- Published on 1965
- Author: Harrison
- Track 4 on “Help!“
About “I Need You”
“I Need You” was written by George Harrison and was the second composition of his to be released by the Beatles. The track appears in their film “Help!”, in a scene filmed on Salisbury Plain where the group were under military protection from a murderous cult.
Harrison wrote “I Need You” about Pattie Boyd, the English model whom he married in January 1966. Recorded in February 1965 at the start of the sessions for “Help!“, it features the Beatles’ first use of a guitar volume pedal. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played the song in tribute to Harrison at the Concert for George in November 2002.
George Harrison presented “I Need You”, along with “You Like Me Too Much”, for consideration for the Beatles’ second feature film, Help!, in early 1965. Before this, he had struggled to complete a song since the band recorded his first composition, “Don’t Bother Me“, for their 1963 album With the Beatles. In a September 1964 press conference, Harrison said he had written three “bits” of songs, but nothing “whole”. George Martin, the band’s producer, attributed his lack of productivity to the fact that “none of us had liked something he had written”, and Harrison had felt disheartened.
He subsequently resolved to ensure that his occasional vocal spots on the group’s albums were his own compositions rather than Lennon–McCartney songs or cover versions. According to biographer Gary Tillery, Harrison’s creativity was most likely inspired by his habitual marijuana use, a legacy of the Beatles’ first meeting with Bob Dylan in August 1964.
Meaning of “I Need You”
The lyrics of “I Need You” convey a message of longing and dependency within a romantic relationship. The narrator expresses a deep emotional need for the person he loves.
Lines like “You don’t realize how much I need you / Love you all the time and never leave you” clearly articulate a profound emotional attachment. The repeated refrain of “Please, please, love me too” underscores the urgency and intensity of the narrator’s feelings.
The song captures the universal sentiment of needing someone in one’s life for emotional fulfillment and support. It’s a theme that resonates with many people who have experienced the depth of emotions that come with romantic love.
“I Need You” is a heartfelt expression of the vulnerability and dependency that can be inherent in romantic relationships. It showcases George Harrison’s ability to convey deep emotions through his songwriting, and it remains a beloved track in the Beatles’ repertoire.
Personnel
- George Harrison – double-tracked lead vocal, classical guitar, twelve-string lead guitar
- John Lennon – harmony vocal, snare drum
- Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass guitar
- Ringo Starr – acoustic guitar percussion, cowbell
