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Released in 1965

You're Going to Lose That Girl

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Last updated on March 16, 2016

Album This song officially appears on the Help! (Mono) LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1965

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

From Wikipedia:

“You’re Going to Lose That Girl” is a song by the Beatles from the album and film Help!, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Capitol Records originally titled the song “You’re Gonna Lose That Girl” in the United States.

Composition and recording

The last song recorded before breaking off to make the film, the song was composed at Lennon’s house in Weybridge. In the lyrics the singer tells his “friend” that, if he does not value his girl, the singer will “make a point of taking her away” from him. To the Beatles’ familiar twist beat and using variations of familiar doo-wop chords, Lennon’s lead singing is set in a call-and-response with the enthusiastic answering harmonies of McCartney and George Harrison, offering a last glimpse of the early Beatles’ musical home turf.

The song’s bridge has a key change similar to that of the record’s previous track “Another Girl“, moving up a minor third to G major, the relative major of the tonic minor. In this case the bridge concludes a measure early, diving a semitone down to meet the verse.

To fatten the sound McCartney overdubbed a background piano (a job that once would have been done by producer George Martin “live” on the backing track) and Ringo Starr added bongos, the addition of Latin-American percussion being another way the Beatles often exploited their new-found access to four-track recording.

In the film Help!

In the film, the group appears singing this song in the recording studio. In addition to the group’s familiar guitar-and-drum setup, there is also footage of Paul McCartney at a piano and Ringo Starr playing the bongos, both miming instruments they had overdubbed onto the recording. Towards the end, one of the thugs uses a chainsaw to saw a hole in the floor around the drum kit. The producer reports that they will have to re-record the song due to a buzzing noise, at which point The Beatles begin asking one another who was buzzing. As they look to Ringo, he and the drums fall through the floor.

Release

The song was released in 1965 on the Help album. In November 1977, Capitol Records scheduled the release of “Girl” backed with “You’re Gonna Lose That Girl” as a single (Capitol 4506) to accompany the release of Love Songs, a compilation album which contained both songs. However, the single was cancelled before it was issued. […]

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 20 Feb 1965.
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1255 Help! 1965.
  • [b] stereo 23 Feb 1965.
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3071 Help! 1965.
  • [b1] stereo, less trimmed.
    US: Capitol SMAS 2386 Help! 1965.
  • [b2] mono made from [b] 1965, by Capitol.
    US: Capitol MAS 2386 Help! 1965.
  • [c] stereo 1987.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46439 2 Help! 1987.

Capitol’s stereo [b1] has a sound at the very beginning that is missing in the others, possibly the extreme end of the countdown as heard in the film’s soundtrack, if that is authentically part of the recording.

Lyrics

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

If you don't take her out tonight

She's going to change her mind

(She's going to change her mind)

And I will take her out tonight

And I will treat her kind

(I'm going to treat her kind)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

If you don't treat her right, my friend

You're going to find her gone

(You're going to find her gone)

'Cause I will treat her right and then

You'll be the lonely one

(You're not the only one)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

I'll make a point of taking her away from you, yeah

(Watch what you do)

The way you treat her, what else can I do?

(You're going to lose that girl)

(You're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

I'll make a point of taking her away from you, yeah

(Watch what you do)

The way you treat her, what else can I do?

If you don't take her out tonight

She's going to change her mind

(She's going to change her mind)

And I will take her out tonight

And I will treat her kind

(I'm going to treat her kind)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

You're going to lose that girl

(Yes, yes you're going to lose that girl)

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “You're Going to Lose That Girl”

Bootlegs

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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