Rock and Roll

The story is that manager Brian Epstein in 1963 was worried about the momentum of The Beatles’ career and suggested that they write a song for the American market. (Their producer George Martin denies this.) However, John Lennon and Paul McCartney obliged with “I Want to Hold your Hand.” The B-Side was “I Saw Her Standing There.” The song became a #1 hit first in the U.K. The single was backed with “This Boy.”  By February 1, 1964, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” rose to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The U.S. single was backed with “I Saw Her Standing There.” On February 9, 1964, The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. And so began the British invasion of the American music industry.

Personnel on the track were the Fab Four: John Lennon (vocal, rhythm guitar, handclaps), Paul McCartney (vocal, bass guitar, handclaps), George Harrison (lead guitar, handclaps), and Ringo Starr (drums, handclaps).

Here are the lyrics to “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles:

Oh yeah, I’ll tell you something
I think you’ll understand
When I’ll say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

Oh please, say to me
You’ll let me be your man
And please, say to me
You’ll let me hold your hand
You’ll let me hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy
Inside
It’s such a feeling that my love
I can’t hide
I can’t hide
I can’t hide

Yeah, you’ve got that something
I think you’ll understand
When I’ll say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you
I feel happy
Inside
It’s such a feeling that my love
I can’t hide
I can’t hide
I can’t hide

Yeah, you’ve got that something
I think you’ll understand
When I’ll say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand”

If you are interested in reading about and listening to another song by The Beatles: “All My Loving.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles.