- Timeline This song has been recorded in 1960
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Home recordings, aka "The Kirchherr Tape"
circa April 1960
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Song facts
From Early Beatles Songs:
This track is only known through the Forthlin Road tapes, where it sits with the series of instrumental jams. This one is a somewhat better structured blues number, with Lennon and McCartney vocalising together and separately, although a full lyric is impossible to decipher. It is presumed to be a co-write, and the lack of proper words suggests it was of recent creation, although probably not made up on the spot. The title is derived from something Lennon seems to sing – possibly referencing himself not knowing any words.
Lyrics
[...] Time don't wait when I'm callin' you, Johnny boy...
Please Johnny, won't you tell me?
I'm gonna see my sister Sue.
If she don't want to see me I don't know really what I'm gonna do...
I don't know, I don't know.
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 1996
5:54 • Demo • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Guitar, Vocals
- John Lennon :
- Guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Guitar
- Stuart Sutcliffe :
- Bass
- Session Recording:
- circa April 1960
- Studio :
- Paul's House Forthlin Road Liverpool
Complete Home Recordings 1958-62
Unofficial album • Released in 2002
5:59 • Demo • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Guitar, Vocals
- John Lennon :
- Guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Guitar
- Stuart Sutcliffe :
- Bass
- Session Recording:
- circa April 1960
- Studio :
- Paul's House Forthlin Road Liverpool
The Silver Beatles - Lapis Lazuli
Unofficial album • Released in 2010
5:34 • Outtake • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Guitar, Vocals
- John Lennon :
- Guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Guitar
- Stuart Sutcliffe :
- Bass
- Session Recording:
- circa April 1960
- Studio :
- Paul's House Forthlin Road Liverpool
Freshen Up Tokyo Dome November 1 2018
Unofficial live • Released in 2018
Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 01, 2018
Soundcheck 2018 Original In-Ear Monitor Recording
Unofficial live • Released in 2018
Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 01, 2018
Live performances
“I Don't Know” has been played in 8 soundchecks.
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The first of the song sounds like a bereft, melancholy and wistful Paul.
But his lyrics in the “middle 8” reverts back to the Paul of unbounded optimism and dare I say--Love.
I wonder if Paul included some actual written lyrics of John and then finished up with his good-natured love ballad words?
Can I just say I LOVE it when Paul wears Johnny’s glasses!