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- Album This song officially appears on the Help! (Mono) Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Feb 17, 1965
Feb 18, 1965
Feb 23, 1965
Apr 18, 1965
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“The Night Before” is a song by the Beatles from the album and film Help!. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney.
Composition and recording
Lennon plays a Hohner Pianet electric piano throughout the song accompanied by McCartney’s ascending and descending bass lines. The song’s verse has a call and response structure, McCartney’s lead vocal alternating with Lennon and George Harrison’s harmony, singing the chorus “Aaah, the night before …“, the whole being alternated with a second melody. McCartney plays a guitar solo on the third verse that is recapitulated in part as the coda of the song. However, Lennon said in a 1965 interview that it was Harrison and McCartney playing the guitar solo together, albeit in different octaves.
Film performance
The song is performed on Salisbury Plain in the second Beatles film, Help! and, just as it finishes, a bomb explodes. In the movie, the Beatles perform the song in the shadow of Stonehenge. Harrison mimes the terse, stabbing guitar solo — even though both he and McCartney played it on the record, according to Lennon.
Live performances
McCartney played the song on 15 July 2011 at Yankee Stadium, stating from the stage that it was the first time he had performed the song in concert. The only time the Beatles performed it outside of EMI Studios was for their final BBC radio session (The Beatles Invite You to Take a Ticket To Ride) on 26 May 1965, broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 7 June 1965.
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
- [a] mono 18 Feb 1965.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1255 Help! 1965.- [b] stereo 23 Feb 1965.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3071 Help! 1965.
US: Capitol SMAS 2386 Help! 1965.- [b1] mono made from [b] 1965, by Capitol.
US: Capitol MAS 2386 Help! 1965.- [c] stereo 1987.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46439 2 Help! 1987.
Last updated on March 16, 2016
Lyrics
We said our goodbyes, ah, the night before
Love was in your eyes, ah, the night before
Now today I find you have changed your mind
Treat me like you did the night before
Were you telling lies, ah, the night before?
Was I so unwise, ah, the night before?
When I held you near you were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
Last night is a night I will remember you by
When I think of things we did it makes me wanna cry
We said our goodbye, ah, the night before
Love was in your eyes, ah, the night before
Now today I find you have changed your mind
Treat me like you did the night before
When I held you near you were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
Last night is a night I will remember you by
When I think of things we did it makes me wanna cry
Were you telling lies, ah, the night before?
Was I so unwise, ah, the night before?
When I held you near you were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
Like the night before
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1965
2:35 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Lead guitar, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Electric piano, Harmony vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 17, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 18, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
2:36 • Studio version • B1 • Mono • Mono made from [B] by Capitol
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Lead guitar, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Electric piano, Harmony vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 17, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 23, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
2:37 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Lead guitar, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Electric piano, Harmony vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 17, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 23, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
2:35 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Lead guitar, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Percussion
- John Lennon :
- Electric piano, Harmony vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 17, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 23, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
On The Run - Bologna, Italy - November 26, 2011
Unofficial live
3:14 • Live
Concert From the concert in Bologna, Italy on Nov 26, 2011
On The Run - Bologna, Italy - November 27, 2011
Unofficial live
3:04 • Live
Concert From the concert in Milan, Italy on Nov 27, 2011
Live performances
“The Night Before” has been played in 38 concerts and 1 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where The Night Before has been played
Edmonton • Rexall Place • Canada
Nov 29, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
Edmonton • Rexall Place • Canada
Nov 28, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
Nov 25, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
Houston • Minute Maid Park • USA
Nov 14, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
Saint Louis • Scottrade Center • USA
Nov 11, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
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