Don't Let Me Down

Don't Let Me Down is a John Lennon song, written in November of 1968 and recorded in January of 1969 during the "Get Back" (Let it Be) sessions with Billy Preston. It was also sung twice during the rooftop concert on January 30, 1969 at the Apple Studios. One of the rooftop performances was included in the Let it Be film. The song was released as the b-side to Get Back, which was also recorded on January 28. It charted to number 35 in the US. Phil Spector rejected Don't Let Me Down for the Let it Be album. The released single version was later re-published in Hey Jude, 1967-1970 and Past Masters Volume 2. Later, it appeared in the documentary, Imagine: John Lennon (1988). A blend of the two versions from rooftop concert appeared in the 2003 compilation, Let it Be . . . Naked. Don't Let Me Down is a powerful love song, written by John to Yoko Ono. Paul's take on the lyrics was that John was really making himself vulnerable by exposing his emotional needs for all to see, and pleading with the girl not to "let him down." When John sang the song, his vocal lines morphed from singing into screaming, giving a preview of what was to come the following year with the John Lennon/Plastic Ono album. Many critics regard this tear-jerker as one of the Beatles' finest songs and performances. John opens each verse a capella and inserts an additional beat in the first line. This switch from 4/4 to 5/4 in the verse pickup can be interpreted as a kind of musical imitation of a sob.