Got to Get You into My Life

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“Got to Get You into My Life”
Single by The Beatles from the album Revolver
B-side	"Helter Skelter"
Released	31 May 1976 (U.S.)
Format	7"
Recorded	Abbey Road Studios 7 April, 17 June 1966
Genre	Jazz Rock
Length	2:27
Label	Capitol 4274 (U.S.)
Writer(s)	Lennon/McCartney
Producer	George Martin
The Beatles singles chronology
"Yesterday" (UK-1976) ------ "The Long and Winding Road" (US-1970) "Got to Get You into My Life" (1976) "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (1976)
Music sample
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Revolver track listing
Side one "Taxman" "Eleanor Rigby" "I'm Only Sleeping" "Love You To" "Here, There and Everywhere" "Yellow Submarine" "She Said She Said" Side two "Good Day Sunshine" "And Your Bird Can Sing" "For No One" "Doctor Robert" "I Want to Tell You" "Got to Get You Into My Life" "Tomorrow Never Knows"

“Got to Get You into My Life”
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire from the album The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
B-side	"I'll Write a Song for You"
Released	1978
Format	12"
Genre	R&B
Length	4:03
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Lennon/McCartney
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"Magic Mind" (1978) "Got to Get You into My Life" (1978) "September" (1978)

"Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by The Beatles on the album Revolver. It was released as a single in the US in 1976, a decade after its initial release and six years after The Beatles split up. This was the single that was released as a promo for the Rock 'n' Roll Music compilation album. It hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, The Beatles' last top ten hit there until their 1995 release "Free as a Bird". A cover version by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, produced by Paul McCartney, made the British Top 10 in the summer of 1966. Another cover version by Earth, Wind & Fire topped the US R&B charts and reached #9 on the US pop charts in 1978.

[edit] Development of song

Though officially credited to Lennon-McCartney, McCartney was primarily responsible for the writing of this track, to which he also contributes lead vocals. John Lennon was said to have been very fond of the song, saying this was, "Paul at his best," according to a 1980 Playboy interview. McCartney attempted to write in the style of American soul music for this song, as particularly inspired by the Stax label. The soul revue-style horns are especially allusive to the Stax "Memphis soul" sound. Traces of Motown influence are apparent as well. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios between 7 April and 17 June 1966 and evolved considerably between the first takes and the final version released on album. The mono and stereo versions of the recording also feature completely different ad libs in the fade-out.

[edit] Song structure

Following the outro chords of "I Want to Tell You", the song immediately starts with the horns. McCartney's vocals clock in at 0:07. The predominant instrument playing is the horns, similar to the soul records of the late '50s and early '60s. The chorus of the song appears at 1:04, with the song's title sung. The song switches between a verse and the refrain. The electric guitar solo clocks in at 1:53, and at 2:10 the horns come in, playing the same chords as the song opened with. The song closes with fading vocals of McCartney, much akin to the soul records of the time. The percussion instrument most predominant is the tambourine, overdubbed onto the standard drum kit.

[edit] Meaning

Although many believed it was a love song that Paul was writing for a girl, he later disclosed the song was about marijuana in Barry Miles' book Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now. Many lyrics from the song suggested this - "I took a ride I didn't know what I would find there / Another road where maybe I could see some other kind of mind there.", "What can I do, what can I be when I'm with you I want to stay there / If I am true I will never leave and if I do I know the way there."

[edit] Further reading

• Lewisohn, Mark, The Complete Beatles Chronicle : Hamlyn / Octopus Publishing Group Limited, London, 1992, reprint paperback edition 2003, ISBN 0-681-02890-4