The Beatles recorded a version of ‘Searchin”, a 1957 hit for The Coasters, during their ill-fated audition for Decca on 1 January 1962.

‘Searchin” was the song that helped The Coasters cross over from the R&B charts to rock ‘n’ roll stardom. Its b-side, ‘Young Blood’, was also recorded by The Beatles, during a 1 June 1963 recording session for the BBC radio show Pop Go The Beatles.

The Quarrymen had played ‘Searchin” from their earliest days, after learning that someone in Liverpool was in possession of a copy. The single was released in March 1957, just two months before John Lennon first met Paul McCartney.

A rumour reached town one day that there was a man over the hills who had the record ‘Searchin” by The Coasters. Colin [Hanton], the drummer with John’s skiffle group, knew him and so there was a great trek to find the man, and indeed we found him. And relieved him of it. It was too big a responsibility for him to keep. We couldn’t return it. We just had to have it; it was like gold dust. ‘Searchin” became a big number with The Beatles; we always used to do it at the Cavern.

‘Searchin” is believed to have been the final song performed during the group’s audition for Decca Records in 1962. With its novelty vocals, including some uneasy falsetto and unconvincing American accent from McCartney, the song gave little indication of The Beatles’ rock ‘n’ roll potential.

The Decca recording was released on Anthology 1 in 1995, although the introduction was omitted; the full version has circulated on bootleg recordings since the 1970s.

In 1982 ‘Searchin” was one of eight songs chosen by Paul McCartney during his appearance on the long-running BBC radio show Desert Island Discs.

Lyrics

Gonna find her
Gonna find her

Well searchin’, mama
Yeah, honey searchin’
Searchin’ every which a-way, yeah yeah
Oh lord I’ve gone searchin’
My good lord, searchin’
You know honey
Searchin’ every which a-way, yeah yeah
But like that northwest Mountie, yeah
You know I’ll bring her in some day

Gonna find her
Gonna find her

Well Charlie Chan, Simon Smith
Got nothin’, child, on a-me
Sergeant Friday and a-Peter Gunn
And, ooh, let ’em be
No matter where she’s hiding
She’s gonna see me coming
Gonna walk right down that street
Like a Bulldog Drummond

Yeah ’cause I’m searchin’
Whoa, honey, searchin’
Oh my goodness
Searchin’ every which a-way, yeah yeah
But like a northwest Mountie
You know I’ll bring her in some day

Gonna find her
Gonna find her

Well now Charlie Chan, Simon Smith
Got nothin’, child, on a-me
Sergeant Friday and a-Peter Gunn
And ooh let ’em be
Yeah, ’cause no matter where she’s a-hidin’
She’s gonna see me comin’
I’m gonna walk right down that street
Like a Bulldog Drummond

Ah searchin’, yeah
Searchin’, oh my my goodness
Searchin’ every which a-way, yeah yeah
But like a northwest Mountie
You know I’ll bring her in some day

Gonna find her
Gonna find her
Yeah yeah lord, gonna find her
I’m gonna find her


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