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Released in 1964

I Don't Want to Spoil the Party

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Last updated on January 26, 2022

Album This song officially appears on the Beatles For Sale (Mono) LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1964

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

From Wikipedia:

“I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” is a song by the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on the album Beatles for Sale in the United Kingdom in 1964. “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” was also released on the Beatles for Sale (No. 2) EP. In the United States, Capitol released the song as the B-side of the single “Eight Days a Week“, and later on the Beatles VI album, both in 1965. The single peaked at number one in the US (it was not released in the UK); “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” charted as a B-side, reaching number thirty-nine on Billboard.

Lyrics

The lyrics revisit Lennon’s familiar themes of alienation and inner pain. In this song, he is at a party, waiting for his girl to show up. When it becomes clear that she has stood him up, he decides to leave, rather than spoil the party for everyone else. Both the lyrics and melody share a melancholy sound and theme with previous songs on Beatles for Sale, such as “No Reply” and “I’m a Loser“.

Recording

The Beatles recorded the song on 29 September 1964 in 19 takes, the last of which was released.

Paul McCartney, in Many Years From Now, by Barry Miles:

Ringo had a great style and great delivery. He had a lot of fans, so we liked to write something for him on each album. I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party is quite a nice little song, co-written by John and I. It sounds more like John than me so 80-20 to him, sitting down doing a job. Certain songs were inspirational and certain songs were work, it didn’t mean they were any less fun to write, it was just a craft, and this was a job to order really, which Ringo did a good job on.

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 26 Oct 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1240 For Sale 1964.
    US: Capitol 5371 single 1965, Capitol T 2358 Beatles VI 1965.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46438 2 For Sale 1987.
  • [b] stereo 4 Nov 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3062 For Sale 1964.
    US: Capitol ST 2358 Beatles VI 1965.

Stereo [b] has a cry “woo” before the instrumental break, not in mono [a], and the guitar is mixed louder.

That was me. You see they’re all personal…mine, when you get down to it. I didn’t write much material early on, less than Paul, because he was quite competent on guitar. He taught me quite a lot of guitar really.

John Lennon – Interview with Ray Connolly, 1970 – From “The Ray Connolly Beatles Archive”

Lyrics

I don't want to spoil the party so I'll go

I would hate my disappointment to show

There's nothing for me here so I will disappear

If she turns up while I'm gone please let me know

I've had a drink or two and I don't care

There's no fun in what I do if she's not there

I wonder what went wrong, I've waited far too long

I think I'll take a walk and look for her

Though tonight she's made me sad

I still love her

If I find her I'll be glad

I still love her

I don't want to spoil the party so I'll go

I would hate my disappointment to show

There's nothing for me here so I will disappear

If she turns up while I'm gone please let me know

Though tonight she's made me sad

I still love her

If I find her I'll be glad

I still love her

Though I've had a drink or two and I don't care

There's no fun in what I do if she's not there

I wonder what went wrong and waited far too long

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “I Don't Want to Spoil the Party”

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Going further

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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jimboggia • 3 years ago

What the hell is Paul talking about in this quote from the Barry Miles book? Is he thinking about 'What Goes On'? Ringo is definitely NOT singing this. Oh, Paul.

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