Please Please Me

I Saw Her Standing There (McCartney/Lennon)--The song was original titled "Seventeen." It was also written when John and Paul were playing hooky from school or "sagging off."

One - Two - Three- Fawr!
Well, she was just 17,
You know what I mean,
And the way she looked was way beyond compare.
So how could I dance with another (wooh)
When I saw her standin' there.

Well, she looked at me,
And I, I could see
That before too long, I'd fall in love with her.
She wouldn't dance with another (wooh)
When I saw her standin' there.

Well, my heart went boom
When I crossed that room,
And I held her hand in mine.

Whoa, we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before too long, I fell in love with her.
Now I'll never dance with another (wooh)
Since I saw her standing there.

Well, my heart went boom
When I crossed that room,
And I held her hand in mine.

Whoa, we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before too long, I fell in love with her.
Now I'll never dance with another (wooh)
Since I saw her standing there.
Whoa, since I saw her standing there.
Yeah, well, since I saw her standing there.

To the Top, Johnny!

Misery (McCartney/Lennon) -- Originally, the Beatles were going to give this song to Britain's most popular singer, Helen Shapiro, but her management rejected the song.

The world is treating me bad, misery.

I'm the kind of guy
Who never used to cry.
The world is treating me bad, misery.

I've lost her now for sure.
I won't see her no more.
It's gonna be a drag, misery.

I'll remember all the little things we've done.
Can't she see she'll always be the only one, lonely one?

Send her back to me,
'Cause everyone can see
Without her I will be in misery.

I'll remember all the little things we've done.
She'll remember and she'll miss her only one, lonely one.

Send her back to me,
'Cause everyone can see
Without her I will be in misery (oh oh oh),
In misery (ooh ee ooh ooh),
My misery (la la la la la la).

To the top, Johnny!

Anna (Go to Him) (Alexander) -- John was a big fan of the author, Arthur Alexander. His original version of this song did not crack the top forty.

Anna,
You come and ask me, girl,
To set you free, girl.
You say he loves you more than me,
So I will set you free,
Go with him (Anna),
Go with him (Anna).

Anna,
Girl, before you go now,
I want you to know, now,
That I still love you so,
But if he loves you more,
Go with him (Anna) .

All of my life,
I've been searchin' for a girl
To love me like I love you.
Oh, now,
But every girl I've ever had
Breaks my heart and leaves me sad.
What am I, what am I supposed to do?

Anna,
Just one more thing, girl.
You give back your ring to me,
And I will set you free,
Go with him (Anna).

All of my life,
I've been searchin' for a girl
To love me like I love you.
But let me tell you now,
But every girl I've ever had
Breaks my heart and leaves my sad.
What am I, what am I supposed to do?

Anna,
Just one more thing, girl.
You give back your ring to me,
And I will set you free,
Go with him (Anna),
Go with him (Anna),
You can go with him, girl (Anna),
Go with him.

To the top, Johnny!

To the top, Johnny!

Boys (Dixon/Farrell)--This was originally recorded by the Shirelles as the B-Side to their hit, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?", which was a song on Dirty Dancing ! How cool is that? The drummer always handled this tune in the Beatles--Pete Best sang lead until he was replaced by Ringo Starr in 1962.

I've been told, when a boy kiss a girl,
Take a trip around the world,
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop, a bop-bop-shoo-wop)
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop, a bop-bop-shoo-wop)
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop) yeah, she say ya do. (bop shoo-wop)

My girl says when I kiss her lips,
Gets a thrill through her fingertips,
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop, a bop-bop-shoo-wop)
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop, a bop-bop-shoo-wop)
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop) yeah, she say ya do. (bop shoo-wop)

Well, I talk about boys, (yeah yeah boys)
Don't ya know I mean boys, (yeah yeah boys)
Well, I talk about boys, now, (yeah yeah boys)
Aaahhh, boys, (yeah yeah boys)
Well, I talk about boys, now, (yeah yeah boys)
What a bundle of joy! (yeah yeah boys) (Alright, George!)

My girl says when I kiss her lips,
Gets a thrill through her fingertips,
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop, a bop-bop-shoo-wop)
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop, a bop-bop-shoo-wop)
Hey, hey, (bop shoo-wop) yeah, she say ya do. (bop shoo-wop)

Ahh, I talk about boys, (yeah yeah boys)
Don't ya know I mean boys, (yeah yeah boys)
Well, I talk about boys, now, (yeah yeah boys)
Aaahhh, boys, (yeah yeah boys)
Well, I talk about boys, now, (yeah yeah boys)
What a bundle of joy! (yeah yeah boys)

To the top, Johnny!

