I Should Have Known Better

13 tracks
Side one "A Hard Day's Night" "I Should Have Known Better" "If I Fell" "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" "And I Love Her" "Tell Me Why" "Can't Buy Me Love" Side two "Any Time at All" "I'll Cry Instead" "Things We Said Today" "When I Get Home" "You Can't Do That" "I'll Be Back"

“I Should Have Known Better”

Single by The Beatles
from the album A Hard Day's Night

Released

13 July 1964

Format

Recorded

25–26 February 1964,
EMI Studios, London

Genre

Length

2:44

Label

Writer(s)

Producer

The Beatles singles chronology

"Can't Buy Me Love"
(1964)
—
"Let it Be"
(1970)

"A Hard Day's Night"
(US-1964)
—
"Yesterday"
(UK-1976)

“	That's me. Just a song — It doesn't mean a damn thing.	„
—John Lennon, 1980

“	Paul and I enjoyed writing the music for the film. There were times when we honestly thought we'd never get the time to write all the material. But we managed to get a couple finished while we were in Paris. And three more completed in America, while we were soaking up the sun on Miami Beach. There are four I really go for: 'Can't Buy Me Love', 'If I Fell', 'I Should Have Known Better' — a song with harmonica we feature during the opening tram sequences — and 'Tell Me Why', a shuffle number that comes at the end of the film.	„
—John Lennon, in 1964, The Beatles Anthology, p.129, 2000

“	'I Should Have Known Better' was also different at this early stage, John originally opening it with a very Bob Dylan-ish harmonica solo and George ending it with his lead guitar. Only three takes were attempted, and only one of those made it through to the end. [On Feb 26, 1964] 'And I Love Her' and 'I Should Have Known Better' were re-made by the Beatles, the latter song first. ... The final version was take nine, John singing without the harmonica for the first time, with an overdub from take 22 adding a double-track vocal and the harmonica.	„
—Mark Lewisohn, The Beatles Recording Sessions, p.39-40, 1988