Cover versions:
- In 1968, Deep Purple recorded a cover version (greatly slowed-down) of the song on their album Shades of Deep Purple. Consistent with Lennon's other remark's about the song, he said that this version was 'the way the Beatles' should have done it'.
- In 1970, the Carpenters did a cover version for release on their album, "Close to You". It was not released as a single.
- In 1976, Henry Gross covered it for the ephemeral musical documentary All This and World War II. John Lennon once stated that this was his favourite version of the song. George and Paul do backing vocals.
- In 1976, The Damned covered the song for the B-side of "New Rose".
- In 1980, Australian vocalist John Farnham released the song as a piano-based ballad recorded at a much slower tempo.
- In 1985, Ford Motor Company reportedly paid $100,000 for the use of the song in commercials promoting their Lincoln-Mercury product line. This was the first time a Beatles song was used for a national commercial campaign.
- In early 1984, Tina Turner released a version of the song recorded with The Crusaders as the follow-up to her successful cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together". "Help!" peaked at #40 in the U.K. but went relatively unnoticed elsewhere. The following single "What's Love Got to Do with It" became her big comeback and "Let's Stay Together" and "What's Love Got to Do With It" were later both included on her multiplatinum selling album Private Dancer - her ballad version of "Help!" was however only included on the European editions of the album.
- U2 played it often during their 1986 A Conspiracy of Hope Tour and 1987 Joshua Tree Tour at a slower tempo.
- In 1989, the song was recorded by British girl group Bananarama alongside French & Saunders and Kathy Burke and released as the official Red Nose Day single to raise money for Comic Relief. French, Saunders and Burke were credited as Lananeeneenoonoo (a paraody of Bananarama who they had imitated in the French & Saunders television programme). This version reached #3 in the UK charts.
- Noel Gallagher performed it at certain Oasis concerts at a slower tempo.
- Paul McCartney also slowed it down a bit when he played it during his 1990 concert tour as part of a tribute to Lennon.
- "Help!" has also been covered by The Carpenters, Michael Stanley, dc Talk, Dolly Parton, Alma Cogan, Rick Wakeman, Howie Day, McFly, Roxette and Fountains of Wayne.
- In 1991, the Finnish metal band Waltari covered Help! on their debut album, Monk Punk.
- In 1998 The Punkles did a Punk cover of this song on their first album.
- In 1999, British jazz singer Claire Martin recorded a slowed-down cover on her album "Take My Heart" with Noel Gallagher on guitar.
- In 2000, Tsunku and 7HOUSE covered "Help!" on their Beatles' cover album, "A Hard Day's Night".
- In 2003 Art Paul Schlosser recorded a parody of "Help!" called Smelt which is on on his Words of Cheese and Other Parrot Trees CD now at Apple iTunes.
- In 2007, Rapper, Lil' Wayne, sampled the song's chorus for his new official mixtape entitled, The Leak. The song was replaced on The Leak, however, and was instead put on various underground mixtapes.
- French artist Louis Bertignac, previously of Téléphone, covered the song on his 2005-2006 tour, along with another Beatles song, "I'm Down".
Help!
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Help) not just anybody
(Help) you know I need someone, help
(When) when I was younger (when I was young)
So much younger than today
(I never need) I never needed anybody's help in any way
(Now) but now these days are gone (these days are gone)I'm not so self assured
(And now I find) now I find I've changed my mind
And opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me
(Now) and now my life has changed (my life has changed)
In oh so many ways
(My independ-) my independence seems to vanish in the haze
(But) but every now and then (now and then)
I feel so insecure
(I know that I) I know that I just need you like
I've never done before
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me
When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
(Now) but now these days are gone (these days are gone)
I'm not so self assured (And now I find) now I find I've changed my mind
And opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me, help me, help me, ooh
The lyrics of "Help!" by The Beatles express a sense of vulnerability and a need for support that contrasts with the confident and carefree attitude often seen in their earlier songs. The singer admits that they used to be self-reliant and never asked for help, but now they have changed and find themselves feeling insecure and lost. They plead for somebody to come to their aid and help them get back on their feet. This sense of dependence and frustration becomes especially poignant in the refrain, where the singer repeats the word "help" several times, as if desperately calling out for assistance.