Ask Me Why (McCartney/Lennon)--The public first got to hear this song on a popular BBC radio program, Teenager's Turn. It was aired on June 11,1962, which was exactly seven months before it was issued as the B-Side to the Beatles' first big hit, "Please Please Me."

I love you 'cause you tell me things I want to know.
And it's true, that it really only goes to show,
That I know,
That I, I, I, I should never, never, never be blue.

Now you're mine, but my happiness still makes me cry.
And in time, you'll understand the reason why,
If I cry.
It's not because I'm sad,
But you're the only love that I've ever had.

I can't believe it's happened to me.
I can't conceive of any more misery.

Ask me why, I'll say I love you,
And I'm always thinking of you.

I love you, 'cause you tell me things I want to know.
And it's true that it really only goes to show,
That I know,
That I, I, I, I should never, never, never be blue.

Ask me why, I'll say I love you,
And I'm always thinking of you.

I can't believe it's happened to me.
I can't conceive of any more misery.

Ask me why, I'll say I love you,
And I'm always thinking of you.

To the top,Johnny!

Please Please Me (McCartney/Lennon)--The Beatles' first number one hit in England...way back in England...was originally a slow, Roy Orbison type song, but good ol' George Martin made a few suggestions. When Martin was considering having "How Do You Do It" be their next song, the boys brought in this song instead with a few adjustments. Martin the musicman said it was a sure hit--and it was. Supposively, John and Paul can be heard singing different verisions of the song in a stereo mix. I've read it--not heard it--but then again, I used to think that the Beatles could play their instruments and clap at the same time on "I Want to Hold Your Hand." Funny kid...

Last night I said these words to my girl,
I know you'll never even try, girl.
Come on (come on), come on (come on),
Come on (come on), come on (come on),
Please please me, whoa yeah, like I please you.

You don't need me to show the way, love.
Why do I always have to say love,
Come on (come on), come on (come on),
Come on (come on), come on (come on),
Please please me, whoa yeah, like I please you.

I don't wanna sound complainin',
But you know there's always rain in my heart (in my heart).
I do all the pleasin' with you, it's so hard to reason
With you, woah yeah, why do you make me blue?

Last night I said these words to my girl,
I know you'll never even try, girl.
Come on (come on), come on (come on),
Come on (come on), come on (come on),
Please please me, whoa yeah, like I please you,
Whoa yeah, like I please you,
Whoa yeah, like I please you.

To the top,Johnny!

Love Me Do (McCartney/Lennon)--Y'know how John plays that wailing harmonica on this track? Well, you know that song "Hey Baby!" by Bruce Channel (Hint, hint: It's on one of my favorite movies of all time, Dirty Dancing) was a top ten hit around this time. John liked the song and tried to imitate the sound on this song. Love, love me do.
You know I love you,
I'll always be true.
So please, love me do.
Whoa, love me do.

Love, love me do.
You know I love you,
I'll always be true.
So please, love me do.
Whoa, love me do.

Someone to love,
Somebody new.
Someone to love,
Someone like you.

Love, love me do.
You know I love you,
I'll always be true.
So please, love me do.
Whoa, love me do.

Love, love me do.
You know I love you,
I'll always be true.
So please, love me do.
Whoa, love me do.
Yeah, love me do.
Whoa, oh, love me do.

To the top,Johnny!

P.S. I Love You (McCartney/Lennon)--According to The Beatles A to Z, Paul wrote this song in letter format first and then added the music.

As I write this letter,
Send my love to you,
Remember that I'll always
Be in love with you.

Treasure these few words 'till we're together,
Keep all my love forever.
P.S., I love you,
You, you, you.

I'll be coming home again to you, love.
Until the day I do, love,
P.S., I love you,
You, you, you.

As I write this letter,
Send my love to you,
Remember that I'll always
Be in love with you.

Treasure these few words 'till we're together,
Keep all my love forever.
P.S., I love you,
You, you, you.

As I write this letter, (Oh)
Send my love to you, (You know I want you to)
Remember that I'll always, (Yeah)
Be in love with you.

I'll be coming home again to you, love,
Until the day I do, love,
P.S., I love you,
You, you, you.
You, you, you.
I love you.

