Songfacts®:

• John Lennon wrote this for Billy J. Kramer, whose band Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas was signed to The Beatles British record label. Kramer released it as the B-side of his single "Bad to Me" in 1963. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Russ - Seattle, WA
• The first part Lennon composed 1957. Not until in spring 1964 - Lennon's very productive year - he composed the middle part. Lennon could create enormous power in his compositions with seemingly limited means: The middle part has only one melody, but in three different ways. This creates a feeling of desperation.
  The three variations in the middle part end in the same note, but are emphasized in different ways:
  
  1) "take it..."
  2) "who can...
  3) "ya take it..."
  
  At the same time a counter melody in a guitar binds the three variations. The middle part is almost exactly the same as the middle part in Lennon's "And Your Bird Can Sing." >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Johan Cavalli, a music historian in Stockholm
• The Beatles released this as a B side to the Long Tall Sally EP in England. "Long Tall Sally" was one of the songs Paul McCartney sang in Hamburg, and also the song that got him officially inducted into the group. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Johnny - Los Angeles, CA
• The Mamas & The Papas covered this in 1966. Their version appeared on their album If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears.