And I Love Her by The Beatles

Album: A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Charted: 12

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Songfacts®:

Paul McCartney wrote most of this song. In a 1984 interview with Playboy magazine, he stated, "It's just a love song; no, it wasn't for anyone." That was probably the chivalrous thing to do, as by then he was 15 years into his marriage to Linda. When he wrote the song, he was dating an actress named Jane Asher. For a while, they were the most popular couple in England. After they broke up in 1968, McCartney married Linda Eastman and Asher became a proficient author. She later started her own business called "Jane Asher Party Cakes."

McCartney did write "We Can Work It Out" and "Here, There And Everywhere" about Asher.
This was one of the first pop songs with a title that starts in mid-sentence. Paul was inspired by songs such as Perry Como's "And I Love Her So."
Most of the songs on the album A Hard Days Night are John Lennon compositions. Lennon helped out with the middle part of this song, but it's mostly the work of McCartney. Structurally, the song is fairly conventional, with a clear melody in A+A+B+A system similar to popular music from the '30s that Irving Berlin wrote. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Johan Cavalli, a music historian in Stockholm
Paul McCartney was the only Beatle to sing on this. Like "Yesterday," it is one of just a few Beatle songs with only one vocalist.
George Harrison came up with the acoustic guitar intro that made the song instantly recognizable. "I think that song wouldn't be anything without that," McCartney told GQ in 2018. "He just made up that riff, and you think about that song without that riff, it wouldn't be half as good."
This is one of the most-covered Beatles songs, with well over 300 recorded versions Their most-covered track is "Yesterday."
McCartney always intended this to be a ballad. He felt that all of their albums, regardless of how "rocky" they were, should have at least one ballad "to enrich the show." It's the reason he added "Till There Was You" to With The Beatles. The Beatles Anthology 1 album has a much faster version that includes both drums and George's 12-string electric guitar, but that wasn't the original intent.
The Beatles recorded this song at the end of February 1964, in the week after returning from the United States and before the start of filming their movie A Hard Day's Night, where they perform the song. The take you hear on record is Take 21.
Ringo played the bongos on this track; George Harrison played the acoustic guitar solo.
The guitar duo Santo & Johnny recorded a mellow surf instrumental version of this song in 1965 which was a huge hit in Mexico. Santo & Johnny are known for their #1 hit "Sleep Walk."
Despite the fact that he wrote 35% of this song (the middle eight), John Lennon called this "Paul's first 'Yesterday.'"
This was the first Beatles recording using purely acoustic instruments.
Paul once stated "This was the first song that I impressed myself with."
When Paul McCartney was asked during a 2014 Twitter Q&A what he considers to be his favorite cover of one of his tracks, the former Beatle replied: "There are so many that I love it's difficult to say, but Esther Phillips' version of 'And I love HIM' comes to mind."

Comments: 57

Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganJennifer Sun from Ramona: George didn't play his Rickenbacker 12-string on this song; it's a classical acoustic, though I don't know the specifics of that particular guitar.

To Jack and Tomness: great insight, bruhs! Just goes to show you that Paul wasn't just some run-of-the-mill hack songwriter that that Johan dude is making him out to be!
Jennifur Sun from RamonaHave heard this song since George died and it never never sounds as good or the same without that beautiful 12 string Rick he played. Have heard a rumor it was stolen later on, does anyone know. Thank goodness for Hard Days Night, it inspired the founding members of the Byrds to get 12 strings as well. The one that Roger has is sooooo pretty sounding as well.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 19th 1964, "And I Love Her" by the Beatles entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #80; and August 30th, 1964 it peaked at #12 (for 2 weeks) and spent 9 weeks on the Top 100 (and two weeks after peaking at #12 it was at #28 and its last week on the chart)...
And at the time it entered the Top 100 the 'Fab Four' had three other records on the chart, "A Hard Day's Night" (at #2), "Ain't She Sweet" (at #67), and "I Should Have Known Better" (at #75)...
Plus George Martin's "Ringo's Theme (This Boy") from the Beatles' movie 'A Hard Day's Night" was at #94...
R.I.P. John and George.
Kimberly from Landing, Njthe love is the love that comes from her eyes in the sky.

