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Released in 1964

Words of Love

Written by Buddy Holly

Last updated on March 12, 2016

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:

Other songs written by Buddy Holly

From The Beatles Bible:

Written and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1957, Words Of Love was the only of his songs to be recorded by The Beatles. A number of Buddy Holly’s songs had been performed live by The Beatles from their earliest days. These included That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Everyday, It’s So Easy, Maybe Baby, Think It Over, Raining In My Heart, and Crying, Waiting, Hoping. […] The group had performed Words Of Love between 1958 and 1962, with Lennon and Harrison singing. For the Beatles For Sale recording, however, Lennon and McCartney shared vocal duties. […]

From Wikipedia:

“Words of Love” is a song written by Buddy Holly and recorded by him on April 8, 1957. Holly harmonized for himself, by tape-recording each part and combining them. The song was not a notable hit for Holly, although it is regarded as one of his important recordings, and is available in most standard Holly collections.

A version by The Diamonds, released on May 20, 1957 on Mercury Records, reached number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 in July, 1957. The Diamonds also performed the song live on the ABC television show Circus Time on June 27, 1957 and included the song on the 1962 Mercury LP album Pop Hits, MGW 12178.

A 1993 eponymous compilation album released by PolyGram in the UK reached no. 1 and was certified Gold.

The Beatles’ version

The song was also covered by The Beatles on the album Beatles for Sale. In the United States, it was on the album Beatles VI. It was also on Beatles for Sale No. 2, a 7″ extended play released in 1965 on Parlophone/EMI. The Beatles’ version was recorded on October 18, 1964. John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who were fans of Holly, harmonized on their version, holding to the vocal and instrumental sound of Holly’s original as well as they could. When they had played this song in their early days at the Cavern Club in 1961 and 1962, Lennon and George Harrison were the vocalists. Ringo Starr played a packing case on this song as well as drums, to achieve a similar sound to Holly’s “Everyday.”

A 1963 performance of “Words of Love” recorded for BBC broadcast is included on the 2013 compilation On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2. The recording also appeared on a 5 song promotional EP from the album.

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 26 Oct 1964
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1240 For Sale 1964.
    US: 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.

Mono [a] is 9 seconds longer, longer fade.

Paul McCartney recorded a version in 1985 on acoustic guitar which was featured in the documentary The Real Buddy Holly Story.

Lyrics

Hold me close and tell me how you feel

Tell me love is real

Mm, mm, mm, mm

Words of love you, whisper soft and true

Darling I love you

Mm, mm, mm, mm

Let me hear you say

The words I want to hear

Darling when you're near

Mm, mm, mm, mm

Words of love you, whisper soft and true

Darling I love you

Mm, mm, mm, mm

Mm, mm, mm

Mm, mm, mm, ah ah ah

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Words of Love”

Bootlegs

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Live performances

“Words of Love” has been played in 1 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Words of Love” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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