With the Beatles

Album Notes

One of the most memorable features of With The Beatles is the album artwork. It's both simple and elegant, and gained as much notice at the time as the music presented within. The Canadian version of the LP was named after the epidemic which was beginning to sweep the world…Beatlemania. The cover and track listing is identical to the British release. In the U.S. Meet The Beatles shared the artwork and was the first Beatles LP release on Capital Records. The track listing differed significantly from the British and Canadian versions, however.

Song Notes

It Won't Be Long A fantastic overlooked gem; not the equal of "I Saw Her Standing There" but one of Lennon's finest early rockers nonetheless. Tweaks both rhythm and structure and shows how the band was beginning to work complex themes into the simplest songs. The Fabs use their new studio freedom to double-track John, which would become a hallmark of the early Beatles sound.

All I've Got To Do This actually works better than most of John's tributes to early Smokey Robinson. For one thing, that stutter-step is tighter, and the band gets the dynamics just right, stopping just short of ecstasy to bring things back down. Even more amazing when you consider this is another one-take song.

All My Loving One of the all-time great Paul songs, it shows how his melodic sense was starting to become truly integrated into his desire to rock out. Full of heartstopping pauses that feel like the gasps and palpitations of young love. Paul had the words to this one first, which explains why they're tighter than usual.

Don't Bother Me The editor of Merseybeat's claims that he bothered Harrison (trying to get him to write a song, comically enough); George claims it was just the flu and a bad mood. Either way, it's the Quiet One's first recorded song. With the reverb and drums, this is the best Beatle song to surf to!

Little Child Lennon and McCartney on pure automatic mode. Another song written for someone else but recorded by the Lads anyway when they needed material. Bad idea. As they've noted, Lennon-McCartney never gave anyone else the good stuff.

Till There Was You A lovely, lovely rendition of a standard from the soundtrack of The Music Man. With distinctly Latin feel that is pure class, it supposedly was a big hit at the Cavern. (?!?!) The arrangement was probably lifted off a Doris Day version. God knows it's not from Broadway or Hollywood. Highlights: Paul's vocal and George's solo.

Please Mr. Postman More Motown, Marvelettes this time. The Beatles really didn't think America was going to accept them, and this sort of thing brought The Motor City Sound to Britain, but their Motown covers are never really more than serviceable, since the Sound Of Young America had more than unique songs; they had a "sound" that was irreproducable. Roll Over Beethoven Solid version of the Chuck Berry classic, featuring another lead vocal by George. Probably one of their finest covers. A tribute to their roots.

Hold Me Tight A literal leftover from Please Please Me (it was recorded at the same sessions and canned). Not as rote and tired as "Little Child", but not much better. The Beatles themselves never considered this a fully realized song.

You Really Got A Hold On Me John finally gets to be Smokey. The results are good, if unsurprising. Of course, expecting one band to match the efforts of Smokey, the Miracles, and Motown's session musicians is probably too much to ask. Of any band.

I Wanna Be Your Man Usually only regarded as trivia: namely, the one song the Beatles and the Stones both recorded. It's a lot better than a sidenote, though. This song is a smoker, written for and sung by Ringo (but also given to the Stones, although my earlier assertion about songs written for other bands still holds... Ringo was the original intended recipient). Takes the smoldering sentiments of "Love Me Do" and ignites them, but as always with Ringo, it's a lot of fun, as well.

Devil In Her Heart Proves how well the Beatles knew their R&B. It's a song by the virtually unknown girl group the Donays; the gender was changed from "(He's Got The) Devil In His Heart)". A modest success, musically.

Not A Second Time The song that inspired the famous musical analysis from the London Times, citing the tunes "Aeolian Cadences" and comparing it to Mahler's "Song Of The Earth". Lennon, years later: "To this day I don't know what that was about. I thought Aeolian cadences were exotic birds."

Money Wrapping up with another John screamer, but, tellingly, something else was going on just beneath. Critics have debated for years whether this Barrett Strong cover (yet another Motown song, but of a much different stripe) was indicative of John's love of money or a scathing pre-hippie attack on capitalism. Why does John add the words "I want to be free"? Either way, it's a scorcher. Probably John's best rock vocal ever.

It Won't Be Long (Lennon/McCartney

Ev'ry night when ev'rybody has fun,
Here am I sitting all on my own,
It won't be long yeh, yeh,
It won't be long yeh, yeh,
It won't be long yeh, yeh,
Till I belong to you.

Since you left me I'm so alone,
Now you're coming, you're coming home,
I'll be good like I know I should,
You're coming home, you're coming home.

Ev'ry night the tears come down from my eyes,
Ev'ry day I've done nothing but cry.
It won't be long yeh, yeh.

Since you left me I'm so alone,
Now you're coming, you're coming home,
I'll be good like I know I should,
You're coming home, you're coming home.

