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2.00pm
31 March 2008
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Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 17 October 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 29 November 1963 (UK), 26 December 1963 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar, handclaps
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: lead guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps
Available on:
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3.30pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
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Watching the Ed Sullivan performance of this song, I can see how Bob Dylan may have misheard the chorus. I’ve long wondered how it’s possible he confused it, listening to the quite lucid ‘I can’t hide’s on the record, but I imagine it’s more likely he didn’t really listen to the song much, just happened to hear it once or twice on the radio or the television.
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3.45pm
24 March 2014
Offline ^that and/or maybe he was really high when that happened
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3.51pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
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I considered that 
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4.24pm
18 April 2013
Offline Sometimes I can hear “I get high” when I listen to it. It’s kind of like how we hear “everybody smoke pot” instead of “everybody’s got one.”
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
5.43am
Reviewers
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1 May 2011
Offline I think it is far easier to mishear ‘I get high” than most of the ‘Paul Is Dead’ lyrics that are said to exist. How anyone can hear “House of Lords” as “House of Paul” in ‘A Day In The Life ‘ is beyond my understanding.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
10.36am
18 April 2013
Offline meanmistermustard said
I think it is far easier to mishear ‘I get high” than most of the ‘Paul Is Dead’ lyrics that are said to exist. How anyone can hear “House of Lords” as “House of Paul” in ‘A Day In The Life ‘ is beyond my understanding.
That always sounds like “house of law” to me, even though I know what it is.
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William Shears Campbell, Evangeline, Beatlebug"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
10.42am
14 June 2016
Offline @meanmistermustard said
I think it is far easier to mishear ‘I get high” than most of the ‘Paul Is Dead’ lyrics that are said to exist. How anyone can hear “House of Lords” as “House of Paul” in ‘A Day In The Life ‘ is beyond my understanding.
Yeah, it sounds more like “House of Paul” than “House of Lords”.
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"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon
11.38pm
31 July 2014
Offline How did they manage to have their guitars sound like a muted organ? Love the sound and always wondered about that. They never used that again in another recording.
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9.56pm
18 April 2013
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meaigs"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
6.31pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline A clip of the Dutch TV show ‘Top Of Flop’ voting on ‘IWTHYH’ in 1963 where the judges went with flop whilst the teen audience didn’t agree.
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Shamrock Womlbs, Rube, sigh butterfly"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
8.51am
17 June 2021
Offline The audience were right then as we all know it became one of the best selling singles of all time. I think the judges decided it was going to be a flop because it’s very different to the other songs that were on the Dutch charts at the time.
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10.46am
24 March 2014
Offline Honestly i never understood what made of IWHYH such a big hit. I think She Loves You is way better
"I Need You by George Harrison"
12.15pm
11 June 2015
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@Shamrock Womlbs, the impact of IWHYH is a little easier to understand when you consider the charts for the week it was released.
| US Top 40 Singles for the Week Ending 28th December, 1963 |
