Written by: Goffin-King
Recorded: 22 January 1963
Producer: Bernie Andrews
Released: 30 November 1994 (UK), 5 December 1994 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Live At The BBC
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and was originally recorded by Little Eva in 1962.
The Beatles recorded the song on just one occasion, during their first appearance on the Saturday Club radio show. It was performed on 22 January 1963 at the BBC Playhouse Theatre in London, and first broadcast four days later.
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby was the earliest recording to feature on 1994's Live At The BBC collection. For reasons unknown, the song was remixed to create a new drums-only introduction which wasn't present on the original tape.
Although this was The Beatles' only recording of Keep Your Hands Off My Baby, The Beatles performed it live on occasion, notably during their first British tour in February 1963.
The group are likely to have considered taping it for their debut album Please Please Me, on 11 February.
We might have run through Keep Your Hands Off My Baby, Little Eva's follow-up to The Loco-Motion, at that session. Sometimes we learnt songs and did them once or twice and then gave them up.
Anthology
Although no record of an EMI version exists, on 22 February the New Musical Express reported that the group had taped the song at the Please Please Me session. Rumours of a studio version have existed ever since.
Lyrics
We've been friends for oh so long
I let you share what's mine
When you mess with the girl I love
It's time to draw the line
Keep your hands off my baby
Ain't a-gonna tell you but a-one more time
So keep your hands off my baby
Boy, you get it through your head
That girl is mine
I don't mind if you lend my clothes
Jewellery and such
There is something that you get straight
There's one thing you don't touch
Keep your hands off my baby
Ain't a-gonna tell you but a-one more time
So keep your hands off my baby
Can you get it through your head?
That girl is mine
Ow, baby!
Keep your hands off my baby
Ain't a-gonna tell you but a-one more time
So keep your hands off my baby
Can you get it through your head?
That girl is mine
Oh keep your hands off my baby, now
She's mine
Keep your hands off my baby
You better watch your step now
Boy, you get it through your head
That girl is mine
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Great version this. Really exciting and i love any songs that had John doing lead vocal and Paul $ George singing backing. Good example of what the Beatles sounded like at the start. They are still really tight then aswell
"For reasons unknown, the song was remixed to create a new drums-only introduction which wasn't present on the original tape." Could you please cite your source?
I've always wondered about those drum sounds. They sound tremendously modern for a 1963 recording. Almost, electronic!
I think I hear an organ in the background of this song -- anybody have information on who's playing it?