"" is a
Beatles song. The song is primarily a
John Lennon composition, although there is some possibility that the middle eight was co-written by
Paul McCartney .
The song, of which the working title was "Get you in the end", was originally slated to be the follow-up single to "
From Me To You ", but when it was finally released, it was as a
B-Side . Like several of Lennon's compositions of the time, there is a slightly menacing ambiguity to the lyrics, which could equally well be interpreted as a promise or a threat.
The song was a B-side on two separate occasions. It was initially released as the B-side of "
She Loves You " (on
28 August in the United Kingdom and
16 September in the United States) and was also later released in the United States only on
21 May 1964 as the B-side of "Sie Liebt Dich", a German language recording of the previous A-side. Both were released on the
Swan Records label in the United States - the only Beatles releases on that label (the British release was on
Parlophone ).
The song was also released in the U.S. on
10 April 1964 on the
Capitol Records album ''
The Beatles' Second Album ''. It was not released on album in the
United Kingdom until the ''
Rarities '' release as part of the set ''
The Beatles Collection ''. A live version of the song, recorded at the
London Palladium on
13 October 1963 is included on ''
Anthology 1 ''.
The song is unusual among Beatles songs of its period in that Lennon and McCartney, although both providing vocal tracks, sing in unison for the majority of the track, allowing the few occasions where they do harmonise to stand out. Furthermore, unlike most Beatles songs of the time, there is no lead break - the lead guitar, in fact, is virtually reduced to a second rhythm guitar. The most prominent instruments in the track are McCartney's bass and Lennon's harmonica.
"I'll Get You" is one of only four official Beatles recordings to have never been released in true stereo.
