“Anna (Go To Him)”

• Published on 1963
• Author: Arthur Alexander
• Track 3 on “Please Please Me“

About “Anna (Go To Him)”

Arthur Alexander wrote this, making it one of the world’s great trivia questions: Alexander is the only person to write songs that were recorded by Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

This was distributed to US disc jockeys in 1963 on a single with “Ask Me Why.” The promotional disc is a rare collectors item.
John Lennon loved this song, which is why The Beatles recorded it.

He sang lead, and changed the lyric to “go WITH him”.

Meaning of “Anna (Go To Him)”

The lyrics of “Anna (Go To Him)” express a narrator’s plea to a woman named Anna to leave her current partner and come to him instead. The narrator believes he can offer her a better, more fulfilling relationship. He implores Anna to consider his feelings and make the choice to be with him.

Lines like “Anna, just one more thing, girl / You give back your ring to me, and I will set you free” and “Anna, just one more thing, girl / You give back your ring to me, and I will set you free” convey the narrator’s hope that Anna will choose to be with him.

“Anna (Go To Him)” explores themes of love, longing, and the complexities of romantic relationships. It’s a poignant plea from the narrator to Anna, asking her to make a choice that could lead to a better future for both of them.

Personnel

• John Lennon – vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
• Paul McCartney – bass, backing vocals
• George Harrison – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Ringo Starr – drums

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How to play “Anna (Go To Him)” on guitar

The guitar in “Anna (Go To Him)”, like many early Beatles songs, features a straightforward and simple arrangement. It typically involves the use of acoustic guitars, as the early Beatles recordings often utilized this instrument. The specific guitar used in the recording of this song is not widely documented, but it is likely to have been one of the acoustic guitars available to the Beatles at the time.

In terms of playing style, the song’s guitar part is characterized by a series of chords and a repeating pattern that accompanies the vocals. The chords used in this song are typically basic open chords, which are common in many early rock and pop songs. These chords provide a melodic and rhythmic foundation for the song.

The following two videos feature guitar scores for rhythm and lead guitar of the song:

How to play “Anna (Go To Him)” on bass

The bassline in “Anna (Go To Him)” is relatively simple but effective. It complements the song’s soulful and heartfelt lyrics. Paul McCartney typically used a Hofner 500/1 bass guitar during this period, which is known for its distinctive hollow body tone.

The bassline in this song follows the chord progression and provides a solid rhythmic foundation. It’s likely to consist of straightforward root notes that correspond to the chords being played by the other instruments. In many early Beatles songs, including this one, McCartney often played a supportive role, anchoring the harmonic structure of the song.

The following video features bassline scores and tab of the song:

“Anna (Go To Him)” karaoke

For those who want to test themselves by singing “Anna (Go To Him)”, the following video features the karaoke version of the song: