I Don't Know (song)

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

Other songs from the Kirchherr Tape

Cayenne

Officially appears on Anthology 1

Well, Darling

Unreleased song

I Do

I Don't Want To Confess

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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

Wildcat!

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

See all bootlegs containing “I Don't Know”

Live performances

“I Don't Know” has been played in 8 soundchecks.

Year	Soundchecks	Concerts
1960	0	0
1961	0	0
1962	0	0
1963	0	0
1964	0	0
1965	0	0
1966	0	0
1967	0	0
1968	0	0
1969	0	0
1970	0	0
1971	0	0
1972	0	0
1973	0	0
1974	0	0
1975	0	0
1976	0	0
1977	0	0
1978	0	0
1979	0	0
1980	0	0
1981	0	0
1982	0	0
1983	0	0
1984	0	0
1985	0	0
1986	0	0
1987	0	0
1988	0	0
1989	0	0
1990	0	0
1991	0	0
1992	0	0
1993	0	0
1994	0	0
1995	0	0
1996	0	0
1997	0	0
1998	0	0
1999	0	0
2000	0	0
2001	0	0
2002	0	0
2003	0	0
2004	0	0
2005	0	0
2006	0	0
2007	0	0
2008	0	0
2009	0	0
2010	0	0
2011	0	0
2012	0	0
2013	0	0
2014	0	0
2015	0	0
2016	0	0
2017	0	0
2018	7	0
2019	1	0
2020	0	0

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james warren 2 years ago

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?

Gretchen Nelson 2 months ago

Can I just say I LOVE it when Paul wears Johnny’s glasses!

I Don't Know