Matchbox

Album

Long Tall Sally (EP)

Label

Capitol Records

Genre

Rock & Roll

Media Type

45s

Duration

1:57

Composer(s)

Carl Perkins

Entered Chart

Sep 5, 1964

Peak Date

Oct 17, 1964

Released

June 19, 1964 (UK EP) August 24, 1964 (US single)

Recorded

June 1, 1964

Catalog #

Capitol 5255

B-Side

Slow Down

Original Artist

Carl Perkins

The Beatles were fans of Perkins and performed "Matchbox" during their shows in 1961 and 1962. The song served as the vocal spot for their drummer, Pete Best, until his sacking in August 1962, at which point John Lennon took over as lead singer. A live version from December that year was included on the 1977 album Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962. In July 1963, the Beatles performed "Matchbox" with Ringo Starr, Best's replacement, on lead vocals for their BBC radio show Pop Go the Beatles. This version was included on the 1994 compilation Live at the BBC. Starr also sang lead vocals when the band recorded the song for their Long Tall Sally EP in 1964. Perkins was visiting London and was invited to observe the session on June 1.[13] Starr later recalled feeling "very embarrassed" because he had a bad throat; two days later, he was hospitalized with acute tonsillitis and pharyngitis, resulting in him missing the start of the Beatles' world tour. The band were supplemented on the recording by producer George Martin, who played piano. In his commentary on the track, author Ian MacDonald dismisses the Beatles' performance as "flat-footed", adding that, as a keen student of Perkins' guitar playing, only George Harrison demonstrates "any motivation" in his contribution. "Matchbox" was released in the UK on June 19 as the final track on Long Tall Sally. In the US, it instead appeared on the Capitol Records album Something New in July,[before being issued on a single, backed by "Slow Down", on August 24. "Matchbox" peaked at number 17 on three record charts: in the U.S., on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box, and, in Canada, on the national RPM Top 40 chart.The song was subsequently included on the Beatles compilation albums Rock 'n' Roll Music, Past Masters and Mono Masters. Take 1 of the Beatles' recording appears on the 2025 Anthology 4, which is part of the Anthology series

I said I'm sitting here watching
Matchbox hole in my clothes
I said I'm sitting here wondering
Matchbox hole in my clothes
I ain't got no matches but I sure
Got a long way to go

I'm an ole poor boy, and I'm a
Long way from home
I'm an ole poor boy, and I'm a
Long way from home
I'll never be happy cause everything I've
Ever did was wrong

Well, if you don't want my peaches honey
Please don't shake my tree
Well, if you don't want my peaches honey
Please don't mess around my tree
I got news for you baby
Leave me here in misery

Well, let me be your little dog
Till your big dog comes
Well, let me be your little dog
Till your big dog comes
And when your big dog gets here
Watch how your puppy dog runs

I said I'm sitting here watching
Matchbox hole in my clothes
I said I'm sitting here watching
Matchbox hole in my clothes
I ain't got no matches but I sure
Got a long way to go