‘Baby It’s You’ was the 10th song recorded during The Beatles’ marathon 11 February 1963 session, in which they recorded the bulk of their debut album Please Please Me.

It was originally recorded by The Shirelles, whose song ‘Boys’ was also covered by The Beatles on their first album. The music was written by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams, who also produced the original) and Mack David.

‘Baby It’s You’ was part of The Beatles’ live set from 1961 to 1963. They used The Shirelles’ vocal arrangement for their version, which was recorded in just three takes with John Lennon taking lead.

On the studio recording, the strain in Lennon’s voice is evident as he reaches for the high notes on the line “Don’t want nobody, nobody”. Thankfully there was just one more song to record that night – the album’s thrilling closer ‘Twist And Shout’.

A version of ‘Baby It’s You’ was recorded for the radio programme Pop Go The Beatles on 1 June 1963. It was released on the Live At The BBC album in 1994, and as a single on 20 March 1995.

Two of the single’s b-sides – versions of ‘I’ll Follow The Sun’ and ‘Boys’ – were included on 2013’s On Air: Live at the BBC Volume 2. The other b-side, ‘Devil In Her Heart’, is unavailable on any other Beatles compact disc.

Lyrics

Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la

It’s not the way you smile that touched my heart (sha la la la la)
It’s not the way you kiss that tears me apart

Uh-oh
Many, many, many nights go by
I sit alone at home and I cry over you
What can I do?
I can’t help myself, ’cause baby it’s you
Baby, it’s you

You should hear what they say about you: cheat, cheat
They say, they say you never never never ever been true (cheat, cheat)

Uh-oh
It doesn’t matter what they say
I know I’m gonna love you any old way
What can I do? And it’s true
Don’t want nobody, nobody, ’cause baby it’s you
Baby it’s you

Uh-oh
It doesn’t matter what they say
I know I’m gonna love you any old way
What can I do, when it’s true?
Don’t want nobody, nobody, ’cause baby it’s you
Baby it’s you
Don’t leave me all alone
Come on home…

Previous song: ‘PS I Love You’
Next song: ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’
Published: |