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- Album This song officially appears on the Please Please Me (Mono) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
"Please Please Me" album session #1
Feb 11, 1963
"Please Please Me" album session #3
Feb 25, 1963
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Do You Want to Know a Secret?” is a song by English rock group the Beatles from the 1963 album Please Please Me, sung by George Harrison. In the United States, it was the first top ten song to feature Harrison as a lead singer, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard chart in 1964 as a single released by Vee-Jay, VJ 587. The song reached the No. 1 position on Billboard in 1981 and No. 2 in the United Kingdom in a cover version by Stars on 45 as part of a medley.
Composition
“Do You Want to Know a Secret?“, written in autumn 1962, was primarily composed by John Lennon but credited to Lennon–McCartney.The song was inspired by “I’m Wishing“, a tune from Walt Disney’s 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which Lennon’s mother, Julia Lennon, would sing to him as a child. The first two lines of the song in Disney’s movie (“Want to know a secret? Promise not to tell?“) come right after the opening lyrics (“You’ll never know how much I really love you… You’ll never know how much I really care…“). McCartney has said it was a “50–50 collaboration written to order“, i.e., for Harrison to sing, but Lennon, who always claimed the song as his own, explained in a 1980 interview that he had realized as soon as he had finished writing the song that it best suited Harrison.
Recording
In 1980, Lennon said that he gave “Do You Want to Know a Secret?” to Harrison to sing because “it only had three notes and he wasn’t the best singer in the world“, but added “he has improved a lot since then.” Harrison sang two songs on Please Please Me, this song by Lennon–McCartney and “Chains” by Goffin/King. “Don’t Bother Me” from With The Beatles, was the first Beatles song composed solely by Harrison.
The song was recorded during a ten-hour session on 11 February 1963 along with nine other songs for Please Please Me.
Single release
“Do You Want to Know a Secret?” was released a year later as a single by Vee-Jay in the United States on 23 March 1964, reaching the number two spot behind another Beatles song, “Can’t Buy Me Love” in Billboard, reaching number three on the Cash Box chart, but reaching number one for two weeks in the chart published by the Teletheatre Research Institute. In the U.S., it was the most successful Beatles song on which Harrison sang lead vocal until “Something” peaked at #1 as part of a double-sided number one hit with “Come Together” in 1969.
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
[a] mono 25 Feb 1963.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1202 Please Please Me 1963.
US: Vee Jay VJLP 1062 Introducing 1963, Vee Jay VJ 587 single 1964.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46435 2 Please Please Me 1987.[b] stereo 25 Feb 1963.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3042 Please Please Me 1963.
US: Vee Jay VJSR 1062 Introducing 1963.[b1] stereo remixed from [b] 1965, by Capitol.
US: Capitol ST 2309 The Early 1965.[b2] mono made from [b] 1965, by Capitol.
US: Capitol T 2309 The Early 1965.
Last updated on May 21, 2021
Lyrics
You'll never know how much I really love you
You'll never know how much I really care
Listen
Do you want to know a secret
Do you promise not to tell, whoa oh, oh
Closer
Let me whisper in your ear
Say the words you long to hear
I'm in love with you
Listen
Do you want to know a secret
Do you promise not to tell, whoa oh, oh
Closer
Let me whisper in your ear
Say the words you long to hear
I'm in love with you
I've known the secret for a week or two
Nobody knows, just we two
Listen
Do you want to know a secret
Do you promise not to tell, whoa oh, oh
Closer
Let me whisper in your ear
Say the words you long to hear
I'm in love with you
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1963
1:56 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1963
1:56 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
EP • Released in 1963
2:00 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
2:01 • Studio version • B2 • Mono • Mono made from [B] by Capitol
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
1:57 • Studio version • B1 • Stereo • Stereo remixed from [B], by Capitol
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
The Early Beatles (2006 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2006
1:57 • Studio version • B1.2006 • Stereo • 2006 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
The Early Beatles (2006 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2006
2:01 • Studio version • B2.2006 • Mono • 2006 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Please Please Me (Mono - 2009 remaster)
CD • Released in 2009
1:56 • Studio version • A2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Please Please Me (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
1:56 • Studio version • B2009 • Stereo • 2009 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 25, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
On Air - Live at the BBC Volume 2
Official live • Released in 2013
1:48 • Live • L3 • This is the last of six radio performances of a song from The Beatles’ debut album "Please Please Me". At the time of the broadcast, "Do You Want To Know A Secret" was at the top of the British EP chart as one of the four tracks on "Twist And Shout". A version recorded by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas reached number one in several British music papers’ charts in June. In America, as the A-side of a Beatles single on the Vee-Jay label, "Do You Want To Know A Secret" peaked at number two behind Louis Armstrong’s "Hello, Dolly" in May 1964.
- George Harrison :
- Vocals
- Terry Henebery :
- Producer
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Jul 30, 1963
Bootlegs
Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 1 (1962-1963)
Unofficial album • Released in 1989
2:01 • Outtake • Take 8 (track 2)
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 7 (1962-1969)
Unofficial album • Released in 1991
2:00 • Alternate take • Take 7
- Session Recording:
- Feb 11, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 1
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
1:59 • Live
Concert From "Here We Go" in Manchester, United Kingdom on Mar 12, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 2
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:13 • Live
Concert From "Saturday Club" in London, United Kingdom on May 25, 1963
Live performances
“Do You Want To Know A Secret” has been played in 50 concerts and 1 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Do You Want To Know A Secret has been played
Jul 30, 1963 • Part of BBC Sessions
Blackburn • King George's Hall • United Kingdom
Jun 09, 1963 • Part of Roy Orbison / The Beatles Tour
Newcastle upon Tyne • Newcastle City Hall • United Kingdom
Jun 08, 1963 • Part of Roy Orbison / The Beatles Tour
Glasgow • Odeon Cinema • United Kingdom
Jun 07, 1963 • Part of Roy Orbison / The Beatles Tour
Leeds • Odeon Cinema • United Kingdom
Jun 05, 1963 • Part of Roy Orbison / The Beatles Tour
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