Ev'ry day we'll be happy, I know,
Now I know that you won't leave me no more.
It won't be long yeh, yeh.

All I've got to Do (Lennon/McCartney)

Whenever I want you around, yeah.
All I gotta do,
Is call you on the phone,
And you'll come running home,
Yeah, that's all I gotta do.

And when I, I want to kiss you, yeah.
All I gotta do,
Is whisper in your ear
The words you long to hear,
And I'll be kissin' you.

And the same goes for me,
Whenever you want me at all.
I'll be here, yes I will, whenever you call.
You just gotta call on me, yeah,
You just gotta call on me.

And when I, I want to kiss you, yeah.
All I gotta do,
Is call you on the phone,
And you'll come running home,
Yeah, that's all I gotta do.

And the same goes for me,
Whenever you want me at all.
I'll be here, yes I will, whenever you call.
You just gotta call on me, yeah,
You just gotta call on me.

All My Loving (Lennon/McCartney)

Close your eyes and I'll kiss you,
Tomorrow I'll miss you;
Remember I'll always be true.
And then while I'm away,
I'll write home ev'ry day,
And I'll send all my loving to you.

I'll pretend That I'm kissing
the lips I am missing
And hope that my draems will come true.
And then while I'm away,
I'll write home ev'ry day,
And I'll send all my loving to you.

All my loving I will send to you.
All my loving, darling I'll be true.

Don't Bother Me (Harrison)

Since she's been gone I want no one to talk to me.
It's not the same but I'm to blame, it's plain to see.

So go away, leave me alone, don't bother me.

I can't believe that she would leave me on my own.
It's just not right when every night I'm all alone.

I've got no time for you right now, don't bother me.

I know I'll never be the same if I don't get her back again.
Because I know she'll always be the only girl for me.

But 'till she's here please don't come near, just stay away.
I'll let you know when she's come home. Until that day,

Don't come around, leave me alone, don't bother me.

I've got no time for you right now, don't bother me.

I know I'll never be the same if I don't get her back again.
Because I know she'll always be the only girl for me.

But 'till she's here please don't come near, just stay away.
I'll let you know when she's come home. Until that day,

Don't come around, leave me alone, don't bother me.
Don't bother me.
Don't bother me.
Don't bother me.
Don't bother me.

Little Child (Lennon/McCartney)

Little child, little child,
Little child, won't you dance with me?
I'm so sad and lonely,
Baby take a chance with me.

If you want someone
To make you feel so fine,
Then we'll have some fun
When you're mine, all mine,
So come, come on, come on.

Little child, little child,
Little child, won't you dance with me?
I'm so sad and lonely,
Baby take a chance with me.

When you're by my side,
You're the only one,
Don't run and hide,
Just come on, come on,
So come on, come on, come on.

Till There was You (Wilson)

There were bells on a hill
But I never heard them ringing
No I never heard them at all
Till there was you

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No I never saw them at all
Till there was you

Then there was music and wonderful roses
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and you

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No I never heard it at all
Till there was you

Then there was music and wonderful roses
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and you

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No I never heard it at all
Till there was you

Till there was you

Please Mister Postman (Dobbin/Garrett/Garman/Brianbert)

Wait, oh yes wait a minute mister postman
Wait, wait mister postman

Mister postman look and see
You got a letter in your bag for me
I been waiting such a long time
Since I heard from that girl of mine

There must be some word today
From my girlfriend so far away
Please mister postman look and see
If there's a letter, a letter for me
I been standing here waiting mister postman
So patiently
For just a card or just a letter
Saying she's returning home to me

So many days you passed me by
See the tear standing in my eye
You didn't stop to make me feel better
By leaving me a card or a letter

You gotta wait a minute, wait a minute
You gotta wait a minute, wait a minute
You gotta wait a minute, wait a minute
You gotta check it and see, one more time for me

Wait
Wait
Wait
Deliver the letter, the sooner the better

Wait

Roll Over Beethoven (Berry)

Well gonna write a little letter
Gonna mail it to my local D.J.
It's a rockin' little record
I want my jockey to play
Roll over Beethoven
I gotta hear it again today

You know my temperature's risin'
And the jukebox's blowin' a fuse
My hearts beatin' rhythm
And my soul keeps singing the blues
Roll over Beethoven
And tell Tchaikovsky the news

I got a rockin' pneumonia
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
I think I got it off the writer
Sittin' down by the rhythm review
Roll over Beethoven
We're rockin' in two by two

Well if you fell you like it
Well get your lover and reel and rock it
Roll it over and move on up
Just jump around and reel and rock it
Roll it over
Roll over Beethoven
A rockin' in two by two , oh

Well early in the mornin'
I'm a givin' you the warnin'
Don't you step on my blue suede showes
Hey little little
Gonna play my fiddle
Ain't got nothing to lost
Roll over Beethoven
And tell Tchaikovsky the news

