The song has been covered by many other artists, including Loretta Lynn and The Beatles.
The Beatles covered the song in 1965 on their album Help! (in the United Kingdom) and as the B-side of the "Yesterday" single in the U.S.
The Beatles' version is sung by Ringo Starr. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic called it "an ideal showcase for Ringo's amiable vocals." They performed the song during an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was taped on August 14, 1965 and broadcast on September 12, 1965. It was also performed at The Beatles' famous Shea Stadium concert on August 15, 1965 and played at some concerts throughout The Beatles' 1965 U.S. tour (alternating with Ringo's other "hit" song, "I Wanna Be Your Man").
The Beatles recorded the song on June 17, 1965 in 13 takes. The first 12 takes were evidently used to work out the arrangement; the master was take 13, the only take with vocals. It was mixed the following day. The Beatles almost recorded a song by their engineer Norman Smith, but realized that Starr didn't yet have a vocal on Help!. They originally recorded the song "If You've Got Trouble" as Starr's intended song for the album, but were dissatisfied with the results and recorded "Act Naturally" to replace it. It was the last cover they recorded until the Get Back/Let It Be sessions in 1969.
Because Capitol Records' version of the Help! album included only the songs that appeared in the movie, plus incidental music from the film, the label held back "Yesterday" and "Act Naturally" and issued them initially as a non-LP single. As the B-side of the U.S. single, "Act Naturally" peaked at #47 in October 1965. The two songs made their first American album appearance on Yesterday and Today, released in the U.S. on June 20, 1966.
When the single was reissued on Apple Records in 1971, "Act Naturally" had the "full apple" side and "Yesterday" ended up on the "sliced apple" side. That is because "Act Naturally" was the intended A-side and has always been listed as such in Capitol's files.
The song features Ringo Starr on lead vocal, drums, and percussion, Paul McCartney on harmony vocals and bass guitar, John Lennon on acoustic guitar, and George Harrison on lead guitar, which is double-tracked, creating a chorus-like effect.
Act Naturally
Beatles Lyrics
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They're gonna make a big star out of me
We'll make a film about a man that's sad and lonely
And all I gotta do is act naturally
Well, I'll bet you I'm gonna be a big star
Might win an Oscar you can never tell
The movies gonna make me a big star
Well I hope you come and see me in the movies
Then I know that you will plainly see
The biggest fool that ever hit the big time
And all I gotta do is act naturally
We'll make the scene about a man that's sad and lonely
And beggin' down upon his bended knee
I'll play the part but I won't need rehearsal
All I gotta do is act naturally
Well, I'll bet you I'm gonna be a big star
Might win an Oscar you can never tell
The movies gonna make me a big star
'Cause I can play the part so well
Well I hope you come and see me in the movies
Then I know that you will plainly see
The biggest fool that ever hit the big time
And all I gotta do is act naturally
The Beatles' song "Act Naturally" is a lighthearted tune about the entertainment industry's ability to make someone a star overnight. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is about to become a big Hollywood actor without really trying. He is set to play a role in a film about a man who is sad and lonely, even though his real personality is nothing like that. The man is excited about the opportunity to be cast in this role, and he believes that he will become a big movie star overnight. He is confident that he will win awards and accolades, such as an Oscar, and he states that all he has to do is "act naturally."
The song is a descriptive commentary about the entertainment industry and how people can become famous even if they are not authentic. It is also an ode to the idea that acting is, in essence, pretending, and that the best actors can convince an audience that they are something entirely different from themselves. The exaggerated confidence and whimsical tone of the song suggest that the Beatles are poking fun at the idea of celebrity culture.
Overall, "Act Naturally" is a playful, upbeat song that showcases the Beatles' ability to create catchy melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, even if the content is relatively light-hearted.
Line by Line Meaning
They're gonna put me in the movies
I am going to be cast in a film
They're gonna make a big star out of me
The film will make me famous
We'll make a film about a man that's sad and lonely
The movie will tell a story of a depressed and solitary man
And all I gotta do is act naturally
I just need to play the role naturally
Well, I'll bet you I'm gonna be a big star
I am confident that I will become famous
Might win an Oscar you can never tell
There is a possibility that I may win an Oscar award
The movies gonna make me a big star
The film will be the reason for my success
'Cause I can play the part so well
I can act really well
Well I hope you come and see me in the movies
I wish for you to watch me in the film
Then I know that you will plainly see
You will clearly realize
The biggest fool that ever hit the big time
I will look like the greatest idiot who became famous
And all I gotta do is act naturally
But still, all I need to do is act naturally
We'll make the scene about a man that's sad and lonely
The movie will feature a moment of distress and isolation
And beggin' down upon his bended knee
The man might even be shown pleading on his knees
I'll play the part but I won't need rehearsal
I will act without requiring any practice
All I gotta do is act naturally
Again, all I need to do is play the role naturally
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VONI MORRISON, JOHN RUSSELL, JOHN BRIGHT RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind