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You Like Me Too Much
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4 December 2014
1.51pm
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Joe
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Help! album artwork

Written by: Harrison
Recorded: 17 February 1965
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 6 August 1965 (UK), 14 June 1965 (US)

George Harrison: vocals, lead guitar
John Lennon: acoustic rhythm guitar, electric piano
Paul McCartney: bass, piano
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine
George Martin: piano

Available on:
Help!

George Harrison ‘s second composition for the Help ! album was…

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27 February 2017
11.22pm
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ewe2
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OK, this song is a pretty good second effort by George. I like the strong 7ths and the clever major-minor changes. But the lyrics are frankly creepy. On the surface it seems just a clever way of saying “we fight but we’re still too attracted to actually split”. 

Though you’re gone away this morning
You’ll be back again tonight
Telling me there’ll be no next time
If I just don’t treat you right
You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true
‘Cause You Like Me Too Much and I like you

The first verse suggests this, but what made her leave and why is the singer so sure?

You’ve tried before to leave me
But you haven’t got the nerve
To walk out and make me lonely
Which is all that I deserve
You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true
‘Cause You Like Me Too Much and I like you

Now he openly challenges her to go, and drops in some self-pity, but firmly restates that she won’t.

I really do
And it’s nice when you believe me
If you leave me
I will follow you and bring
You back where you belong
‘Cause I couldn’t really stand it
I admit that I was wrong
I wouldn’t let you leave me ’cause it’s true
‘Cause You Like Me Too Much and I like you
 
If you’re not creeped out by now, the line And it’s nice when you believe me should have you backing away. And the promise to find her and get her back. Because she likes him too much, right. Because he’s gaslighted how she should feel and therefore there isn’t a problem. He’s in control. The rest of the song just repeats this in the same cheery manner but by now I’m unsettled by the happy music/creepy lyric.
 
There is a psychiatric description of this behaviour which is narcissistic personality disorder. The lyric is pretty much what a narcissist says and does to control someone else. Having said that, it can also be just an immature but controlling boy’s song, a nicer version of Lennon’s overtly threatening lyrics, but it’s uncomfortable. And the song itself is still fun. Just wanted to get it out there while I was still reacting.
 
paul-mccartney-facepalm_gif

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27 February 2017
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Ron Nasty
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You could actually read it even darker, as the cycle of abuse and interdependency that exist within many relationships that involve domestic violence. It could be said to be darker than many of John’s lyrics.

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27 February 2017
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ewe2
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Yeah I can see that, but I stopped at the syndrome not so much the effects.

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28 February 2017
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Highly uncomfortable, another disturbing Beatles lyric. 

If you leave me
I will follow you and bring
You back where you belong

should have everyone questioning what is happening here as clearly she’s getting little say in the matter for whatever reason.

But it’s highly cheerful musically and it doesn’t mention preferring her dead so hey ho.

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28 February 2017
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Leppo
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I never really thought of the lyrics as dark. I heard it as a couple who’s relationship is so intense that they go from falling out one minute to the other extreme. “You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true” could be said in a playful way like when people make up after a row rather than in a sinister way. I wonder if George meant it like that?

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Pivotal Moments in Beatles History No.118:  Yoko helps herself to one of George's digestives. 

28 February 2017
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ewe2
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Leppo said

“You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true” could be said in a playful way like when people make up after a row rather than in a sinister way. I wonder if George meant it like that?  

I have a feeling George didn’t think too much about it or if he did, it was more an emulation of John’s style than anything. But they were boys from the North, and they were no feminists, at least not initially.

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28 February 2017
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sir walter raleigh
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You’ve tried before to leave me
But you haven’t got the nerve
To walk out and make me lonely
Which is all that I deserve

This line has a little modesty in it, as well as a lot of relatability. Although the music is cheerful, I think the song is about over reliance, and it is kind of sad, not creepy.

Maybe assuming domestic abuse is a stretch, but for those in that kind of relationship, this song probably hits the bullseye on how they feel. I do feel No Reply and Run For Your Life are darker. 

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"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"

-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues

"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"

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28 February 2017
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sir walter raleigh said

You’ve tried before to leave me
But you haven’t got the nerve
To walk out and make me lonely
Which is all that I deserve

This line has a little modesty in it, as well as a lot of relatability. Although the music is cheerful, I think the song is about over reliance, and it is kind of sad, not creepy.

Maybe assuming domestic abuse is a stretch, but for those in that kind of relationship, this song probably hits the bullseye on how they feel. I do feel No Reply and Run For Your Life are darker.   

I think the music helps the mind not go to the darker places, there aren’t many more upbeat Beatles solos. ‘No Reply ‘ only picks up in mood during

“If I were you, I’d realise that I
Love you more than any other guy
And I’ll forgive the lies that I
Heard before, when you gave me no reply”

and even then it’s quite forceful in it’s delivery and sounds more like a threat. ‘Run For Your Life ‘ is just outright phone the police and get 24/7 protection until the guy is either in prison or has a 45 mile restraining order.

 

Even when young I felt that ‘YLMTM’ was an over-obsessive lover having too much control over his partner. There is a clear John influence in the lyrics judging by what had been previously written. However even Paul and Ringo had that standard of the girl should be there for them whenever required as it was a prevalent attitude during their 20+ years of living.

 

No idea what it says about me when I love all three of the mentioned songs.

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28 February 2017
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HMBeatlesfan
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I thought you guys might like to know that John didn’t play any guitar part on this song, as George played both rhythm guitar (Gibson J-160E) and lead guitar (Gretsch).

Maybe you should try posting more.

28 February 2017
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Leppo
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HMBeatlesfan said
I thought you guys might like to know that John didn’t play any guitar part on this song, as George played both rhythm guitar (Gibson J-160E) and lead guitar (Gretsch).  

I didn’t realise it so early. It’s a pattern that would repeat 

Pivotal Moments in Beatles History No.118:  Yoko helps herself to one of George's digestives. 

28 February 2017
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sir walter raleigh
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The rhythm guitar sounds a tad off rhythm during this song, but I don’t think it was intentional like in I Need You

"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"

-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues

"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"

-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl

28 February 2017
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ewe2
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sir walter raleigh said

This line has a little modesty in it, as well as a lot of relatability. Although the music is cheerful, I think the song is about over reliance, and it is kind of sad, not creepy.

I had previously thought of it this way and if it was left at that level, I’d agree. But it doesn’t stop there. 

Maybe assuming domestic abuse is a stretch, but for those in that kind of relationship, this song probably hits the bullseye on how they feel. I do feel No Reply and Run For Your Life are darker.   

I wouldn’t let you leave me cause it’s true
Cause You Like Me Too Much and I like you

He’s putting this in the chorus, as the last word. Open threats of violence in other songs are one thing, this is a statement of intent.

It shows how much times change that we even pick up on the intentions here. So at odds with our picture of George it didn’t make the Concert For George tracklist.

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1 March 2017
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Leppo
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@ewe2 I think you’re reading too much into it. “I wouldn’t let you leave me …..” could just mean “I’ll do everything in my power to make it up to you so you’ll want to stay with me”. It doesn’t really mean he’ll physically restrain her with threats of violence.

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1 March 2017
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sir walter raleigh
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I agree with Leppo. That type of language appears in multiple other songs. One example is You Can’t Do That . It isn’t “you can’t do that or else I will beat you,” just like its not “I wouldn’t let you leave me, so if you try I will beat you.”

If you read into it too literally you can find all sorts of dark stuff. That’s how Paul died. 

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"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"

-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues

"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"

-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl

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