| POSITION TITLE –•– Artist (Label) |
| 1 DOMINIQUE –•– The Singing Nun (Philips) – 4 weeks at #1 |
| 2 THERE! I’VE SAID IT AGAIN –•– Bobby Vinton (Epic)- |
| 3 LOUIE LOUIE –•– The Kingsmen (Wand) |
| 4 SINCE I FELL FOR YOU –•– Lenny Welch (Cadence) |
| 5 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A BABY TO CRY –•– The Caravelles (Smash) |
| 6 DRIP DROP –•– Dion DiMucci (Columbia) |
| 7 FORGET HIM –•– Bobby Rydell (Cameo) |
| 8 POPSICLES AND ICICLES –•– The Murmaids (Chattahoochee) |
| 9 TALK BACK TREMBLING LIPS –•– Johnny Tillotson (MGM) |
| 10 BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL –•– The Beach Boys (Capitol) |
| 11 MIDNIGHT MARY –•– Joey Powers (Amy) |
| 12 QUICKSAND –•– Martha and the Vandellas (Gordy) |
| 13 THE NITTY GRITTY –•– Shirley Ellis (Congress) |
| 14 LODDY LO –•– Chubby Checker (Parkway) |
| 15 WIVES AND LOVERS –•– Jack Jones (Kapp) |
| 16 I’M LEAVING IT UP TO YOU –•– Dale and Grace (Montel/Michelle ) |
| 17 EVERYBODY –•– Tommy Roe (ABC-Paramount) |
| 18 THE BOY NEXT DOOR –•– The Secrets (Philips) |
| 19 PRETTY PAPER –•– Roy Orbison (Monument) |
| 20 AS USUAL –•– Brenda Lee (Decca) |
| 21 SURFIN’ BIRD –•– The Trashmen (Garrett) |
| 22 CAN I GET A WITNESS –•– Marvin Gaye (Tamla) |
| 23 HAVE YOU HEARD –•– The Duprees featuring Joey Vann (Coed) |
| 24 DRAG CITY –•– Jan and Dean (Liberty) |
| 25 Kansas City –•– Trini Lopez (Reprise) |
| 26 WONDERFUL SUMMER –•– Robin Ward (Dot) |
| 27 IN MY ROOM –•– The Beach Boys (Capitol) |
| 28 SHE’S A FOOL –•– Lesley Gore (Mercury) |
| 29 WALKING THE DOG –•– Rufus Thomas (Stax) |
| 30 TURN AROUND –•– Dick and DeeDee (Warner Brothers) |
| 31 FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE –•– Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters (United Artists) |
| 32 THAT LUCKY OLD SUN –•– Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount) |
| 33 BAD GIRL –•– Neil Sedaka (RCA Victor) |
| 34 LITTLE RED ROOSTER –•– Sam Cooke (RCA Victor) |
| 35 STEWBALL –•– Peter, Paul and Mary (Warner Brothers) |
| 36 BABY DON’T YOU WEEP –•– Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters (United Artists) |
| 37 WHISPERING –•– Nino Tempo and April Stevens (Atco) |
| 38 OUT OF LIMITS –•– The Marketts (Warner Brothers) |
| 39 NEED TO BELONG –•– Jerry Butler (Vee-Jay) |
| 40 WHEN THE LOVELIGHT STARTS SHINING THROUGH HIS EYES –•– The Supremes (Motown) |
DOMINIQUE had been the #1 song for the entire month of December 1963. You could not turn on the radio without hearing it.
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Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
12.22pm
14 December 2009
Offline Shamrock Womlbs said
Honestly i never understood what made of IWHYH such a big hit. I think She Loves You is way better
“SLY” has got the more compelling teen-romance lyric, that’s for sure; I think it’s the superior record on that limited basis. Musically, the difference is that “SLY” starts at a frenzied peak and stays there until the fake ending, while “Hand” repeatedly raises and lowers intensity levels, then relaxes it way down during the bridges, only to EXPLODE at the “can’t hiiiiide” bits. Two different approaches.
I think they’re both absolutely tremendous(-ly exciting) rock ‘n roll (and pop) singles and love em both in different ways; and really can’t choose a favourite.
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Rube, Shamrock Womlbs, sigh butterflyPaul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
12.45pm
1 December 2009
Offline Wow, that pre-Beatle Top 40 is actually a lot better than received rocknroll history would have us believe! I see a lot of superb r&b/Motown, some nice doo-wop, and girl groups, and two absolute smashes of prehistoric punk up there in amongst the Bobbys and Jack Joneses and folkie nonsense! Plus one of the Beach Boys ‘ great early ballads (as well as one of their worst singles, the godawful “Be True To Your School”)
And yes, nothing that sounds at all Beatlesque, though, as far as I can see (several songs I don’t recognize there)
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Rube, sigh butterflyGEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
1.24pm
24 March 2014
Offline sigh butterfly said
@Shamrock Womlbs, the impact of IWHYH is a little easier to understand when you consider the charts for the week it was released.
