What Goes On

Rare moments of creative collaboration among The Beatles reveal much about their roles. "What Goes On" stands as one of the few Beatles tracks where John, Paul, and Ringo all contributed to the songwriting, a testament to what happens when different perspectives unite around a shared purpose.

Initial early drafts of the song were written by John in the late 1950s. This country-tinged gem remained unfinished until the Rubber Soul sessions, when they discovered it suited Ringo's voice and personality perfectly. As they worked on it, Ringo contributed to the lyrics.

Notably, this track features Ringo on lead vocals and highlights his love of country music. The protagonist pleads for understanding: why are things falling apart? What changed? The song captures that universal experience of watching a connection deteriorate while feeling powerless to stop it.

George contributed the twangy lead guitar, matching the sound to the heartache in Ringo's voice. We are reminded that healthy communication requires more than talking, it demands the courage to be vulnerable.

Often, our most important relationships suffer not from dramatic conflicts but from gradual disconnection. We stop asking the important questions, stop listening with curiosity, and start assuming we know what the other person thinks or feels. "What Goes On" reminds us that healthy relationships require constant, intentional communication.

Today, I will approach one important conversation with genuine curiosity instead of defensive assumptions, asking "What's really going on?" and listening to understand rather than to respond.

Which relationship in your life might benefit from deeper listening? What question have you been afraid to ask that could open the door to real understanding?