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Released in 1964

I'm Happy Just To Dance With You

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Last updated on March 2, 2016

Album This song officially appears on the A Hard Day's Night (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’m Happy Just to Dance with You” is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded by the Beatles for the film soundtrack to A Hard Day’s Night. Lead vocals are by George Harrison, whose performance in the film marked the first commercial music video segment with Harrison singing lead.

Composition

It was written specifically for George Harrison to sing at a time when he lacked the confidence to compose his own material. Years later, McCartney described it as a “formula song“, and Lennon said, “I would never have sung it myself.”

Structurally, it features hectic Bo Diddley rhythm and busy banjo style guitar playing in juxtaposition with Harrison’s vocal. Its composers give it an unpredictable choice of chord (augmenting the B7th on “I’m happy just to dance with you“) right at the crux of its title, jarring the chorus. The song is also unique in that it begins not with a verse or chorus but with the last four bars of the bridge.

Recording

The Beatles recorded “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You” on a Sunday, the first time they had used Abbey Road Studios on other than a normal work day.

The group also recorded a version for the BBC’s From Us to You radio show. The session took place on 17 July 1964 at the BBC Paris Studio in London, and was first broadcast on 3 August that year. […]

Paul McCartney in Many Years From Now by Barry Miles:

We Wrote I’m Happy Just To Dance With You for George in the film. It was a bit of a formula song. We knew that in E if you went to an A flat minor, you could always make a song with those chords; that change pretty much always excited you. This is one of these. Certainly Do You Want To Know A Secret was. This one anyway was a straight co-written song for George. We wouldn’t have actually wanted to sing it because it was a bit… The ones that pandered to the fans in truth were our least favourite songs but they were good. They were good for the time. The nice thing about it was to actually pull a song off on a slim little premise like that. A simple little idea. It was songwriting practice.

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 3 Mar 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1230 Hard Day’s Night 1964.
    US: United Artists UAL 3366 and UAS 6366 Hard Day’s Night 1964, Capitol 5234 single 1964, Capitol T 2018 Something New 1964.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46437 2 Hard Day’s Night 1987.
  • [b] stereo 22 Jun 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3058 Hard Day’s Night 1964.
    US: Capitol ST 2018 Something New 1964.

Lyrics

Before this dance is through I think I'll love you too

I'm so happy when you dance with me

I don't wanna kiss or hold your hand

If it's funny try and understand

There is really nothing else I'd rather do

'Cause I'm happy just to dance with you

I don't need to hug or hold you tight

I just wanna dance with you all night

In this world there's nothing I would rather do

'Cause I'm happy just to dance with you

Just to dance with you

Is everything I need

Before this dance is through

I think I'll love you too

I'm so happy when you dance with me

If somebody tries to take my place

Let's pretend we just can't see his face

In this world there's nothing I would rather do

'Cause I'm happy just to dance with you

Just to dance with you

Is everything I need

Before this dance is through I think I'll love you too

I'm so happy when you dance with me

If somebody tries to take my place

Let's pretend we just can't see his face

In this world there's nothing I would rather do

I've discovered I'm in love with you

'Cause I'm happy just to dance with you

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “I'm Happy Just To Dance With You”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “I'm Happy Just To Dance With You”

Live performances

“I'm Happy Just To Dance With You” has been played in 55 concerts.