Baby It's You
The Beatles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la-la

It's not the way you smile that touched my heart
(Sha-la-la-la-la)
It's not the way you kiss that tears me apart

Wa-oh, many many many nights go by
I sit alone at home and cry over you
What can I do, can't help myself
'Cause, baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
(Sha-la-la-la-la)

You should hear what they say about you (cheat, cheat)
(Sha-la-la-la-la)
They say, they say you never never never ever been true (cheat, cheat)

Wa-oh, it doesn't matter what they say
I know I'm gonna love you any old way
What can I do? Then it's true
Don't want nobody, nobody
'Cause, baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)

Wa-oh, it doesn't matter what they say
I know I'm gonna love you any old way
What can I do? When it's true
Don't want nobody, nobody
'Cause, baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)




Don't leave me all alone (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Come on home (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)

Overall Meaning

"Baby It's You" is a song originally recorded by The Shirelles in 1962, but it was covered by The Beatles in the same year for their debut album "Please, Please Me." The song was written by Burt Bacharach, Mack David, and Barney Williams. In the beginning, we hear the repetition of "Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la" which is like a signature sound in the song. As we continue to listen to the lyrics, we find a man who is deeply in love with a woman, and even though he knows she has a bad reputation and cheats, he can't help but love her. The repetition of "sha-la-la-la-la-la-la" throughout the song adds to the emotional intensity of the song, and conveys the desperation of the man's love for the woman.


The song has a very simple structure of four verses and a chorus. In the first verse, we hear that it's not the way the woman smiles or kisses that has touched the man's heart, but it is her as a whole. In the next verse, we hear that the man has been crying over the woman after many nights alone. The chorus reaffirms that it's only her that he wants, even though people talk about her negatively. The "sha-la-la-la-la-la-la" refrain is heard again before the third and fourth verses repeat the same sentiments as the first two.


Overall, "Baby It's You" is a love song that expresses the strong emotions and attachment the man has for the woman, even though there are negative rumors about her. It communicates the idea of loving someone despite their flaws and mistakes.


Line by Line Meaning

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la
Repetitive sound to set the tone and mood of the song


It's not the way you smile that touched my heart
The singer is stating that it wasn't just the subject's smile that caught their attention


(Sha-la-la-la-la)
Repetitive sound to set the tone and mood of the song


It's not the way you kiss that tears me apart
The artist is stating that the subject's kiss is not what causes heartache


Wa-oh, many many many nights go by
The artist has been experiencing heartbreak and loneliness for a long time


I sit alone at home and cry over you
The singer is confessing their sorrow and heartbreak over the subject


What can I do, can't help myself
The singer is feeling powerless to their emotions


'Cause, baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
The subject of the artist's affection is the focus and cause of their emotions


Baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
The repetitive line reinforces that the subject is the focus and cause of the artist's emotions


You should hear what they say about you (cheat, cheat)
There are rumors and gossip about the subject's dishonesty


(Sha-la-la-la-la)
Repetitive sound to set the tone and mood of the song


They say, they say you never never never ever been true (cheat, cheat)
The rumors and gossip are accusing the subject of never being honest


Wa-oh, it doesn't matter what they say
The singer doesn't care about the rumors and gossip about the subject


I know I'm gonna love you any old way
The singer is expressing that they will continue to love the subject despite the rumors and gossip


What can I do? Then it's true
The singer can't help their feelings, which are true and sincere


Don't want nobody, nobody
The artist only wants the subject, and no one else


'Cause, baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
The subject of the artist's affection is the focus and cause of their emotions


Baby, it's you (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
The repetitive line reinforces that the subject is the focus and cause of the singer's emotions


Don't leave me all alone (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
The singer is expressing their fear of being alone without the subject


Come on home (sha-la-la-la-la-la-la)
The artist is pleading with the subject to come back to them




Lyrics © SOROKA MUSIC LTD., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Mack David, Barney Williams

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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