I'll Be on My Way

"I'll Be on My Way"
Single by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas
A-side "Do You Want to Know a Secret(UK) From A Window (US)"
Released 26 April 1963
Length 1:40
Label Parlophone (UK)
Imperial (US)
Writer(s) Lennon–McCartney
Producer George Martin
"I'll Be on My Way"
Song by The Beatles from the album Live at the BBC
Released 30 November 1994
Recorded 4 April 1963
Genre Rock
Length 1:58
Label Apple Records
Writer Lennon–McCartney
Producer Bryant Marriott, George Martin (Executive Producer)
Live at the BBC track listing
"Keep Your Hands Off My Baby"
(6)
"I'll Be on My Way"
(7)
"Young Blood"
(8)

"I'll Be on My Way" is a Lennon–McCartney song, which was first released on 26 April 1963 by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas as the b-side of their single "Do You Want to Know a Secret", a song also written by Lennon–McCartney. The single reached number two in the UK charts while "From Me to You" by The Beatles was occupying the number 1 position. According to John Lennon, the song was written by Paul McCartney: "This was early Paul."[1]

Contents

Background

In 1980 Lennon said "that's Paul on the voids of driving through the country."[2]

"I'll Be on My Way" is considered to be the first song that Lennon and McCartney "gave away",[3] and the Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas' version of the song is included on the EMI album The Songs Lennon and McCartney Gave Away.[4]

In 1963, the Beatles and Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas were both acts managed by Brian Epstein, with George Martin as their producer.

The song may have been influenced by the musical and lyrical style of Buddy Holly. The persona forces a happy-go-lucky view on his break-up to make himself feel better, similar in character to Holly's 1959 song "It Doesn't Matter Anymore".

Recording

This song was recorded by the Beatles on 4 April 1963 at the BBC Paris Theatre, London, and broadcast on the BBC radio show Side by Side on 24 June 1963. This is the only known recording of "I'll Be on My Way" by the Beatles; it features joint lead vocals by McCartney and Lennon, and can be heard on the Beatles' album Live at the BBC, where it is the only previously unreleased original song.[5]

Notes

References