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Tip of My Tongue

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Last updated on January 26, 2022


Album This song officially appears on the Tip of My Tongue 7" Single.

Related session

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

From Wikipedia:

“Tip of My Tongue” is a single by Tommy Quickly backed by The Remo Four. Written by Paul McCartney and attributed to the songwriting partnership of Lennon–McCartney, it was one of their relatively few songs that were never officially released by the Beatles. Several takes of this song were apparently recorded on 26 November 1962 at EMI Studios, although George Martin was dissatisfied with the results. This session has yet to emerge on any of the Beatles bootlegs.

Surprisingly, although Quickly’s version was released in the UK as Beatlemania was taking off, the single was a flop and proved merely the first of a series of career disappointments for the singer. “Tip of My Tongue” remains one of only two original A-side written by Lennon–McCartney not to have at least made the UK charts upon its initial release; the other was Peter and Gordon’s “I Don’t Want To See You Again”, which did at least chart in the US, peaking at #16.

“Tip of My Tongue” was also recorded by the Badbeats on Beat Bad Records (USA) in 1979. The single was backed with another Lennon–McCartney song, “One and One Is Two”. This single was the first release for either of these songs in the USA.

Paul wrote that for Tommy Quickly. In those days we used to write around catch phrases like ‘tip of my tongue’ and ‘lift up your leg’.

John Lennon – Interview with Ray Connolly, 1970 – From “The Ray Connolly Beatles Archive”


Lyrics

La, la, la, la

La, la, la, la

La, la, la

When I want to speak to you

It sometimes it take a week or two

To think of things I want to say to you, whoo oo

Oh, words just stay on the tip of my tongue


La, la, la


When the skies are not so blue

There is not much left for me to do

Just think of something new to say to you, wooh oo

Oh, words just stay on the tip of my tongue


People say I'm lowly

Only you know that's not true

You know I'm waiting for a chance

To prove my love to you


Soon enough my time will come

And after all is said and done

I'll marry you and we will live as one, wooh oo

With no more words on the tip of my tongue


People say I'm lowly

Only you know that's not true

You know I'm waiting for a chance

To prove my love to you


Soon enough my time will come

And after all is said and done

I'll marry you and we will live as one, whoo oo

With no more words on the tip of my tongue

No more, no words on the tip of my tongue

No, no more words on the tip of my tongue

Officially appears on

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Paul McCartney writing

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Barry Knoedl • 6 years ago

The Badbeats original 7" vinyl release is still available from Beat Bad Records (http://beatbadrecords.com/catalog.1.html). Also available on CD single (http://beatbadrecords.com/catalog.10.html).


The PaulMcCartney Project • 6 years ago

Thanks for your message Barry ! Good to know !


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