understand people . dont take it n life for grant...peace*
Jim from Kennett Square, PaSorry to correct you but Paul was NOT inspired by Perry Como's "And I Love You So". That song was written by Don McLean in 1970 and recorded by Perry in 1973. Paul's song was out in 1964...so how is he supposed to have been inspired by either Don or Perry? It may have been that the inspiration worked the other way around, who knows...maybe we'll hear that story one of these days! I am a big fan of Paul McCartney as well as Don McLean and Perry Como but these facts aren't straight here.
Dane from Green Cove Springs Fla., FlThis is one of the first Beatles songs I liked.My sister had it on a 45 (remember them?)with "If I Fell" on the other side.
Jack from Ames, IaTomness,

Well said. I have often played and sung this tune and love the way it actually makes you sing it. Something very satisfying about the tonic not really being a true tonic. It is a 6th chord (E6) in the first 'half' of the tune, and F6 during and after George's guitar solo. The guitar line that George plays makes the I chord sound like a 6th (C# over the E chord, D over the F chord etc.). This makes the tune sound very ancient somehow. And that D note that George plays at the end of his repeating riff (that starts out the song - though in E major sonority - being a C# at that time), perfectly forshadows the last final D chord. That great premonition of a osft picardy-like landing that you knew was coming all along ...

~Jack, Ames, IA.
Tomness from Cincinnati, OhThis song is not in a minor key. However, it rarely resolves to it's tonic major chord. I suspect the title, starting in the middle of the sentence is an echo of the chord progression starting in the middle of a cycle. However, it is common in jazz standards (especially ballads) to do something like this.

The A section is (before the modulation) in E major. It's ii-vi-ii-vi-IV-V-I or F#min-#Cmin-F#min-C#min-A-B-E. The I (E) happens on the words "love her."

It modulates up to F major (at the guitar solo) and follows the same pattern. It stays in F from there to the end. But at the end, it waggles between Gm and F. Such a move is more characteristic of a rock progression and may fool you into thinking it's in G minor. Then it jumps to the D major for the last chord. If the tune really was in G minor, that would be the V chord. Ending a song on a V is odd but happens now and then. It's leaves you feeling like you're left hanging.

I heard that D chord a different way. The relative minor key of F major is D minor. They share the same key signature. When you replace a minor tonic chord with a major chord, the major third is called a Picardy third. It happens fairly frequently in classical and is intended to make a song end very definitely - like using an exclamation point instead of a period. By jumping to that D major, it fools your ear into thinking it was in D minor (instead of F major) all along. Or, if you were already fooled into thinking it was in G minor, it leaves you hanging. It's certain but uncertain - an exclamation point or a question mark. Before I figured out the chords, it felt to me like a Picardy third. But you could look at it both ways. Or HEAR it either way...

All in all, I think the way it's put together is brilliant. It sounds simple to your ear but it's really sophisticated when you dig into it.

