[irishjuggler]

I think I have a pretty good ear for these things, and, no, McCartney’s ‘Yesterday’ is not a ripoff of the Nat King Cole song. These are not close.

This is not a “My Sweet Lord” / “He’s so Fine” situation.
This not a “Surfin USA “ / “Sweet Little Sixteen” thing.
It’s not even a Nino Rota “Godfather” ripping off “Fortunella” by.... Nino Rota.

[dfwgator]

Or a “Hotel California”/ Jethro Tull “We Used to Know” thing.

[Fiji Hill]

This not a “Surfin USA “ / “Sweet Little Sixteen” thing.

How about a Chuck Berry/Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow thing?

Route 90--Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow (1954)

[Yo-Yo]

I think they were going by the lyric, which in the above article is quoted as:

but Leigh’s argument gains particular traction with the lyric, “Yesterday, I believed that love was here to stay, won’t you tell me where I’ve gone astray.”

But the full verse is:

You were mine yesterday
I believed that love was here to stay
Won't you tell me where I've gone astray
Please answer me my love

The cadence and rhythm are completely different, even if the snipet "yesterday I believed that love was here to stay" is remotely similar to "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay."

[bigbob]

But this could be the last time such a claim is made...bittersweet as it may be.

[drjimmy]

Or a John Fogerty “The Old Man Down the Road” ripping off “Run Through the Jungle” by ... John Fogerty.