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Released in 1964

Tell Me Why

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Last updated on March 6, 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:

“Tell Me Why” is a song by the Beatles from their album A Hard Day’s Night. In North America, it was released on both the American version of A Hard Day’s Night and the album Something New. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was written by John Lennon in either Paris or New York and recorded in eight takes on 27 February 1964.

Background

Paul McCartney said: “I think a lot of these [Lennon’s] songs like “Tell Me Why” may have been based in real experiences or affairs John was having, or arguments with Cynthia [Lennon’s wife] or whatever, but it never occurred to us until later to put that slant on it all.”

Lennon described the song as resembling “a black New York girl-group song“. Its basic structure of simple doo-wop chord changes and block harmonies over a walking bass line “creates an illusion of sincerity through its sheer attack.”

“Tell Me Why” was performed in the Beatles’ debut feature film, A Hard Day’s Night. The song was part of the ‘studio performance’ sequence, which was filmed at the Scala Theatre, London, on 31 March 1964.

The song is in the key of D major. John, Paul, and George sing a three-part harmony. Unusually, Paul sings a lower harmony to John’s lead during the chorus.

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 Hard Day’s Night 1964, Capitol T 2018 Something New 1964.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46437 2 Hard Day’s Night 1987.
  • [a1] mono made from [a] 1964, by United Artists.
    US: United Artists UAS 6366 Hard Day’s Night 1964.
  • [b] stereo 22 Jun 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3058 Hard Day’s Night 1964.
    US: Capitol ST 2018 Something New 1964.

Stereo [b] has a noise at the very end edited off the others. [a1] on UAS 6366 is mono except that in the verses it shifts toward the left for the solo call (John solo) and toward the right for the response (group).

Steve Shorten reports the original filmprint of A Hard Day’s Night has a different mono mix undocumented by Lewisohn, probably March 3, with the doubletrack vocal mixed differently, noticeably on “well I’m beggin’ on my bended knees, if you’ll only listen to my pleas”. See the American Film Institute restored version of 1996.

Lyrics

Tell me why you cried

And why you lied to me

Tell me why you cried

And why you lied to me

Well I gave you everything I had

But you left me sitting on my own

Did you have to treat me oh so bad?

All I do is hang my head and moan

Tell me why you cried

And why you lied to me

Tell me why you cried

And why you lied to me

And if something I have said or done

Tell me what and I'll apologize

If you don't I really can't go on

Holding back these tears in my eyes

Tell me why you cried

And why you lied to me

Tell me why you cried

And why you lied to me

Well I'm beggin' on my bended knees

If you'll only listen to my pleas

Is there anything I can do?

'Cause I really can't stand it

I'm so in love with you

Tell me why you cried

And why you lied to me

Tell me why you cried

And why you lied to me

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Tell Me Why”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Tell Me Why”

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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