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Released in 1965

Wait

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Last updated on December 12, 2025

Album This song officially appears on the Rubber Soul (UK Mono) LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1965

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1965, when Paul McCartney was 23 years old)

Master release

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

From Wikipedia:

“Wait” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album Rubber Soul. The song is credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. In the 1997 book Many Years from Now, Paul McCartney recalls it as entirely his work. In a 1970 interview with Ray Connolly, John Lennon could not remember writing it, saying, “That must be one of Paul’s.”

Origin and recording

The song was originally recorded for Help! in June 1965, but was rejected for inclusion on the album. When Rubber Soul fell one song short for a Christmas release, the Beatles revisited “Wait”. Overdubs were added to the initial recording so it would blend in better with the more recent songs on Rubber Soul.

In the view of authors Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin, the lyrics “probably reflected his [McCartney’s] complex relationship with Jane Asher: ‘I am often away, but if you really love me, wait for me'”. The vocals on the verse are shared between Lennon and McCartney, and McCartney sings the two middle eight sections. For his guitar part, George Harrison uses a volume pedal, which he earlier employed on “I Need You” and “Yes It Is“.

Reception

Richie Unterberger of AllMusic writes that the song, while not one of the best on Rubber Soul, still fits in with the album comfortably enough. He compliments the song’s “sorrowful melodies”, calling them one of the most sorrowful of the Lennon–McCartney library, and notes that it’s one of the few Beatles songs to be in a minor key. In his review for the 50th anniversary of Rubber Soul, Jacob Albano of Classic Rock Review writes: “‘Wait’ features great choruses and a decent bridge by McCartney along with a creative percussive ensemble and pedal-effected guitars”, but concludes by calling it an otherwise weak song for its parent album. […]

[Actor Brandon de Wilde] was a nice guy who was fascinated by what we did. A sort of Brat Pack actor. We chatted endlessly, and I seem to remember writing Wait in front of him, and him being interested to see it being written. I think it was my song. I don’t remember John collaborating too much on it, although he could have.

Paul McCartney – From “Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now” by Barry Miles, 1997

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 15 Nov 1965.
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1267 Rubber Soul 1965.
    US: Capitol T 2442 Rubber Soul 1965.
  • [b] stereo 15 Nov 1965.
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3075 Rubber Soul 1965.
    US: Capitol ST 2442 Rubber Soul 1965.
  • [c] stereo 1987.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46440 2 Rubber Soul 1987.

Lyrics

It's been a long time

Now I'm coming back home

I've been away now

Oh how I've been alone

Wait till I come back to your side

We'll forget the tears we've cried

But if your heart breaks

Don't wait, turn me away

And if your heart's strong

Hold on, I won't delay

Wait till I come back to your side

We'll forget the tears we've cried

I feel as though

You ought to know

That I've been good

As good as I can be

And if you do

I'll trust in you

And know that you

Will wait for me

It's been a long time

Now I'm coming back home

I've been away now

Oh how I've been alone

Wait till I come back to your side

We'll forget the tears we've cried

I feel as though

You ought to know

That I've been good

As good as I can be

And if you do

I'll trust in you

And know that you

Will wait for me

But if your heart breaks

Don't wait, turn me away

And if your heart's strong

Hold on, I won't delay

Wait till I come back to your side

We'll forget the tears we've cried

It's been a long time

Now I'm coming back home

I've been away now

Oh, how I've been alone

Variations

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Wait”

Bootlegs

Going further

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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