A lost John Lennon song has been found for the Beatles’ Rubber Soul reissue — but its origins remain a mystery

A previously unheard John Lennon recording is set to arrive as part of the upcoming Rubber Soul Special Edition. The track, titled Little Girl, was located on a home demo tape reel from the musician’s archives. Producers confirmed the song was an unexpected find, as no records or rumors regarding its existence had surfaced in the decades since the band separated.

Giles Martin, who is overseeing the project, noted the recording features Lennon on acoustic guitar. The short song runs just over two minutes and appears to be a tender love song. This composition stands in contrast to other material from the era, such as the darker track Run for Your Life, which also includes the phrase little girl in its lyrics.

The origin of the recording remains unclear, though researchers estimate it was captured during the summer of 1965. This timeframe aligns with the band’s post-tour songwriting period in London. Evidence for this dating includes a specific musical hook that McCartney later adapted for the song I’ve Just Seen a Face. Much of the lyric content on the demo remains in placeholder form, featuring melodic humming and simple phrasing while Lennon likely worked through ideas in real time.

Finding a new piece of work from this period highlights the chaotic nature of the group’s studio process during the mid-sixties. The band frequently rushed to finish albums between heavy touring schedules and commercial pressures. This environment often led to unfinished material being left behind on tape reels. Fans can expect to hear this rare recording when the new edition hits store shelves this October.