In early 1960 The Beatles recorded a number of songs at Paul McCartney‘s family home at 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool. Among the songs was ‘Hallelujah, I Love Her So’, written by Ray Charles.
Ray Charles had first recorded the song in 1956, but it had been a more recent hit in February 1960 for Eddie Cochran. McCartney bought the Cochran single, and sang lead vocals in The Beatles’ rudimentary version.
[Eddie Cochran] was a very good guitar player and that’s what I remember most. I was very impressed by not only his songs, but by his cover numbers, like Ray Charles’s ‘Hallelujah, I Love Her So’.
The Beatles are known to have recorded at least 16 songs at the Forthlin Road rehearsal, along with a number of untitled instrumentals and improvisations. Three songs were released in 1995 on Anthology 1; the others were ‘You’ll Be Mine’ and ‘Cayenne’.
The group’s version of ‘Hallelujah, I Love Her So’ had appeared on bootlegs for some time prior to its official release, in a version lasting 2:22. The Anthology 1 version sped up the recording, changing the key from A to B flat, and reducing the running time to 1:13. It also omitted the second verse, a middle eight and the somewhat ramshackle guitar solo – presumably played by Harrison.
‘Hallelujah, I Love Her So’ remained in The Beatles’ repertoire for some time. It was recorded once again during their December 1962 residency at the Star-Club in Hamburg. They dropped it soon after, and it was never attempted in the studio.
Lyrics
Let me tell you ’bout a girl I know
She’s my baby and I love her so
Every morning when the sun comes up
She brings me coffee in my favourite cup
Then I know, yes I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so
When I call her on the telephone
‘Hear me, baby, I’m all alone’
Before I’m counting from one to four
She’ll be knocking on the door
In the evening when the sun goes down
And there ain’t nobody else around
She kisses me and then she holds me tight
Says, ‘Baby, everything’s alright’
That’s why I know, yes I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so
Hallelujah, I just love her so
Hallelujah, I just love that chick so
“Hear me baby, Eddie’s all alone…”
Not a favorite, but worth hearing for its place in the Beatles’ history.
On the Star-Club version, lead vocals are by either bouncer Horst Fascher or his brother (I forget which).