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I Should Have Known Better

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By: 
The Beatles
Lead vocals: 
John Lennon
Songwriter(s): 
Lennon/McCartney
First released on: 
A Hard Day's Night
U.S. release date: 
June 26, 1964
U.K. release date: 
July 10, 1964
Length (≈): 
2:44
Label: 
Parlophone
Produced by: 
George Martin
Recording date(s): 
February 25 & 26, 1964
Recorded at: 
Abbey Road Studios (EMI)
Musicians : 
  • John Lennon – double-tracked vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • Paul McCartney – bass
  • George Harrison – twelve-string lead guitar
  • Ringo Starr – drums

Lennon wrote this song while on tour, first in Paris and then in the US, in the era January-February, 1964. Admittedly influenced by Bob Dylan's release, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, the harmonica makes another entrance in the music, but this time with more of a folk quality than the bluesy feel that prevails in previous records. Capitol Records had doubts about the harmonica, so it does not appear in some tracks of the song, made for the US. This song also premiers Harrison's new 12-string guitar, which introduced a folk-rock element strongly identified with the Beatles' subsequent recordings. The structure is complex, with verses of different lengths and a double bridge During the singing of this song in the movie, model Patti Boyd hides her eyes during a tender line. She would later marry George Harrison.

I should have known better with a girl like you

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Recording

February 25-26, 1964, in 22 takes

Variations
  • An Instrumental version by George Martin & His Orchestra appears on the US version of A Hard Day's Night released on June 26, 1964. - 2:10

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