All I've Got To Do

Album: With The Beatles (1963)
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Songfacts®:

  • John Lennon wrote this in 1961 in the style of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. It was one of 3 songs (along with "It Won't Be Long" and "Not A Second Time") that was written without McCartney for album With The Beatles. John stated: "That's me trying to do Smokey Robinson again." This particular song was inspired by the Miracles song "You Can Depend On Me."
  • This was recorded on September 11, 1963 at Abbey Road studios in London. The Beatles never performed it on stage. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Roman - Vilnius, for above 2

Comments: 23

  • Ken from Philadelphia, PaSusanna Hoffs, formerly of the Bangles (and, who knows, maybe she still tours with them... I am not real up to date on the comings and goings of the original lineup of the Bangles), did a nice little cover of this as a solo act in 2012-ish.
  • Trebor from TexasYou are off task again JOHAN. This page is about All I've Got To Do. Please cite directly where Paul McCartney and not Richard Taruskin claims credit for either song. It's sad that in your zeal to discredit Paul McCartney you have to use dubious information that is not attributed directly to Paul. That's not being a very responsible "music historian" . That is akin to me claiming that Yoko is paying you to re-write The Beatles history completely in John's favor. Though come to think of it, I may be more accurate than you.
  • Johan from Stockholm, SwedenNot a Second Time is a Lennon composition from 1963.
    2009 Richard Taruskin released Oxford History of Western Music, where he comments Not a Second Time. As usual McCartney got the credit for the song.
  • Zero from Nowhere, NjWhenj I saw Paul in 2011 he played the song "The Night Before" and before he played it he said it was only played live one other time and that was "the night before" that night. So...that's yet another song the Beatles never played live (along with everything from '67 onward).
  • Megan from Stevenson, AlThis song is so catchy. Everytime you hear it, you just gotta sing it! :)
  • Joe from New York, NyAll I've got to do is a song that The Beatles have said never actually got it to the stage in a live show. It only was recorded that day in 1963 sort of like an album filler....BUT to me the Beatles have done this with many of their original songs....there are so many songs that I have for decades tried to find them playing at a live show.....but no luck....Michele....comes to mind....never ever is there a live show with that one played....also Not a second time......Rain.....What you're doing.....Don't bother me....If anyone out there has heard these tunes on live show recordings please get in touch with me at hollywoodjoe@usa.com thank you all, Joe Nania a.k.a. Hollywood Joe www.hollywoodjoe.com
  • Rj from Philapool, PaI could listen to the harmonies on this one for hours and hours. I love the part when John sings, "And the same goes for me..." and how John and Paul harmonize their humming at the very end.
  • John from Sydney, AustraliaThis song has a clear, strong, distinctive melody ... and is so very beautiful. Part of John Lennon's genius was his genius for transition - so often in his songs he builds a room and then sublimely takes you into another. This is something Mozart at times was very good at - taking you from one musically created room or world into another in a way that causes something so very beautiful to happen inside you ... causing a sublime energy to release inside you. Here this happens when John Lennon sings "And the same goes for me ...".
  • Ret from Bristol, United KingdomThis still sounds like nothing else before or since, from the opening (Dm11?) chord through his mature vocal and lyric through the verses, even the stomping Mersey-shout of the pre-chorus is downplayed. A little secret gem of a Track 2 hiding behind the shout of It Won't Be Long
  • Linc from Beaumont, TxWhy the arguments? Lennon was an awesome song writer, and McCartney was an awesome song writer and we are so lucky they found each other and were complemented with the talents of George and then Ringo.
  • Derek from Shrewsbury, Maim telling every one not to hate this check the date at the top of the page 1963 he had only been writing for like a year and he wrote this without help from paul and if paul had helped him it would have been a little beter the same if paul had writen it alone it would be less exiting as well so dont hate this
  • Rick from Columbus, OhWhenever I wanna kiss, yeah, all I got to do, is call you on the phone & you'll come running home...what a romantic couple that portrays...
  • Aneaaron from México City, MexicoThis is a good ballad, but by John, if it was written by Paul all of us love them
  • Rosario from Naples, FlNot the best beatles song, but it's good enough. I like it.
  • Peter from Stockholm, SwedenThis is the most boring song Lennon ever wrote !
  • George from Belleville, NjThis is a very catchy melody by John and captures a unique sound of various notes being played and sung and it once again showcases the incredible musical talent the Beatles were already showing early in their career.
  • Brian from Sydney, CanadaLove this song! Really does remind me of a 'Smokey' song.
  • Tyler from Lakewood, CaGreat song. Fantastic Lyrics also.
  • Bram from Zoetermeer, NetherlandsVery good song!
  • Steve from Fenton, MoStefanie, every one of the Beatles original CDs are essential. They are better than the Anthology CDs, which I own, too. The early CDs sometimes get slighted by the critics who usually favor the later CDs, but the early CDs contain great melodies and harmonies sung with lots of energy. By all means, give them a listen.
  • Sylvia from London, EnglandI like this song for some odd reason that I can't put my finger on. Haha, I dunno. But it is catchy and gets stuck in my head very often, even when I haven't heard it for a month.
  • Lee from Clearwater, FlSeptember the 11th is my birthday. It seems alot was going on on September the 11th. I was 13 in 1963. I would have been in shock if I had known the future of the day 9 11
  • Ben from Cheverly, MdI like this one a lot.
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