Line by Line Meaning
(Help) I need somebody
The singer is in need of someone to assist him.
(Help) not just anybody
Anybody is not suitable to provide him with the kind of assistance he needs.
(Help) you know I need someone, help
The singer is exclaiming his cry for help in desperation.
(When) when I was younger (when I was young)
The singer is reminiscing about his past and his younger days.
So much younger than today
He is acknowledging that he is much older now.
(I never need) I never needed anybody's help in any way
He was self-sufficient in his youth and did not require anyone's assistance.
(Now) but now these days are gone (these days are gone)
He is admitting that he is not as capable as he used to be.
I'm not so self assured
His confidence has diminished over time.
(And now I find) now I find I've changed my mind
He has changed his perspective and requires help now.
And opened up the doors
He is now open to the idea of seeking help.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
His emotional state is in distress and he needs assistance to feel better.
And I do appreciate you being 'round
He is grateful for someone being around to help him at his time of need.
Help me get my feet back on the ground
He needs someone to help him regain his sense of stability.
Won't you please, please help me
He is pleading with someone to give him the assistance he requires.
(My independ-) my independence seems to vanish in the haze
Even though he values his independence, he is struggling to maintain it.
(But) but every now and then (now and then)
Although it is not all the time, there are periods of time when he needs help.
I feel so insecure
He is admitting that he lacks confidence in himself and his abilities.
(I know that I) I know that I just need you like
He understands that he requires someone's help to feel better.
I've never done before
This is a new experience for him and he is learning to be vulnerable and ask for help.
Help me, help me, help me, ooh
He is desperately pleading for someone to help him in this difficult time.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RCS-CHARTS
“Help!”
Performed by:
John Lennon, Paul McCartney & George Harrison
{Feat. The Umbrella Holder}.
Meanwhile in Ringo's Mind:
Help!, I need somebody.
Help!, not just anybody.
Help!, you know I need some drum.
Help!...
@anazbogar1287
Best parts of the video to me:
0:25 - Ringos smile
0:26 - Pauls cringe smile
0:34 - Paul and George start bouncing
0:45 - Johns teeth
0:54 - 'WINK'
1:11 - Now John, Paul and George start bouncing
1:13 - Ringo smiles again
1:17 - Ringos head
1:41 - Georges look
1:44 - Georges confusion
1:51 - They bounce AGAIN
1:56 - "Here John, some snow!"
2:09 - Paul gets fake snow in his mouth
And in the whole video: Ringos umbrella
Oh I love these guys ❤❤❤
@majibuana662
Director : Here's your guitar, John
John : OK
Director : This one for you, Paul
Paul : OK
Director : And this must be yours, George
George : OK
Director : All clear, come on boys, camerament ready
Ringo : Wait, how about me?
Director : Yeah, sorry I forget about you
Ringo : Ohh i think-
Director : I'm gonna put a snow in the middle of the video, take this umbrella
@wagnerviananunes1646
Help, I need somebody
Help, not just anybody
Help, you know I need someone, help!
When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round
Help me, get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me?
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways
My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure
I know that I just need you like I've never done before
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round
Help me, get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me?
When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round
Help me, get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me ?
@psiclops521
Ringo is the greatest rock umbrellist in the history of music.
@Anony298
I heard he was ok on the drums too.
@amangadpale9284
I call this as underrated
@robpammit5244
Maybe he knew snow was forecast?
@Isleofskye
He can be a Parasol at times though..
@charlescamilleri7078
Ringo lousy drummer
@lizziepea4304
Dude Ringo in the back killing me with the movment of that umbrella
He dose need a friend
@lassassin9538
GOOD
@vqfive
he needs to learn how to sing
@bayan5480
Typo u said dose not does lol