- Published on 1964
- Author: Lennon/McCartney
- Track 5 on “A Hard Day’s Night“
- Track 9 on “1962 ‐ 1966 (Red Album)“
JOHN 1972: “Both of us wrote it. The first half was Paul’s and the middle-eight is mine.”
JOHN 1980: “‘And I Love Her’ is Paul again. I consider it his first ‘Yesterday.’ You know, the big ballad in ‘A Hard Day’s Night.’
PAUL 1984: “It’s just a love song. It wasn’t for anyone. Having the title start in midsentence, I thought that was clever. Well, Perry Como did ‘And I Love You So’ many years later. Tried to nick the idea. I like that… it was a nice tune, that one. I still like it.”
About “And I Love Her”
“And I Love Her” was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. It is the fifth track of their third UK album A Hard Day’s Night and was released 20 July 1964, along with “If I Fell“, as a single release by Capitol Records in the United States, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Beatles performed “And I Love Her” just once outside EMI Studios; on 14 July 1964 they played it for an edition of the BBC’s Top Gear radio show, which was broadcast two days later. “And I Love Her” has been covered by a variety of artists, including Esther Phillips, Kurt Cobain and Cliff Richard.
Beatles publisher Dick James lends support to this claim, saying that the middle eight was added during recording at the suggestion of producer George Martin (an early take of the song was released on Anthology 1 in 1995, and the middle eight had not yet been added). According to James, Lennon called for a break and “within half an hour [Lennon and McCartney] wrote … a very constructive middle to a very commercial song.” McCartney, on the other hand, maintains that “the middle eight is mine … I wrote this on my own. I would say that John probably helped with the middle eight, but he can’t say ‘It’s mine’.” McCartney has credited George Harrison with composing the signature guitar riff, saying it “made a stunning difference to the song”.
“The ‘And’ in the title was an important thing – ‘And I Love Her,’ it came right out of left field, you were right up to speed the minute you heard it,” McCartney said. “The title comes in the second verse and it doesn’t repeat. You would often go to town on the title, but this was almost an aside: ‘Oh … and I love you.’”
An instrumental version of “And I Love Her”, orchestrated by George Martin, was released as a single with “Ringo’s Theme (This Boy)” as the B-side on 18 July 1964. It failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 105, while “Ringo’s Theme (This Boy)” peaked at number 53 later that year. “And I Love Her” was included on Martin’s Parlophone album Off the Beatle Track and the EP Music From A Hard Day’s Night by the George Martin Orchestra, released on 19 February 1965. It was also included on the American A Hard Day’s Night soundtrack album.
Meaning of “And I Love Her”
The lyrics of “And I Love Her” express deep and sincere affection for a romantic partner. The narrator emphasizes the depth and constancy of their love, highlighting that it’s not something that wavers with time or circumstances.
Lines like “Bright are the stars that shine, dark is the sky” and “I give her all my love, that’s all I do” convey a sense of devotion and admiration. The imagery of the stars and sky underscores the enduring nature of the narrator’s feelings.
The chorus, “And I love her, if you saw her you’d love her too,” reinforces the narrator’s belief that anyone who encounters his beloved would also come to love her due to her exceptional qualities.
Overall, “And I Love Her” is a heartfelt declaration of love, capturing the depth and sincerity of the narrator’s feelings for his partner. It remains one of the iconic romantic ballads in the Beatles’ repertoire.
Personnel
- Paul McCartney – vocals, bass guitar
- John Lennon – acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison – classical lead guitar
- Ringo Starr – bongos, claves
- George Martin – producer
How to play “And I Love Her” on guitar
The guitar in “And I Love Her” is characterized by its delicate and intricate fingerpicking style. It’s a crucial element of the song’s distinctive sound. It showcases a blend of classical and folk influences. The fingerpicking style is essential to the song’s intimate and heartfelt atmosphere.
The following video features the guitar tab of “And I Love Her”:
How to play “And I Love Her” on bass
In “And I Love Her” the bass plays a crucial role in creating the song’s distinctive sound. Paul McCartney employs a melodic and supportive approach throughout the track.
The bassline in “And I Love Her” is characterized by its smooth, flowing melody that complements the gentle acoustic guitar arpeggios. It provides a melodic foundation for the song, enhancing the emotional impact.
The bassline follows the chords of the song, incorporating subtle variations and movements that add depth and interest. McCartney’s playing style in this song is often cited as an example of his melodic and creative bass work.
While the bass in “And I Love Her” is relatively straightforward, it’s the subtle nuances and the way McCartney interacts with the other instruments that make it stand out.
The following video features the bass tab of “And I Love Her”:
“And I Love Her” karaoke
For those who want to try singing “And I Love Her”, the following video features the karaoke version of the song:
