Listen To The Beatles’ Final Song ‘Now And Then’

The Beatles released their final song, “Now And Then,” a track originating from a demo written and recorded by the late John Lennon. Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr began working on the song in 1995 with McCartney and Starr recording new parts in 2022.

Lennon laid down his “Now And Then” demo at his New York City apartment in the historic Dakota Building in the late 1970s. John’s widow, Yoko Ono, passed the recording which features Lennon on vocals and piano, to his former Beatles’ bandmates in 1994. McCartney, Harrison and Starr cut new parts and finished a rough mix with producer Jeff Lynne during the same sessions for The Beatles Anthology collection that yielded singles “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love.”

Unfortunately, John’s vocals and piano couldn’t be clearly separated using the technology available in 1995 leaving Paul, George and Ringo to put “Now And Then” aside. Fast forward to 2021 and director Peter Jackson’s work on The Beatles: Get Back docuseries. Jackson was able to use WingNut Films’ MAL audio technology to isolate the vocals and instruments in de-mixing the film’s mono soundtrack. Peter Jackson’s sound team used the same method to separate Lennon’s vocals and piano on the original “Now And Then” home recording.

McCartney and Starr went about finishing “Now And Then” last year. They used electric and acoustic guitar parts laid down in 1995 by George Harrison before his death in 2001 plus John’s vocal. Paul laid down bass, guitar and piano as well as a slide guitar solo inspired by Harrison, while Ringo cut a new drum part. Both Starr and McCartney also recorded backing vocals for the chorus.

“It was the closest we’ll ever come to having [Lennon] back in the room,” Starr said. “So it was very emotional for all of us. It was like John was there, you know. It’s far out.”

“There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear,” McCartney said. “It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”

“Back in 1995, after several days in the studio working on the track, George felt the technical issues with the demo were insurmountable and concluded that it was not possible to finish the track to a high enough standard,” Olivia Harrison added. “If he were here today, [George’s son] Dhani [Harrison] and I know he would have wholeheartedly joined Paul and Ringo in completing the recording of ‘Now And Then.’”

Peter Jackson prepped a music video for “Now And Then” which will arrive tomorrow, Friday, November 3 at 10 a.m. ET. Today, the audio has come out. Stream “Now And Then” below:

Watch a short film documenting the making of “Now And Then” here:

“Now And Then” is available in physical formats as a double A-side single backed by a 2022 remaster of The Beatles’ first release, 1962’s “Love Me Do.” Purchase at The Beatles’ stores. Then, on November 10, The Beatles 1962-1966 (”The Red Album”) and 1967-1970 (”The Blue Album”) compilations will be given the expanded reissue treatment.