In May 1966, during a brief visit to London, Bob Dylan and the Beatles engaged in a complex musical and personal exchange that highlighted both the admiration and tensions between the two iconic acts. The interaction centered largely on Dylan’s song “Fourth Time Around” from his album *Blonde on Blonde*—then still unreleased—which many noted bore a strong resemblance to the Beatles’ track “Norwegian Wood” from their 1965 album *Rubber Soul*.

According to musician Al Kooper, who participated in the London session, Dylan himself acknowledged the similarity, suggesting that “Norwegian Wood” had drawn heavily from his earlier work. Dylan’s response was to record “Fourth Time Around” in a manner that mimicked Lennon’s melody and meter. The title seemingly referenced what Dylan perceived as the fourth instance of borrowing by Lennon. George Harrison later remarked in a 1992 interview that the two songs appeared almost to be musical counterparts, with each artist influencing the other in a cyclical fashion.

During the visit, Dylan played tapes of his forthcoming album for the Beatles, and the musical exchange unfolded in private. Lennon reportedly expressed discomfort when hearing “Fourth Time Around,” especially as Dylan’s lyrics appeared to contain a veiled personal message. At one point, Dylan challenged Lennon over a comment he had made about the song belonging to “Northern Songs,” the Beatles’ publishing company, a remark that Dylan said was unclear to him at the time and only later understood.

The encounter captured on film by documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker reveals a tense moment as Dylan pressed Lennon for clarification on the publishing reference, even declaring he was “pissed off” about the issue. Lennon responded with humor and deflected the tension by telling a whimsical story involving Mick Jagger and a Scottish folk hero. Despite the awkwardness, Lennon remained present and attentive to Dylan, who appeared physically unwell toward the end of the exchange.

That same evening, while the Beatles performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Dylan struggled backstage, reportedly exhausted and ill. When he took the stage for the final concert of his 1966 world tour, he performed a solo rendition of “Fourth Time Around” followed by a more aggressive set with his electric band. The audience reaction was largely hostile, with numerous jeers and calls for him to leave. The Beatles, however, were among Dylan's strongest defenders, vocally urging the crowd to show respect despite disagreements with his electric style.

This brief but revealing encounter underscored the complex relationship between Dylan and the Beatles—a mixture of artistic influence, mutual respect, and personal challenges during a pivotal moment in the evolution of 1960s popular music.