Inspired by 1950s R&B and rock and roll numbers, the song's lyrics sing of an unrequited love, but rather than a lament are instead performed in a hysterical, "celebratory frenzy" of self assuredness. Some commentators interpret the song's tone as partially parodic. Melodically uncomplicated, the composition uses only three basic chords. The Beatles recorded "I'm Down" during sessions for their album Help! in June 1965. The first song by the band to incorporate a Vox Continental electric organ, John Lennon plays the instrument in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis, doing glissandos with his elbow. In the decade following its release, the song became a comparative rarity among the band's recordings. It has subsequently appeared on compilation albums such as Rock 'n' Roll Music; the UK edition of Rarities; Past Masters, Volume One and Mono Masters.
"I'm Down" has received praise from several music critics and musicologists, with several mentioning McCartney's strong vocal and the band's raucous performance. The Beatles regularly performed the song during their 1965 and 1966 tours as the closing number, including an especially chaotic performance in August 1965 depicted in the documentary The Beatles at Shea Stadium.
I'm Down
Beatles Lyrics
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You can't cry 'cause you're laughing at me
I'm down (I'm really down)
I'm down (Down on the ground)
I'm down (I'm really down)
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
(How can you laugh) When you know I'm down
Same old thing happens everyday
I'm down (I'm really down)
I'm down (Down on the ground)
I'm down (I'm really down)
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
(How can you laugh) When you know I'm down
We're all alone and there's nobody else
You still moan, "Keep your hands to yourself!"
I'm down (I'm really down)
Oh baby, I'm down (Down on the ground)
I'm down (I'm really down)
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
(How can you laugh) When you know I'm down, wow
Baby I'm down
Oh baby, you know I'm down (I'm really down)
Oh yes, I'm down (I'm really down)
I'm down on the ground (I'm really down)
Ah, Down (I'm really down)
Oh baby, I'm upside down, a yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm down (I'm really down)
Oh baby, I'm down (I'm really down)
I'm feeling upside down (I'm really down)
Oh, I'm down (I'm really down)
Baby, I'm down, yeah
Oh baby, I'm down, yeah
Baby I'm down (I'm really down)
Well, baby I'm down (I'm really down)
Well, baby, baby, baby (I'm really down)
Oh baby, I'm down
I'm down, down, down
The song "I'm Down" by The Beatles is a classic example of their early rock and roll sound. The lyrics speak of a situation where the singer finds themselves down on the ground, both figuratively and literally. The first verse describes how the singer's love interest tells lies, but thinks they can't see them. Even worse, they can't cry because they're too busy laughing at the singer. This is very hurtful for the singer, who can't understand how someone could laugh when they're feeling so low. The next verse continues the theme of disappointment in a relationship, with a story of a man buying a ring for his woman, only to have her throw it away. The singer laments that this is a common occurrence in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You tell lies thinking I can't see
You try to deceive me, believing that I am too naive to see through your lies.
You can't cry 'cause you're laughing at me
You pretend to be emotionally affected by my situation, but in reality, you find my hardships amusing and laugh at them.
I'm down (I'm really down)
I am feeling defeated and hopeless.
I'm down (Down on the ground)
My state of misery is so severe that I feel like I am lying on the ground.
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
Despite knowing the emotional impact of my struggles, you still find humor in my misfortune.
Man buys ring woman throws it away
A common situation where a man buys a ring to propose, but the woman rejects it and throws it away.
Same old thing happens everyday
This situation is nothing new and happens every day as a stereotypical example of rejection.
We're all alone and there's nobody else
There is no one around other than the two people mentioned in the song.
You still moan, "Keep your hands to yourself!"
Despite being alone together, you still rebuff any advances made towards you and insist that they keep their hands to themselves.
Oh baby, you know I'm down (I'm really down)
The singer repeats their feeling of being down and defeated, emphasizing their emotional state.
Oh yes, I'm down (I'm really down)
Again, the singer reinforces their feeling of being down and hopeless.
I'm down on the ground (I'm really down)
The singer now adds physical imagery to their emotions, saying they feel like they are lying on the ground due to their suffering.
Ah, Down (I'm really down)
The singer repeats their feelings of being down and hopeless yet again, expressing their misery.
Baby I'm down
Once more, the singer reiterates their emotional state of being down and defeated.
I'm feeling upside down (I'm really down)
The singer now adds a metaphorical twist to their emotions, saying they feel like they are upside down.
Oh baby, I'm down, yeah
The singer emphasizes their emotional state once again and expresses their sentiments towards the other person.
Well, baby I'm down (I'm really down)
The singer repeats their emotional state, expressing just how down they feel.
Well, baby, baby, baby (I'm really down)
The singer continues to emphasize their emotions, addressing the other person specifically with the use of 'baby.'
Oh baby, I'm down
The singer repeats their feelings of being down and hopeless, expressing their emotional state to the other person once more.
I'm down, down, down
The singer repeats their emotions yet again at the end, emphasizing just how down they really feel.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind