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Released in 1964

Baby's In Black

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Last updated on March 9, 2016

Album This song officially appears on the Beatles For Sale (Mono) LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1964

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

From Wikipedia:

“Baby’s in Black” is a song by the Beatles, co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The song appears on the United Kingdom album Beatles for Sale and in North America on Beatles ’65.

Composition

“Baby in Black” performs at a 6/8 time signature with a moderate tempo that makes it sound like 3/4 (waltz-time). AMG described the song as “a love lament for a grieving girl that was perhaps more morose than any previous Beatles’ song.” Musicologist Alan W. Pollack notes that the song is relatively complex in format, with a refrain, bridge, and a guitar solo. He describes the song as having “mishmash” of stylistic elements—among them, “bluesy” chords and country music-inspired vocals.

Recording

“Baby’s in Black” was recorded by the Beatles on 11 August 1964, and was the first song recorded for Beatles for Sale. Lennon and McCartney sang their vocal parts simultaneously through the same microphone. This was done at their own insistence in order to achieve a closer feel to the performance. McCartney was subsequently contacted by their music publisher in 1964 inquiring as to which melody line was the main tune (i.e. Paul’s higher or John’s lower melody). McCartney later said that he told the publisher they were both the main melody.

Live performances

They performed “Baby’s in Black” live during their appearances from late 1964 until their last tour in 1966. McCartney said they introduced the song by saying, “‘And now for something different.’ … We used to put that in there, and think, ‘Well, they won’t know quite what to make of this, but it’s cool.’” In 1996, a live version of “Baby’s in Black” was released as a B-side to “Real Love“, the second single from their Anthology project.

Paul McCartney, Anthology:

Baby’s In Black we did because we like waltz time – we used to do If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody, a cool 3/4 blues thing. And other bands would notice that and say, ‘Shit man, you’re doing something in 3/4.’ So we’d got known for that. And I think also John and I wanted to do something bluesy, a bit darker, more grown-up, rather than just straight pop. It was more ‘baby’s in black’ as in mourning. Our favourite colour was black, as well

Paul McCartney, in Many Years From Now, by Barry Miles:

It was very much co-written and we both sang it. Sometimes the harmony that I was writing in sympathy to John’s melody would take over and become a stronger melody. Suddenly a piebald rabbit came out of the hat! When people wrote out the music score they would ask, ‘Which one is the melody?’ because it was so co-written that you could actually take either. We rather liked this one. It was not so much a work job, there was a bit more cred about this one. It’s got a good middle.

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 26 Oct 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1240 For Sale 1964.
    US: Capitol T 2228 Beatles ’65 1964.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46438 2 For Sale 1987.
  • [b] stereo 4 Nov 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3062 For Sale 1964.
    US: Capitol ST 2228 Beatles ’65 1964.

Lyrics

Oh dear, what can I do?

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue

Tell me, oh what can I do?

She thinks of him

And so she dresses in black

And though he'll never come back

She's dressed in black

Oh dear, what can I do?

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue

Tell me, oh what can I do?

I think of her

But she only thinks of him

And though it's only a whim

She thinks of him

Oh how long will it take

Till she sees the mistake she has made?

Dear, what can I do?

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue

Tell me, oh what can I do?

Oh how long it will take

Till she sees the mistake she has made?

Dear, what can I do?

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue

Tell me, oh what can I do?

She thinks of him

And so she dresses in black

And though he'll never come back

She's dressed in black

Oh dear, what can I do?

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue

Tell me, oh what can I do?

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Baby's In Black”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Baby's In Black”

Live performances

“Baby's In Black” has been played in 119 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Baby's In Black” has been played

See all concerts where “Baby's In Black” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney writing

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