Skip to Content

I'll Be on My Way

Your rating: None Average: 4.5 (4 votes)
By: 
The Beatles
Lead vocals: 
Lennon with McCartney
Songwriter(s): 
Lennon/McCartney
First released on: 
Live at the BBC
Release date: 
November 30, 1994
Length (≈): 
1:58
Label: 
Apple
Produced by: 
George Martin
Recording date(s): 
April 4, 1963
Recorded at: 
Paris Theatre (BBC)
Musicians : 
  • Paul McCartney – vocals, bass guitar
  • John Lennon – vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
  • George Harrison – lead guitar, vocals
  • Ringo Starr – drums, vocals
Album(s): 
Live at the BBC

I'll Be on My Way was written mainly by Paul McCartney with input from John Lennon in the early days of the Beatles, around 1961. The song is clearly inspired and influenced by Buddy Holly and is somewhat similar in tone to his 1959 release, It Doesn't Matter Anymore. The singer is putting a good face on a tough romantic breakup.

The Lennon-McCartney duo passed the song on to Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas (one of six they provided to that group, which was also from Liverpool, also managed by Brian Epstein and also produced by George Martin at EMI). Thus, it was Kramer, not the Beatles, who made the original recording. The song came out on April 26, 1963 as the b-side to Kramer's hit, Do You Want to Know a Secret? I'll Be on My Way is the first of many songs the band "gave away".

On April 4 of 1963 the Beatles recorded the song for BBC at the Paris Theater in London for the radio show Side by Side, broadcast on June 24, 1963. This sole known recording of the song by the Beatles is available on the 1994 album, Live at the BBC.

As the Junelight turns to moonlight

Post a comment about I'll Be on My Way

Post new comment

Have something interesting to add?  Just want to put in your 2 cents?  Great, use the form below to add a little something to theBeatles.org!
CAPTCHA
This question is to prevent automated spam submissions.
Fill in the blank