US Top 40 Singles for the Week Ending 28th December, 1963 POSITION TITLE –•– Artist (Label) 1 DOMINIQUE –•– The Singing Nun (Philips) – 4 weeks at #1 2 THERE! I’VE SAID IT AGAIN –•– Bobby Vinton (Epic)- 3 LOUIE LOUIE –•– The Kingsmen (Wand) 4 SINCE I FELL FOR YOU –•– Lenny Welch (Cadence) 5 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A BABY TO CRY –•– The Caravelles (Smash) 6 DRIP DROP –•– Dion DiMucci (Columbia) 7 FORGET HIM –•– Bobby Rydell (Cameo) 8 POPSICLES AND ICICLES –•– The Murmaids (Chattahoochee) 9 TALK BACK TREMBLING LIPS –•– Johnny Tillotson (MGM) 10 BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL –•– The Beach Boys (Capitol) 11 MIDNIGHT MARY –•– Joey Powers (Amy) 12 QUICKSAND –•– Martha and the Vandellas (Gordy) 13 THE NITTY GRITTY –•– Shirley Ellis (Congress) 14 LODDY LO –•– Chubby Checker (Parkway) 15 WIVES AND LOVERS –•– Jack Jones (Kapp) 16 I’M LEAVING IT UP TO YOU –•– Dale and Grace (Montel/Michelle ) 17 EVERYBODY –•– Tommy Roe (ABC-Paramount) 18 THE BOY NEXT DOOR –•– The Secrets (Philips) 19 PRETTY PAPER –•– Roy Orbison (Monument) 20 AS USUAL –•– Brenda Lee (Decca) 21 SURFIN’ BIRD –•– The Trashmen (Garrett) 22 CAN I GET A WITNESS –•– Marvin Gaye (Tamla) 23 HAVE YOU HEARD –•– The Duprees featuring Joey Vann (Coed) 24 DRAG CITY –•– Jan and Dean (Liberty) 25 Kansas City –•– Trini Lopez (Reprise) 26 WONDERFUL SUMMER –•– Robin Ward (Dot) 27 IN MY ROOM –•– The Beach Boys (Capitol) 28 SHE’S A FOOL –•– Lesley Gore (Mercury) 29 WALKING THE DOG –•– Rufus Thomas (Stax) 30 TURN AROUND –•– Dick and DeeDee (Warner Brothers) 31 FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE –•– Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters (United Artists) 32 THAT LUCKY OLD SUN –•– Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount) 33 BAD GIRL –•– Neil Sedaka (RCA Victor) 34 LITTLE RED ROOSTER –•– Sam Cooke (RCA Victor) 35 STEWBALL –•– Peter, Paul and Mary (Warner Brothers) 36 BABY DON’T YOU WEEP –•– Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters (United Artists) 37 WHISPERING –•– Nino Tempo and April Stevens (Atco) 38 OUT OF LIMITS –•– The Marketts (Warner Brothers) 39 NEED TO BELONG –•– Jerry Butler (Vee-Jay) 40 WHEN THE LOVELIGHT STARTS SHINING THROUGH HIS EYES –•– The Supremes (Motown) DOMINIQUE had been the #1 song for the entire month of December 1963. You could not turn on the radio without hearing it.
that’s very interesting list. It’d be great to know the list when She loves You was released, though. Anyway, i guess SLY being released by a minor label/distributor had a lot to do with it not being a hit.
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1.42pm
Reviewers
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1 May 2011
Offline The charts in the UK and the US before the Beatles broke thru were saturated by either clean cut bland artists singing bland safe tunes that kept kids nice and polite and parents settled in a semi-comatose state or older acts few could relate to. The Beatles and the band/acts that followed didn’t magically change the charts into all-wonder, they were a mess filled with utter garbage that was and remains unlistenable.
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sigh butterfly"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
2.43pm
1 December 2009
Offline I count at least a dozen fabulous, vital tracks on that particular Top 40 that don’t fall into either of your two categories. But if you think differently, whatever…
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sigh butterflyGEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
10.57pm
11 June 2015
Offline @vonbontee I agree there are some songs on this list I still listen to. Looking back to the charts earlier in the year (the #1 selling song of 1963 was Sugar Shack), I think this Top 40 proves that the times they were a changin’. I laughed when I saw Louie, Louie. The FBI was sure that song’s lyrics were obscene and investigated it for several years.
To try to stay on topic, I heard She Loves You before I Want To Hold Your Hand . She Loves You was my song and I listened to it obsessively. It had the power to lift my pre-teen mood. (Oh-oh, I guess this isn’t exactly staying on topic). I dug I Want To Hold Your Hand as well, especially paired with I Saw Her Standing There as the first US album opener. 
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Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
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