Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles

Released in 1963

You Really Got A Hold On Me

Written by Smokey Robinson

Last updated on January 22, 2025

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

Timeline This song was officially released in 1963

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other Smokey Robinson songs

From Wikipedia:

“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” is a song written by Smokey Robinson which became a 1962 Top 10 hit single for the Miracles on the Tamla (Motown) label. One of the Miracles’ most covered tunes, this million-selling song received a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame Award. It has also been selected as one of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was covered by The Beatles on their second album, With The Beatles.

Composition

“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” was written by Smokey Robinson while in New York in 1962 on business for Motown; he heard Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me“, which was in the charts at the time, and – influenced by it – wrote the song in his hotel room. […]

Release

The song was released on the Tamla label on November 9, 1962 as the B side to “Happy Landing“. “Happy Landing” charted regionally; however, the nation’s Dee-Jays flipped the record over, because they liked “Hold On Me” better. With “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” as the A side, the single reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop chart, peaking at number eight, and was a number-one smash on the Billboard R&B singles chart during the winter of 1962-63. The Miracles’ original version is a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. It was also the group’s second single to sell over a million copies, after “Shop Around“. It would be included on the album The Fabulous Miracles over three months after its release. […]

The Beatles version

“You Really Got a Hold on Me” [sic] was the first track recorded for the Beatles’ second United Kingdom LP, With the Beatles, and features John Lennon on lead vocal with George Harrison and Paul McCartney on close harmony lead. The Beatles acquired an imported copy by the Miracles and included it in their repertoire early in 1963. In a 1968 interview, Smokey Robinson reported that he liked their cover.

The Beatles recorded the song on July 18, 1963. This session took place while Please Please Me was still at number one in the album charts four months after its release, and in the midst of a rigorous touring schedule that also had to include BBC sessions for radio and television. It was completed in seven takes, four of which were complete. The group then recorded four edit pieces. The final version was an edit of takes 7, 10 and 11.

The Beatles also recorded “You Really Got a Hold on Me” on four occasions for BBC radio in 1963. One of these, from July 30, 1963 was included on the Live at the BBC collection. A live version recorded in Stockholm, Sweden in October 1963 was released in 1995 on Anthology 1. The song was performed once again in 1969, during the Let It Be recording sessions, and featured in the 1970 documentary film, Let It Be. […]

On January 26, 1969, during the Beatles’ “Get Back” sessions, The Beatles recorded a version of “You Really Got A Hold On Me.“ 

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 21 Aug 1963.
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1206 With the Beatles 1963.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46436 2 With the Beatles 1987.
  • [b] stereo 29 Oct 1963.
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3045 With the Beatles 1963.
  • [b1] stereo remixed from [b] 1964, by Capitol.
    US: Capitol ST 2080 Second 1964.
  • [b2] mono made from [b] 1964, by Capitol.
    US: Capitol T 2080 Second.

In mono [a], the instrumental track is mixed relatively quiet until the line “oh ho ho you treat me badly”, when it comes up to a more normal level; in stereo [b] it starts at normal level and remains.

Lyrics

I don't like you

But I love you

Seems that I'm always

Thinking of you

Oh, oh, oh

You treat me badly

I love you madly

You've really got a hold on me

You've really got a hold on me, baby

I don't want you

But I need you

Don't want to kiss you

But I need you

Oh, oh, oh

You do me wrong now

My love is strong now

You've really got a hold on me

You've really got a hold on me, baby

I love you and all I want you to do

Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

Tied up

Tied up

I want to leave you

Don't want to stay here

Don't want to spend

Another day here

Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now

I just can quit now

You've really got a hold on me

You've really got a hold on me, baby

I love you and all I want you to do

Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

You've really got a hold on me

You've really got a hold on me

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “You Really Got A Hold On Me”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “You Really Got A Hold On Me”

Live performances

“You Really Got A Hold On Me” has been played in 12 concerts.

Latest concerts where “You Really Got A Hold On Me” has been played

See all concerts where “You Really Got A Hold On Me” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.