"I've Just Seen a Face" was written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) and features McCartney on vocals. Before its release, the song was briefly titled "Aunty Gin's Theme" after his father's youngest sister, because it was one of her favourites. It is one of the very few guitar-based Beatles songs that lacks a bass track.
According to music critic Richie Unterberger of allmusic, "Several songs on 1964's Beatles for Sale, as well as "I'll Cry Instead" from A Hard Day's Night, had leaned in a country and western direction. But "I've Just Seen a Face" was almost pure country, taken at such a fast tempo that it might have been bluegrass if not for the absence of banjo and fiddle." Music critic Ian MacDonald said the up tempo song "lifted the later stages of the Help! album with its quickfire freshness." Capitol Records chose it as the lead track of the US edition of Rubber Soul, with the intent of giving the album a strong folk sound in step with the then-current Folk Rock movement.
I`ve Just Seen a Face
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't forget the time or place
Where we just met
She's just the girl for me
And I want all the world to see
We've met, mm-mm-mm-m'mm-mm
Had it been another day
And I'd have never been aware
But as it is I'll dream of her
Tonight, di-di-di-di'n'di
Fallin', yes, I am fallin'
And she keeps callin'
Me back again
I have never known
The like of this, I've been alone
And I have missed things
And kept out of sight
But other girls were never quite
Like this, di-di-di-di'n'di
Fallin', yes, I am fallin'
And she keeps callin'
Me back again
(Yeah)
(Bup-a-lup-bup)
Fallin', yes, I am fallin'
And she keeps callin'
Me back again
I've just seen a face
I can't forget the time or place
Where we just met
She's just the girl for me
And I want all the world to see
We've met, mm-mm-mm-di-di-di
Fallin', yes, I am fallin'
And she keeps callin'
Me back again
Fallin', yes, I am fallin'
And she keeps callin'
Me back again
Oh, fallin', yes, I am fallin'
And she keeps callin'
Me back again
The lyrics of The Beatles' "I've Just Seen a Face" tell the story of a chance encounter with a girl that leaves a lasting impression on the singer. He cannot forget where and when they met, as she seems to be the girl he has been waiting for. He describes how he would have missed out on this experience on any other day, but fate brought them together. Despite having been alone and missing out on things in the past, he knows that this girl is different and wants the world to know that they have met. He feels like he is falling for her and cannot resist her call to come back again.
The song's lyrics conjure up feelings of excitement, hope, and disbelief at the suddenness of love. The pace of the song is upbeat, fitting for a tale of new love. It is like a rush of emotions that come flooding in all at once. The lyrics capture the essence of a chance encounter that sparks the flames of love, leaving the singer falling for her and wanting the world to know.
Line by Line Meaning
I've just seen a face,
I have recently met someone and their face has left a strong impression on me.
I can't forget the time or place
The memory of the meeting is so vivid that I cannot seem to forget where and when it took place.
Where we just met.
The location of the meeting is fresh in my memory.
She's just the girl for me
I feel that this person is perfect for me and I am attracted to her.
And I want all the world to see
I am so enamored with this person that I want everyone to know about her and our connection.
We've met, mm-mm-mm-m'mm-mm
I still can't help but think about our meeting and how well it went.
Had it been another day
If I had met this person on a different day, my feelings towards them could have been different.
I might have looked the other way
It's possible that I could have missed out on meeting this person altogether and I would have been unaware of it.
And I'd have never been aware.
I wouldn't have even realized what I was missing out on if I had not met this person.
But as it is I'll dream of her
I am so infatuated with this person that I can't stop thinking about her and have even started dreaming of her.
Tonight, di-di-di-di'n'di.
These thoughts and feelings are particularly strong tonight.
Falling, yes I am falling,
I am completely falling under this person's spell and becoming more and more infatuated with them.
And she keeps calling
This person's allure and charm are so strong that they almost seem to be calling me towards them.
Me back again.
I can't resist this person's pull and am drawn back to them every time.
I have never known
I have never had an experience like this before with any other person.
The like of this, I've been alone
I have been lonely and haven't had anyone like this in my life before.
And I have missed things
Because of my loneliness, I feel like I have missed out on important experiences and opportunities in the past.
And kept out of sight
I have isolated myself from others, which has contributed to my loneliness.
But other girls were never quite
Despite meeting other girls before, none of them have ever had quite the same impact on me as this one person.
Like this, di-di-di-di'n'di.
This person is truly unique and special, and I can't stop thinking about them.
Yeah!
I am in a state of excitement and euphoria because of this experience.
Bup-a-lup-bup!
This is an exclamation of excitement and giddiness.
Oh, falling, yes I am falling,
I am completely and utterly falling for this person, unable to resist their charm and allure.
And she keeps calling
This person's presence in my mind and thoughts is so strong that I feel like they are calling me back to them.
Me back again.
My feelings for this person are so strong that I can't help but be drawn back to them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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