Background & Recording
During the writing process, the song's working title was "Oh! Darling (I'll Never Do You No Harm)". McCartney later said of recording the track, "When we were recording 'Oh! Darling' I came into the studios early every day for a week to sing it by myself because at first my voice was too clear. I wanted it to sound as though I'd been performing it on stage all week." He would only try the song once each day, if it was not right he would wait until the next day. In order to make sure he got every precious first take right, McCartney would practice the song in the bathtub. He once lamented that "five years ago I could have done this in one take".
McCartney first recorded a demo of "Oh! Darling" at Twickenham Studios on 16 January 1969 during the Get Back sessions without the other Beatles being present, as the Twickenham set they had been using was being dismantled due to their moving the sessions to Apple Corps' headquarters. After an early attempt at the song by the band on 27 January 1969, Lennon announced, "Just heard that Yoko's divorce has just gone through", after which he and the band burst into an improvised version of the song, substituting "I'm free at last" for a part of the lyric.
The basic track was recorded on 20 April 1969. There were many overdub sessions, including McCartney's attempts at the lead vocal. Engineer Geoff Emerick recalled that McCartney sang while the backing track played over speakers, instead of headphones, because he wanted to feel as though he was singing to a live audience.
Oh! Darling
The Beetles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please believe me
I'll never do you no harm
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm
Oh, darling
If you leave me
Believe me when I beg you—ooh!
Don't ever leave me alone
When you told me
You didn't need me any more
Well, you know, I nearly
Broke down and cried
When you told me
You didn't need me any more
Well, you know, I nearly
Broke down and died
Oh, darling
If you leave me
I'll never make it alone
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm
Spoken:
Believe me, darling
When you told me (whoo)
You didn't need me any more
Well, you know, I nearly
Broke down and cried
When you told me
You didn't need me any more
Well, you know, I nearly
Broke down and died
Oh, darling
Please believe me
I'll never let you down
(Spoken) Oh, believe me, darling
Believe me when I tell you—whoo!
I'll never do you no harm
The lyrics of "Oh! Darling" by The Beatles convey a sense of urgency and desperation from a man who is afraid of losing his lover. He begs her to believe him when he promises that he will never hurt her or let her down. He insists that he cannot make it alone and pleads with her not to leave him. He recalls how hurt and heartbroken he was when she had told him that she didn't need him anymore, and admits that he had even cried and nearly died because of it. In the end, he urges her to believe him and trust him, and repeatedly assures her that he will never do her any harm.
The song itself was written by Paul McCartney, though it is widely believed to be a tribute to Little Richard, whose music heavily influenced The Beatles in their early years. McCartney's powerful vocals and the raw, bluesy feel of the song make it a standout on the album. In fact, McCartney recorded his vocals for the song in just one take because he wanted to capture the raw emotional power of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, darling
Addressing the loved one
Please believe me
Asking the loved one to trust and have faith in them
I'll never do you no harm
Promising that they will not hurt the loved one in any way
Believe me when I tell you
Reiterating the request to trust and have faith in them
If you leave me
Expressing fear and vulnerability about being alone without the loved one
I'll never make it alone
Acknowledging that they need the loved one to be by their side
Believe me when I beg you—ooh!
Pleading and desperate request for the loved one not to leave
When you told me
Referring to a past conversation
You didn't need me any more
The loved one expressed not wanting or needing the other anymore
Well, you know, I nearly
Emphasizing the intensity of their reaction
Broke down and cried
Reacting with emotional pain and sadness
Broke down and died
Exaggerated expression of emotional devastation
I'll never let you down
Promising to always be reliable and there for the loved one
Oh, believe me, darling
Reaffirming their request for trust and faith
Believe me when I tell you—whoo!
Reiterating their promise to not hurt the loved one
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.