Question: I have seen many different song sheets for the Beatles Song *Norwegian Wood* using time signatures of 3/4, 6/8 and 12/8. My question is, why are they all different, why is there no consensus? What I hear in the original are 2 different time signatures (and 2 different modes): the verses with a kind of 3/4 feel and the chorus 12/8. Shouldn't the time signatures convey to the way you interpret the song?

[![Original lead sheet](https://i.stack.imgur.com/w1rN7.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/w1rN7.png) original lead sheet
[![3/4 Piano arrangement](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8C1ZM.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8C1ZM.png) some piano arrangement
[![6/8 Piano arrangement](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1nBNs.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1nBNs.png) another piano arrangement

Answer: 
The first image is from *The Beatles, Complete Scores*. The book provides *transcriptions* of the songs *as originally recorded.* They aren't original lead sheets, nor are they arrangements like the second and third images. IMO the high quality attention to detail of the transcriptions lends weight to their "authority" as regards notation.

Here are a few additional snippets of the transcription, include the vocal part from both verses and the bridge...

To see the meter...

[![score excerpt - intro](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ArDMr.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ArDMr.png)

To see the initial vocal part...
[![score excerpt - vocal entry](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8b6aD.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8b6aD.png)

To see the bridge...
[![score excerpt - bridge](https://i.stack.imgur.com/KwDQx.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/KwDQx.png)

To some degree you can say that the various meter choices - 3/4, 6/8, and 12/8 - are all equal. But, I think if you give consideration to the *harmonic rhythm*, the pace at which chords change, 12/8 does seem to better reflect the rhythm of the song.

Overall the harmonic rhythm is slow with some passages going four bars with no chord change. When the harmonic rhythm quickens in the bridge - rehearsal mark `B` - the chord changes last mostly four *beats*. There is a strong association with the bar line and harmonic changes. So, the bridge does suggest 12/8 time. There is an actual, structural cadence at the end of `B` with `F#m7 B7 | E`, and the yet fast pace there of two chords per bar is fairly common for cadences. So, again that seems to fit typical notions of harmonic rhythm, meter, and the placement of notated bar lines.

One could argue endlessly for one or another meter. There is no *absolute* way to settle the matter other that to look at a composers original notation. The Beatles didn't *actually write musical notation* so that won't settle the matter. But, I think the harmonic rhythm does strongly support the choice to notate it in 12/8.
All good discussion. The three-pattern of the song fits in to all those time signatures. But what does it *feel* like? Does it feel like a waltz? Does it feel like a triplet march?

I prefer the 12/8, because it feels like two-bar phrases from the chord and melody movement, and can live with 6/8.