You know she winks like a glow worm
Dance like a spinnin' top
She got a crazy partner
Oughta see 'em reel an rock
Long as she's got a dime
The music will never stop
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
And dig these rhythm and blues

Hold Me Tight (Lennon/McCartney)

It feels so right now, hold me tight,
Tell me I'm the only one,
And then I might,
Never be the lonely one.
So hold me tight, to-night, to-night,
It's you,
You you you - oo-oo - oo-oo.
Hold me tight,
Let me go on loving you,
To-night to-night,
Making love to only you,
So hold me tight, to-night, to-night,
It's you,
You you you - oo-oo - oo-oo.
Don't know what it means to hold you tight,
Being here alone tonight with you,
It feels so right now, feels so right now.
Hold me tight,
Tell me I'm the only one,
And then I might,
Never be the only one,
So hold me tight, to-night, to-night,
It's you,
You you you - oo-oo - oo-oo.
Don't know what it means to hold you tight,
Being here alone tonight with you,
It feels so right now, feels so right now.
Hold me tight,
Let me go on loving you,
To-night, to-night,
Making love to only you,
So hold me tight, to-night, to-night,
It's you,
You you you - oo-oo - oo-oo.

You Really Got a Hold on Me (Robinson)

I don't like you
But I love you
See that I'm always
Thinking of you
Oh, oh, oh,
You treat me badly
I love you madly
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I don't want you,
But I need you
Don't want to kiss you
But I need you
Oh, oh, oh
You do me wring now
My love is strong now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I love you and all I want you to do
Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

I want to leave you
Don't want to stay here
Don't want to spend
Another day here
Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now
I just can quit now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I love you and all I want you to do
Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me

I Wanna Be Your Man (Lennon/McCartney

I wanna be your lover baby,
I wanna be your man,
I wanna be your lover baby,
I wanna be your man.
Tell me that you love me baby,
Like no other can,
Love you like no other baby,
Like no other can.
I wanna be your man,
I wanna be your man.
Tell me that you love me baby,
Tell me you understand,
Tell me that you love me baby,
I wanna be your man.
I wanna be your lover baby,
I wanna be your man,
I wanna be your lover baby,
I wanna be your man.
I wanna be your man,
I wanna be your man.
I wanna be your lover baby,
I wanna be your man,
I wanna be your lover baby,
I wanna be your man.
Tell me that you love me baby,
Like no other can,
Love you like no other baby,
Like no other can.
I wanna be your man,
I wanna be your man.

Devil In Her Heart (Drapkin)

She's got the devil in her heart
But her eyes they tantalize
She's gonna tear your heart apart
Oh her lips are really thrilling

I'll take my chances
for romance is
So important to me
She'll never hurt me
She won't desert me
She's an angel sent to me

She's got the devil in her heart
No, no, this I can't believe
She's gonna tear your heart apart
No, no nay will she deceive

I can't believe that she'll ever ever go
Not when she hugs and says she loves me so
She'll never hurt em
She won't desert me
Listen can't you see

She's got the devil in her heart
Oh, no, no, no, this I can't believe
She's gonna tear your heart apart
No no nay will she deceive

Don't take chances if your romance is
So important to you
She'll never hurt me
She won't desert me
She's an angel sent to me

She's got the devil in her heart
Oh, no, no, no, no this I can't believe
She's gonna tear your heart apart
No, no nay will she deceive

She's got the devil in her heart
No she's an angel sent to me
She's got the devil in her heart
No she's an angel sent to me

Not a Second Time (Lennon/McCartney)

Yoy know you made me cry,
I see no use in wond'ring why,
I cried for you.

And now, you've changed your mind,
I see no reason to change mine,
I cried, it's through, oh.

Oh, you're giving me the same old line,
I'm wond'ring why,
You hurt me then, you're back again,
No, no, not a second time.

Money (That's What I Want) (Radford/Cordy)

The best things in life are free
But you can tell me 'bout the birds and bees.
Now gimme money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want, ye-ye-yeh,
That's what I want.

Money don't get everything it's true.
What it don't get I can't use.
So gimme money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
A little money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want, ye-ye-yeh,
That's what I want.

Yeh gimme money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
A little money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want THAT'S WHAT I WANT
So gimme money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want, ye-ye-yeh,
That's what I want.

Your lovin' give me a thrill
But your lovin' don't pay my bill.
Now gimme money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want, ye-ye-yeh,
That's what I want.

Money don't get everything it's true.
What it don't get I can't use.
So gimme money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
A little money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want, ye-ye-yeh,
That's what I want.

Yeh gimme money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
A little money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want THAT'S WHAT I WANT
So gimme money THAT'S WHAT I WANT
That's what I want, ye-ye-yeh,
That's what I want.

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