You Can't Do That

Album

A Hard Day's Night

Label

Capitol Records

Genre

Film Soundtrack

Media Type

45s

Duration

2:33

Composer(s)

John Lennon;Paul McCartney

Entered Chart

Apr 4, 1964

Peak Date

Apr 11, 1964

Released

16 March 1964 (US) 20 March 1964 (UK)

Recorded

25 February 1964

Catalog #

Capitol 5150

B-Side

Can't Buy Me Love

The Beatles recorded this in nine takes on George Harrison's 21st Birthday (in the same session as "And I Love Her" and "I Should Have Known Better"), although in May, producer George Martin overdubbed a piano making a 10th take that wasn't used. The one that saw the light of the day was Take 9. >>> This was filmed for the movie A Hard Day's Night, but did not make the cut. It was, however, included on the movie's soundtrack, which was released by the film's production company United Artists. Since United Artists had the soundtrack rights, The Beatles' American label, Capitol, released it as the B-side of "Can't Buy Me Love." >>> John Lennon played lead guitar. He normally played rhythm while George Harrison played lead. Ringo played the cowbell. This was the first Beatles song on which George Harrison played a 12-string guitar. John Lennon told the British journalist Ray Connolly that this song was his attempt at being pioneering American soul singer Wilson Pickett. Harry Nilsson covered this song on his 1967 debut album, Pandemonium Shadow Show as a tribute to The Beatles' music in general. It is performed at a slower tempo, and throughout the song lines from other Beatles songs are sung in counterpoint, ending with the line "Strawberry Beatles Forever." >>>

I got something to say that might 'cause you pain
If I catch you talking to that boy again
I'm gonna let you down
And leave you flat
Because I told you before, oh
You can't do that

Well, it's the second time I've caught you talking to him
Do I have to tell you one more time, I think it's a sin
I think I'll let you down (let you down)
And leave you flat
(Gonna let you down and leave you flat)
Because I've told you before, oh
You can't do that

Everybody's green
'Cause I'm the one, who won your love
But if they'd seen
You're talking that way they'd laugh in my face

So please listen to me, if you wanna stay mine
I can't help my feelings, I'll go out of my mind
I'm gonna let you down (let you down)
And leave you flat
(Gonna let you down and leave you flat)
Because I've told you before, oh, you can't do that

You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that

Everybody's green
'Cause I'm the one who won your love
But if they'd seen
You're talking that way they'd laugh in my face

So please listen to me, if you wanna stay mine
I can't help my feelings, I'll go out of my mind
I'm gonna let you down (let you down)
And leave you flat
(Gonna let you down and leave you flat)
Because I've told you before, oh
You can't do that