“Till There was You”

• Published on 1963
• Author: Wilson
• Track 6 on “With The Beatles“

About “Till There was You”

The song was the only Broadway tune the Beatles ever recorded.
“Till There Was You” was a minor hit in the UK for Peggy Lee in March 1961. Paul McCartney was introduced to her music by his older cousin, Bett Robbins, who would occasionally baby-sit the two McCartney brothers.

McCartney said: “I had no idea until much later that it was from The Music Man. “Till There Was You” was part of the Beatles repertoire in 1962 and performed at the Star Club in Hamburg. It became illustrative of the Beatles versatility, proving they could appeal to all sections of an audience, moving easily from ballads to rock and roll, as in their live 1963 Royal Command Performance when they followed this song with “Twist and Shout“.

The Beatles had previously performed “Till There Was You” as part of their failed audition for Decca Records in London on January 1st, 1962, and it was the second of six the group sang during their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9th, 1964.
Live versions of the song were released on Live at the BBC (1994) and Anthology 1 (1995). The latter version was recorded when the Beatles played at the Royal Command (Variety) Performance in November 1963.

Meaning of “Till There was You”

The lyrics of “Till There Was You” express a sentiment of finding completeness and contentment in the presence of a loved one. The author reflects on how his world and perspective changed for the better upon meeting this person. The song conveys a sense of romantic fulfillment and the idea that love has brought a new level of happiness and meaning into his life.

“Till There Was You” is a tender and romantic song that celebrates the transformative power of love, and The Beatles’ interpretation of it adds their own unique touch to this classic ballad.

Personnel

• Paul McCartney – lead vocal, bass guitar
• John Lennon – nylon-string guitar
• George Harrison – nylon-string guitar
• Ringo Starr – bongos