Sorry for the intellectual blah-blah-blah...
Andre from Rio De Janeiro, BrazilBeautiful guitar solo..hare krishna George!
George from Belleville, NjA beautiful timeless ballad.One of the great love songs.A sweet guitar solo by George and a clear vocal by Paul.Pure magic.
Anna from Gettysburg, PaBeautiful, amazing song. It gives me goosebumps.
Lisa from Eveleth, Mnthis song always gives me goosebumbs
Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnLove this song, the Spanish guitar is heavenly. Paul's best vocal.
Chloe from St. Louis, Mosuch a lovely song. when paul sings "as long as i have you near me" is probably one of the most beautiful moments of any beatles vocal.
Tracy from Tulsa, OkBeautiful song. Love the "click...click,click"
simple, terse, but very to the point in a romantic way.
Syed from Lakewood, Cai sang this to my wife at our wedding reception in 2004. what a great song, full of romantic interlude, simple lyrics, exotic instrumental backdrop and a fne beginning and end. What more could you ask for in a classic love song.
Mark from Dublin, IrelandCheck out cliff richards version of this song on his 2003 album "wanted". Worth a listen.
John from New York, Nythe anthology version is much more fun
Tony from Red Deer, AbGreat song. I love how the song goes up by a semi-tone at the guitar solo in the middle..very subtle. Also the guitar outro at the end is pure genius...all minor chords,,but ending on D major. Love it!
Ivette from Los Angeles, CaDamn this song is cool I luv how George plays the guitar n Paul's singing is so beautiful, Ringo is always happy when he plays the drums. and John seems so calm that's the way it should be it also comes out in A Hard Day's Night!!!THE BEATLES ROCK!!!
Kenny from Clydebank, ScotlandOne of my all-time favourites, so timeless and cool. I heard a latin version recently by a great cuban singer. This song was a highlight of the Hard Day's Night film. George's guitar-playing, his unforgettable riff... hard to beat! A classic love song with classical restraint.
Lucyinthesky from Philadelphia, PaWhat you didn't say in your song facts description of this song,is that Paul met Jane when he was 21 and she was just 17 back stage after The Beatles were on a BBC program Juke Box Jury.Paul lived with Jane and her father who was a doctor and her mother who was a music professor and her older brother and younger sister in their house for several years. Then in 1966 when Paul was 24 and Jane was 20 they bouht their own house and lived together and Paul and Jane became engaged to be married on Christmas day 1967. But in the Spring of 1968 Jane came home unexpectedly early from touring with her theatre company,and found Paul in bed with another woman and so she left him for good! According to Alistair Taylor Brian Epstein's personal assistant who stayed overnight with Paul and Jane sometimes at their farm house in Scotland,Paul tried very hard for a long time afterwards even after he was starting to see Linda,to get Jane to forgive him and come back to him. Alistair said that Paul would often call him at 12 midnight upset and then he would come over to Alistair's house at 3 in the morning and he and Paul would drink wine while Paul cried telling him how much he missed and loved Jane,and how she wasn't just his lover but a friend who he opened up eveything inside himself to. Alistair says all of Paul's letters to Jane were returned unopened and all of his phone calls went unanswered. Paul wrote many other songs about Jane not just And I Love Her,We Can Work It Out,and Here There and Everywhere. He also wrote She's A Woman,Things We Said Today,Every Little Thing,and these songs,You Won't See Me,and I'm Looking Through You on Rubber Soul and For No One on Revelover about constant arguments he and Jane had because Paul was constantly asking Jane to give up her acting career which took her away from Paul often,and devote herself to him,and she rightfully refused,because she was in her first film at age 5 and she was in the popular 1966 film Alfie with Michael Cain,and she said she enjoyed acting and she had been doing it most of her life and she didn't want to give it up.
Roger from Scanterbury, Canadawhich version has the last line "and I love her.." at the very end of the song; the american or UK version?
Joe from Montvale, NjA very good Latin influenced ballad. The Beatles had many songs that had some Latin influence namely P.S Love You and I Feel Fine.
Lucyinthesky from Philadelphia, PaThis is such a beautiful song like so many of their songs! I have been a huge highly impressed Beatles fan since I was 9,I got my first Beatles book for my 11th birthday and I had every Beatles album by the age of 13. I was born during the middle of their career too.

To the guy who said that this is a great song even though it was written by just Paul McCartney,Paul is an extremely talented singer song writer and bass player and is rightfully regarded as such! He also did some great solo work before and during Wings. His best solo period was up to 1975 and I love The Wings albums Red Rose Speedway,Venus and Mars and Band On The Run is very good too. He not only produced this album as he did many,but he played almost all of the instruments along with Denny Laine. He also played every instrument on his first solo album McCartney in 1970 and many of the instruments on Chaos and Creation in The Backyard.
Ryan from Brentwood, CaSolo so cool!
Nick from Moncton, CanadaYou don't notice the modulation? It's a minor second up, that's a pretty hearable interval. "Something" has a smoother modulation to A during the bridge. It is a Flamenco guitar. A Ramirez. they have a Harrison model out I believe.
Grady from Calgary, CanadaThe coolest thing about this song is that it actually changes key mid song and you don't even notice it, the transition is that smooth.
Jimmy from New York, NyAlthough Roberto from Peru is really the expert, Mr. Lennon disagrees:

