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Released in 1963

Baby It's You

Written by Burt Bacharach • Hal David • Barney Williams

Last updated on May 21, 2021

Album This song officially appears on the Please Please Me (Mono) LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1963

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other Burt Bacharach songs

Related interview

From Wikipedia:

“Baby It’s You” is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music), Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams) and Mack David (lyrics). It was recorded by the Shirelles and the Beatles, and became hits for both. […]

The Beatles version

English rock group the Beatles performed “Baby It’s You” as part of their stage act from 1961 until 1963, and recorded it on February 11, 1963 for their first album, Please Please Me, along with “Boys“, another song by the Shirelles. American label Vee-Jay Records included it on Introducing… The Beatles and Songs, Pictures and Stories of the Fabulous Beatles. Capitol included it on The Early Beatles. The Beatles’ version differs to the Shirelles’ by repeating the second verse instead of the first. So, where the Shirelles conclude with a line about sitting home and crying, the Beatles’s conclusion is more upbeat, John Lennon singing that he will carry on loving, no matter what.

A live version was released on Live at the BBC in 1994. The song was issued as a CD single and a vinyl single in 1995 in both the UK and the US, the Beatles’ first in nearly a decade. Both versions have four tracks, making it an EP instead of a regular issue single. The three additional tracks, while from BBC recordings, did not appear on Live at the BBC. Tracks 2 and 4 were later included on On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2, but this recording of track 3 remains unique to this release. The single reached number seven in the UK and number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

[a] mono 25 Feb 1963.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1202 Please Please Me 1963.
US: Vee Jay VJLP 1062 Introducing 1963.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46435 2 Please Please Me 1987.

[b] stereo 25 Feb 1963.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3042 Please Please Me 1963.
US: Vee Jay VJSR 1062 Introducing 1963.

[b1] stereo remixed from [b] 1965, by Capitol.
US: Capitol ST 2309 The Early 1965.

[b2] mono made from [b] 1965, by Capitol.
US: Capitol T 2309 The Early 1965.

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...

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Baby It's You”

Bootlegs

Live performances

“Baby It's You” has been played in 4 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Baby It's You” has been played

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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