Song by Song: "In My Life" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rubber Soul

"Winds of Change" was an album by the Animals. "Wheels of Fire" was a Cream album. The song "In My Life" was include on the December 1965 Beatles' album "Rubber Soul," which followed "Help!" and preceded "Revolver" in the U.K.

Answer: John Lennon

This song was a product of the writing partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney and was produced by George Martin. The song, reports Rolling Stone magazine, was written in response to a journalist's question: "Why don't you write songs about your life?"

Answer: Electric piano

An electric piano was played by George Martin, but it was recorded at half speed and then sped up on tape to sound like a harpsichord. According to "A Day in the Life: The Music and Artistry of the Beatles," Lennon wanted the bridge to be "Baroque-sounding."

Answer: Penny Lane

Although originally based on a bus route Lennon took on his way to Liverpool, the final version of the song came to encompass a broader reminiscence. "Penny Lane" was written with credit to the McCartney-Lennon partnership and released as a single with "Strawberry Fields Forever" in February of 1967. Strawberry Field was a Salvation Army children's home in Liverpool, while Penny Lane was a street in Liverpool.

Answer: remain

Rolling Stone magazine ranked "In My Life" the number 23 greatest song of all time on its 2004 list of the"500 Greatest Songs of All Time." The magazine quotes John Lennon as saying that, up until he wrote this song, "it had all been glib and throwaway." Mojo, a popular music magazine, named "In My Life" the best song of all time in 2000.

Answer: loved

John Lennon biographer Peter Shotton suggested that the "some friends are dead" line referred to Stu Sutcliffe, a Scottish painter, musician, and friend of Lennon's who performed with the Beatles in Hamburg. Sutcliffe died suddenly in 1962, at only 21 years of age, of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Answer: affection

This song is not primary one of nostalgia, but "is a song about the present, and rebirth," writes Jay Lustig in his article "The Beatles' Most Misunderstood Song." While the writer is recalling old memories, those memories are dwarfed by the present moment and the presence of his love in that moment. "In My Life" is, ultimately, a love song.

Answer: For the Boys

In "For the Boys," Bette Midler plays Dixie Leonard, a 1940s singer who entertains American troops in World War II. Her version of "In My Life" was released as a single from the soundtrack. Bette Midler's rendition hit number 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

Answer: Johnny Cash

"American IV" contains emotional covers of numerous songs that influenced Johnny Cash, including this Beatles song. Cynthia Lennon recorded a version of "In My Life" for "The Beatles Complete on Ukulele," a music project by David Barrat.

Answer: Sean Connery

"In My Life" contains numerous unusual cover versions of Beatles songs originally produced by George Martin, including "Come Together" with Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin on vocals. Sean Connery's reading of "In My Life" is accompanied by soft music.

Ozzy Osbourne released a version of this song on his ninth studio album, "Under Cover," in 2005. The album also contains a DVD with a video of the "In My Life" song. "In My Life" was also covered by Judy Collins on her 1966 album of the same name.