JOHN 1972: "Both of us wrote it. The first half was Paul's and the middle-eight is mine."
Nick from Moncton, CanadaMy favorite part of the song is the modulation to Gm in the guitar solo. Adds that tension for a second that sets the song apart
Julian from Anaheim, CaI agree with that one kid, Im 16. and the beatles are the greatest band ever period
Linus from Hamilton, On, CanadaMy girlfriend's favourite Beatles song.
Dirk from Nashville, TnPaul may be the only Beatle singing on it, but when you come to the "middle 8," as they always called it, you can definitely hear at least TWO Pauls singing, "...as long as I have you near me." That layering of voices is so 1960s. On the other side of the universe, give a listen to another song that was competing for chart space around this same time by a rock-n-roll wannabe/Las Vegas lizard named Steve Lawrence, called "Go Away Little Girl." The old dude's voice is layered at least three deep on that hit. I would bet money that he was trying to sound a little like the band that had conquered America. And interestingly enough Steve and his wife ("Edie") played on the same concert tour as the Beatles in 1964.
Kristina from Small Town, NeSimple, beautiful- Perfection.
Mike from West Caldwell, NjPaul plays an excellent rendition of this on his 1991 Unplugged album.
Suzi from Charleston , Scone of my favorite beatles songs. i too am a young beatles fan, they are my favorite
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScVersion on anthology 1 is cool. I was listening to it a few days ago.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScSong's beautiful, and I love Paul's voice too. I'm glad to see so many teenagers on this site. I'm 17, and I've been a fan of the Beatles since I was 9. Dad would play their music in the car a lot. That's after he baught some of their cd's.
Ben from Cheverly, MdNo!
Melissa from Fairborn, OhThis is one of my favorite another sad Beatles song that has a slightly jazz touch. That song makes me cry.
Barry from New York, NcLennon claims to have helped McCartney write this one. However he did not give any specifics of what words or music he contributed.
Carissa from La Mirada, CaDefinitely one of the greatest love songs ever. Paul did an excellent job in vocal. I love George's guitar solo! It is beautiful. It's good to see so many teenagers on here. I'm 16 and a rabid Beatle fan!
Chance from Melbourne, AustraliaSweet words, gorgeous guitar, sweet voice, what more can I say.
Kika from Nyc, NyThis tune is very nice. But not wonderful, just sorta sweet. i feel like, as paul was more educated in music, and was really a better musician, john's songs that were written by him alone, or sung by him alone were a lot better, jstu because he puts more emotion into things and is less conventional.i feel joh could've added to this song. but it's realy pretty. and liliana, don't fret, there are many teenagers who loves the beatles. myself included
Maddie from Knoxville, TnThis is my favorite song on A Hard Day's Night. So simple but beautiful. I'm 14 and I've been listening to the Beatles ever since I was alive! Love love love Beatles.
Roman Garza from San Clemente, CaI love the beatles I'm 15 years old. THEY ARE THE GREATEST BAND IN THE WORLD. If theres any teenagers that want to talk to me about the beatles, you could contact me at roman8@cox.net
Roger from Bristol, TnIt's hard to pick which song was better, "And I Love Her" or "If I Fell"...two "A" side singles. This is what we had for a few years...great anticipation of what The Beatles would come up with next. It was always a treat.
Roberto from Punte Negra, PeruI love this song. This is (Again) only written by Paul
Jude from Los Angeles, CaI love the solo george does in this song and liliana your not the only teenager in here i am 16 years old i've been a beatles fan since i was a baby
Randy from St Marys, OhSeeing them perform this in A Hard Day's Night was truly amazing. It showed that they relly cared and was really into the song itself.
Randy, St Marys, Ohio
Matt from Cleveland, OhCheck out the anthology version. There is a nice arpeggio (sic?) going on and it sounds more initmate. The normal version sounds as if it was recorded in an airplane hangar.
Liliana from Huntley, Ili am 15 and the beatles are my favorite band in the whole world. any other teenagers here? i'd like to talk to you ^_^
Shirley from Ocean, NjMyles, do I detect a feeling that you're not a fan of Paul McCartney's. The man is half of the most brilliant song-writing team ever. Paul had his style and John had his style and they made it work very well.
Adrian from Wilmington, DeOne of the Beatles most beautiful tunes. Guys, if you know all the words by heart, sing it to your girlfriends. It will be a romantic experience for the both of you. ;-)
Omar from Houston, Txthe resonance on the acoustic in this song (most profecient in the intro) makes it sound like a flamenco guitar, very beautiful and exquisite...
Myles from Belfast, IrelandOne of the best Beatles songs ever written in my mind. Even though it was written strickly by McCartney.
Charles from Charlotte, NcThe instrumental version George Martin scored for the 'Hard Days Night' soundtrack was excellent.

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