahler in the grand scheme, it is more meaningful for me, and speaks more clearly to me. If that is a shortcoming in my appreciation of music, I plead happily guilty.

Now to my favorite Beatles song. Yesterday is tempting, Something tugs, A Day in the Life begs consideration. But for me, none can compare to In My Life. With its lush melody, moving lyrics and a gorgeous neo-baroque piano solo, by none other than George Martin, it perfectly sums up the brilliance of the Beatles as composers and artists, and demonstrates the genius of George Martin as a producer.

The lyrics move all of us to consider all the people and places we've ever cared about, and the way one can be linked to the other inexorably. A touch of wistfullness creeps in as we consider how "... some have changed. Some forever, not for better, some have gone and some remain."

Who of us has not gone back to a favored or meaningful spot and found that in some way it had changed, and that a little piece of magic was suddenly missing. At that moment we realize that our lives are just a series of moments which leave us with a series of memories.

Just as we are feeling nostalgic and a little pensive, the mood shifts, and suddenly, pure bliss. For while all these people and places are important and will remain so, "In my life, I love you more."

More than memories, more than people, more than places, more - I love you more. Not the slightest equivocation. And suddenly, all the magic in life is back. What matter that a special place doesn't look as it used to? How important can that be, because after all, "In my life, I love you more."

Am achingly beautiful song, and an achingly beautiful sentiment, made even more beautiful for me by the fact that, in my life, I have the great good fortune to be married to the person that I "love more."

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