Composition
Paul McCartney wrote the song on his own, likely around January 1958 and possibly at George Harrison's family home in Upton Green. The song uses the B7 chord, which McCartney discovered with Harrison after a multi-bus trip across Liverpool to the home of a stranger who knew the chord. Harrison wrote both of the song's guitar solos, and so McCartney gave him a joint credit. In The Beatles Anthology, McCartney describes it as, "a self-penned little song very influenced by Elvis [Presley]." In an interview with Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, McCartney goes further and explains that the song is very similar to a specific Elvis song, though he avoids mentioning which particular one. Lewisohn writes that, though McCartney wrote the track on his own, it is heavily based on the melody of Elvis's "Tryin' to Get to You", which also includes the similar lyric, "[in] spite of all that I've been through." Musicologist Walter Everett agrees, writing that "its cadence comes close". Chris Ingram says it was "clearly inspired" by it, and John C. Winn says it was "fashioned after" it.
Recording
Around July 1958, the Quarrymen paid for a recording session at Percy Phillips' home in Kensington, Liverpool, recording a cover of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" and "In Spite of All the Danger". Lennon, McCartney and Harrison all played guitar, John "Duff" Lowe the piano and Colin Hanton the drums. Recording was achieved with a single microphone suspended from the ceiling, no volume balancing possible. Curtains and carpets were put in the downstairs living room to dampen the noise of traffic from the street outside. At nearly three and a half minutes, the song is much longer than most pop recordings of the time. Lewisohn writes, "anecdotes have Percy Phillips waving his arms at them, hurrying them to a finish, because he could see the disc-cutting lathe reaching its ultimate point, almost at the center label."
Release
With only one copy of the recording made, the group members shared the disc for a week each. Lowe was the last to have it, keeping it for nearly 25 years. In 1981, he prepared to sell it at auction, but McCartney intervened and purchased it directly from him. McCartney had engineers restore as much of the record's sound quality as possible and then made approximately 50 copies of the single that he gave as personal gifts to family and friends. In 2004, Record Collector magazine named the original pressing the most valuable record in existence, estimating its worth at £100,000, with the 1981 copies made by McCartney coming in second on the list at £10,000 each.
"In Spite of All the Danger" was not released to the public until it appeared on the 1995 Beatles compilation album Anthology 1 along with "That'll Be the Day", though the former was shortened to 2:42 from its original 3:25 runtime.
In Spite of All the Danger
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll do anything for you, anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
In spite of all the heartache, that you may cause me
I'll do anything for you, anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
I'll keep all the others from knockin' at your door
In spite of all the danger, in spite of all that may be
I'll do anything for you, anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
In spite of all the heartache, that you may cause me
I'll do anything for you, anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
I'll do anything for you, anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
The Beatles’ song “In Spite of All the Danger” is a love song that expresses loyalty and devotion to a significant other, even in the face of potential danger and heartbreak. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, with a clear emphasis on the singer’s willingness to do anything for their loved one, as long as they remain faithful. The repeated phrase, “I’ll do anything for you, anything you want me to,” emphasizes the depth of love and commitment that the singer feels.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer acknowledging that there may be danger and heartache ahead. However, they are steadfast in their love and commitment, willing to face any obstacle as long as their loved one remains true to them. The line, “I'll look after you like I've never done before,” communicates the singer’s desire to go above and beyond for their loved one, protecting them from all harm.
The chorus repeats the same sentiment of loyalty and commitment, reinforcing the message of the song. The lyric, “I'll keep all the others from knockin' at your door,” further emphasizes the depth of the singer’s devotion, showing that they are willing to fend off any potential suitors to maintain their loved one's affection.
Overall, “In Spite of All the Danger” is a touching and straightforward love song that emphasizes the importance of loyalty and devotion in relationships. It speaks to the universal feeling of wanting to protect and care for one’s significant other, even in the face of danger and adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
In spite of all the danger, in spite of all that may be
Regardless of the risks or potential consequences, I am willing to do anything for you.
I'll do anything for you, anything you want me to
I am deeply committed to you and willing to go to great lengths to meet your needs and desires.
If you'll be true to me
My loyalty and devotion to you are contingent upon your faithfulness to me.
In spite of all the heartache, that you may cause me
Even if our relationship causes me pain or sorrow, I am willing to endure it for the sake of our love.
I'll look after you like I've never done before
I will take care of you in ways that I never have in the past, demonstrating my deep love for you.
I'll keep all the others from knockin' at your door
I will protect you from the advances and interference of other individuals who might seek to come between us.
I'll do anything for you, anything you want me to
Once again, I re-emphasize my willingness to do whatever is necessary to make you happy and fulfill your needs.
If you'll be true to me
My utmost desire is for you to reciprocate my devotion and remain loyal to me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: George Harrison, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-vc3lr4xt7p
In spite of all the danger
In spite of all that may be
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
In spite of all the heartache
That you may cause me
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
I'll look after you
Like I've never done before
I'll keep all the others
From knocking at your door
In spite of all the danger
In spite of all that may be
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
Yeah!
In spite of all the heartache
That you may cause me
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
@vinceboston7451
(Guitar intro solo by George)
In spite of all the danger
In spite of all that may be
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
In spite of all the heartache
That you may cause me
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
I'll look after you
Like I've never done before
I'll keep all the others
From knocking at your door
In spite of all the danger
In spite of all that may be
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
(Guitar solo by George)
Yeah!
In spite of all the heartache
That you may cause me
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me to
If you'll be true to me
Credited to McCartney-Harrison
Lead vocals: John
Harmony and back-up vocal: Paul
Rhythm guitars: John and Paul
Lead guitar: George
This song included the "magical" missing chord (B7) that the lads went cross town to seek out from a mate.
The lads knew E and A and the B7 was enough to complete the song.
@justmadeit2
You are listening to history right here ! This was recorded in a front living room in Liverpool, England in July 1958. They paid for it to be put on to a vinyl record. George Harrison was just 15 years old. Can you believe this was only 13 years after the end of the second world war !! ? John is singing lead, This is credited to Harrison-McCartney. I believe Paul McCartney wrote the words.
@TheWillowview
Cloud District no this IS history dummy. For example, nothing in your past or the entire past of your family will ever be history.
@zerdaloo
@@TheWillowview Paul wrote the lyrics, all the music was written was George
@darkwatersband
Paul wrote the whole song but credited it partly to george because he played the solo
@lawrence142002
No, it isn't.
@dabreu
@@zerdaloo No. Paul wrote lyrics and also the melody. George composed only the introduciton, the riff...Nothing else.
@MicahBuzanMUSIC
Just remember, The Beatles played hundreds of concerts and wrote hundreds of songs for 6 YEARS in complete obscurity before they landed a hit. If they gave up at year 5, the music world would be a very different place.
@Bella-nt7ec
interesting point
@pauladams896
Since when did they write hundreds of songs before they had a hit???
@wcr6121
@@pauladams896 since when? since the time they formed