You've Got to Hide Your Love Away

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"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
Sheet music cover
Song by the Beatles
from the album Help!
Released6 August 1965 (1965-08-06)
Recorded18 February 1965
StudioEMI, London
GenreFolk rock[1]
Length2:11
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)Lennon–McCartney
Producer(s)George Martin
Audio sample

"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was written and sung by John Lennon (though credited to Lennon–McCartney) and released on the album Help! in August 1965.

Composition and recording

Lennon said of the song, "That's me in my

percussion from brushed snare, tambourine and maraca. A flute, however, replaces the harmonica that Dylan typically used.[4]

The song's lyrics are ambiguous. Potentially, Lennon could have been referring to the fact that, as a Beatle, he was expected to keep the fact he was married a secret. He could also have been writing about his inability to express his true 'loving' self in public and his feelings of isolation and paranoia related to fame.[4] Some, such as singer Tom Robinson, have suggested that the song was written for the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein, who had to hide his homosexuality from the public.[5][6] Lennon himself, however, never publicly discussed his inspiration for the lyrics. When the song was first written, Lennon used "two-foot tall" to rhyme with the "wall" in the first verse, but mistakenly said "two-foot small" when he sang the line to McCartney, and decided to keep it this way. Pete Shotton, Lennon's former bandmate from The Quarrymen, was present when the song was being composed, and suggested adding "Hey" to the start of the line in the refrain.[4]

The basic rhythm track was recorded first, followed by George Harrison's overdubbed 12-string guitar and some extra percussion. John Scott recorded a tenor flute in the spaces in Lennon's vocal track and an additional alto flute part, an octave higher than the first, on the last available track of the four-track machine.[7]

Performance in the film

In the film

flat. The flute part of the song is performed by George's in-house gardener (Bruce Lacey). They are watched by Ahme (Eleanor Bron
), and at the end of the song, Harrison passes out after Ahme produces a giant needle for Starr, who is wearing the ring the cult is seeking.

Other studio tracks

In a montage, the first two takes (both broken down) are followed by a completed alternative version (Take 5), included on

brushes
, keeping time with John's cadence). John also addresses Paul as "Macca," a nickname in England for someone who has "Mc" in their last name: "Oh, you ready, Macca?"

Personnel

Cover versions

References

  1. ^ Halpin, Brooke. Experiencing the Beatles: A Listener's Companion. p. 93.
  2. .
  3. ^ .
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  7. ^ ""You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History".
  8. ^ ""You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History".
  9. ^ ""You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History".
  10. ^ "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away | The Beatles Bible". beatlesbible.com. 16 March 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  11. ^ "The Silkie Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  12. .

External links