To the top,Johnny!

Baby It's You (David/Williams/Bacharach)--Another Shirelles' song, only this one isn't on Dirty Dancing.

Sha la la la la la la la,
Sha la la la la la la la,
Sha la 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.

Oh, oh, many, many, many nights go by,
I sit alone at home and I cry over you.
What can I do?
Can't help myself,
'Cause baby, it's you. (sha la la la la la la la)
Baby, it's you. (sha la la la la la la la)

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

Oh 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. (sha la la la la la la)
Baby, it's you. (sha la la la la la la)

Oh 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. (sha la la la la la la)
Baby, it's you. (sha la la la la la la)
Don't leave me all alone...

To the top,Johnny!

Do You Want to Know a Secret (McCartney/Lennon)--John was inspired to write this song from a song in one of my favorite Disney films, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, "Wishing Well". Another group managed by Brian Epstein, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, covered this song. John Lennon made a demo tape of this song in the 'loo'--the quietest place he could find to make the recording--with a flush an' all at the very end.

You'll never know how much I really love you.
You'll never know how much I really care.

Listen,
Do you want to know a secret?
Do you promise not to tell? Woah, oh, oh,

Closer,
Let me whisper in your ear.
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

Listen (doo wah ooh),
Do you want to know a secret? (doo wah ooh)
Do you promise not to tell? Woah oh, oh,

Closer (doo wah ooh),
Let me whisper in your ear (doo wah ooh),
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

I've known the secret for a week or two,
Nobody knows, just we two.

Listen (doo wah ooh),
Do you want to know a secret? (doo wah ooh)
Do you promise not to tell? Woah oh, oh,

Closer (doo wah ooh),
Let me whisper in your ear (doo wah ooh),
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

To the top,Johnny!

A Taste of Honey (Marlow/Scott)--Actually a song from a play,originally titled, A Taste of Honey.

A taste of honey,
Tasting much sweeter than wine.

I dream of your first kiss, and then,
I feel upon my lips again,
A taste of honey,
Tasting much sweeter than wine.

I will return, yes I will return,
I'll come back for the honey and you.

Yours was the kiss that awoke my heart.
There lingers still, though we're far apart.
That taste of honey,
Tasting much sweeter than wine.

Oh I will return, yes I will return,
I'll come back (he'll come back) for the honey (for the honey) and you.

To the top,Johnny!

There's a Place (McCartney/Lennon)--The B-Side to "Twist and Shout", in the U.S.

There's a place,
Where I can go,
When I feel low,
When I feel blue.
And it's my mind,
And there's no time when I'm alone.

I think of you,
And things you do,
Go 'round my head.
The things you said,
Like I love only you.

In my mind there's no sorrow,
Don't you know that it's so.
There'll be no sad tomorrow,
Don't you know that it's so.

There's a place,
Where I can go,
When I feel low,
When I feel blue.
And it's my mind,
And there's no time when I'm alone.

There's a place.

To the top,Johnny!

Twist and Shout (Medley/Russell)--"I couldn't sing the damn thing, I was just screaming!" John Lennon later admitted. True, John's vocal does sound like tearing flesh, and it had to be nailed in one take. They tried two takes on February 11,1963, but as one might guess, the first take was an immense deal better.

Well, shake it up, baby, now, (shake it up, baby)
Twist and shout. (twist and shout)
C'mon c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby, now, (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out. (work it on out)

Well, work it on out, honey. (work it on out)
You know you look so good. (look so good)
You know you got me goin', now, (got me goin')
Just like I knew you would. (like I knew you would)

Well, shake it up, baby, now, (shake it up, baby)
Twist and shout. (twist and shout)
C'mon c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby, now, (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out. (work it on out)

You know you twist your little girl, (twist, little girl)
You know you twist so fine. (twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer, now, (twist a little closer)
And let me know that you're mine. (let me know you're mine)

Ahh, Ahh, Ahh, Ahh, Ahh,
Well, shake it up, baby, now, (shake it up, baby)
Twist and shout. (twist and shout)
C'mon c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby, now, (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out. (work it on out)

You know you twist your little girl, (twist, little girl)
You know you twist so fine. (twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer, now, (twist a little closer)
And let me know that you're mine. (let me know you're mine)

Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now. (shake it up baby)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now. (shake it up baby)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now. (shake it up baby)
Ahh, Ahh, Ahh, Ahh.

To the top,Johnny!