Written by: Ray Charles
Recorded: 16 July 1963
Producer: Terry Henebery
Released: 30 November 1994 (UK), 5 December 1994 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: bass
George Harrison: lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Live At The BBC
The Beatles recorded two versions of Ray Charles' song I Got A Woman for BBC radio.
Charles released the song as a single in December 1954. The Beatles performed it live on many occasions in the early 1960s, prior to their record deal with EMI, with John Lennon on lead vocals.
Although the group never recorded it in the studio, they performed I Got A Woman twice for BBC radio shows. Their arrangement was more similar to Elvis Presley's 1956 version, which The Beatles most likely heard on his debut UK album Rock 'N' Roll No 1.
The Beatles first recorded I Got A Woman on 16 July 1963 at the BBC Paris Theatre in London, for the ninth edition of the Pop Go The Beatles programme. It was first broadcast on 13 August. This version can be heard on the Live At The BBC collection.
They performed it again on 31 March 1964, for the Saturday Club radio show. It was recorded at the Playhouse Theatre, London, and first transmitted on 4 April that year.
Currently available only on bootlegs, this second version was faster than the 1963 take, with a double-tracked vocal by John Lennon but without the stop-start rhythms and the delayed appearance of the drums.
Lyrics
Well I got a woman
Way across town
She's good to me, oh-oh yeah
Say I got a woman
Way across town
She's good to me, oh yeah
She gives me money
Every time I need
Yes you know she's the kind of friend indeed
Say I got a woman
Way across town
She's good for me, oh yeah
She say she loves me
Early in the morning
Just for me, oh-oh yeah
She say she loves me
Early in the morning
Just for me, oh yeah
She say she loves me
Just for me, yeah
You know, oh she loves me
So tenderly
I got a woman
Way across town
She's good to me, oh yeah
Ow!
She's there to love me
All day and night
Never grumbles or fusses
Just treats me right
Never running in the streets
Leaving me alone
She's knows a woman's place
Right back there with her, hanging 'round the home
I got a woman
Way across town
She's good for me, oh yeah
Well I've got a woman
Way across town
She's good to me, oh yeah
Well she's my baby
'Cause she understands
I'm her loving man
Say I got a woman
Way across town
She's good to me, oh yeah
Well I bet she's all right
Well I bet she's all right
I got a woman
Way across town
She's good to me
Oh yeah
