Peak
1
Weeks
12
Score
3,092
Chart Year
1964
John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote this song. It is the biggest hit they wrote that was not released by The Beatles. It became the first and biggest hit for Peter & Gordon. Peter & Gordon were Peter Asher and Gordon Waller. Paul McCartney went out with Asher's sister, the actress Jane Asher, which is how he met Peter. In the '60s, Jane had a famous father, a really famous boyfriend, and some prominent movie roles, including the 1966 film Alfie. In later years, she became an author and an expert on baked goods. She runs her own business called Jane Asher Party Cakes. Gordon Waller passed away in 2009 at age 64. This song found its way to Peter Asher when Paul McCartney was living in the Asher household at 57 Wimpole Street in London during his time dating Jane Asher. He played the song for Peter while in his bedroom. Pete Asher recalled in a 2010 interview with Gibson.com how the duo came to record this song: "Paul had played Gordon and me that song at some point, just in passing. It was really just half a song. It didn't yet have a bridge. Gordon and I were working at clubs in London at that time, and we got offered a record deal by EMI, who saw us as an English version of The Kingston Trio, or a Peter, Paul and Mary type of thing. We did the American folk song '500 Miles,' and that was the song they were thinking would be our first single. Anyway, we signed the record deal with EMI, and set the date for our first recording session. At that point I went to Paul and asked him if that orphaned song was still up for grabs, since we needed three or four songs to record on that first day in the studio. Paul said we could have it, so I asked him to finish the bridge. And he did. As I recall, the bridge came in the nick of time for us to record; World Without Love' at that first session." Vic Flick, who played on many hit songs recorded in England, was the guitarist on this track. He told us, "This was the first time I used my Vox electric 12 string guitar. It was terrible to play, with a high action and not a very good sound. Things have improved, I'm pleased to say. Still it was a new sound and added to the character of the recording. I have the memory of the organist having his organ being brought into the studio by four road workers he cajoled into lifting it from his van. The workers were looking around in amazement at the big Studio 2 at EMI and tripping over the cables. Peter & Gordon were professional and did a great job. Peter Asher is now something big at Sony and was nice enough to write a letter confirming I was on the recording. The letter was needed to prove to the collection agency I was on the recording so I would get some sort of residual." Report this ad Peter Asher was the manager of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. This was meant to be recorded by The Beatles, but that plan was vetoed by John Lennon. Asher explained: "John thought the first line 'Please lock me away' was laughable." The only known recording of the song by any member of the Beatles is the original demo performed by McCartney. The tape is now in Peter Asher's possession.
Please lock me away And don't allow the day Here inside where I hide With my loneliness I don't care what they say I won't stay in a world without love Birds sing out of tune And rain clouds hide the moon I'm okay, here I'll stay With my loneliness I don't care what they say I won't stay in a world without love So I wait and in a while I will see my true love's smile He may come, I know not when When she does I lose So baby until then Lock me away And don't allow the day Here inside where I hide With my loneliness I don't care what they say I won't stay in a world without love So I wait and in a while I will see my true love's smile He may come, I know not when When she does I know So baby until then Lock me away And don't allow the day Here inside where I hide With my loneliness I don't care what they say I won't stay in a world without love I don't care what they say I won't stay in a world without love
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 9, 1964 | 76 | 50 |
| 2 | May 16, 1964 | 30 | 96 |
| 3 | May 23, 1964 | 10 | 116 |
| 4 | May 30, 1964 | 7 | 119 |
| 5 | Jun 6, 1964 | 6 | 120 |
| 6 | Jun 13, 1964 | 2 | 124 |
| 7 | Jun 20, 1964 | 2 | 124 |
| 8 | Jun 27, 1964 | 1 | 125 |
| 9 | Jul 4, 1964 | 6 | 120 |
| 10 | Jul 11, 1964 | 8 | 118 |
| 11 | Jul 18, 1964 | 22 | 104 |
| 12 | Jul 25, 1964 | 28 | 98 |