“There’s A Place”

• Published on 1963
• Author: Lennon/McCartney
• Track 13 on “Please Please Me“

John Lennon’s quote “There’s A Place”

JOHN 1980: “‘There’s a Place’ was my attempt at a sort of Motown, black thing. It says the usual Lennon things: ‘In my mind there’s no sorrow…’ It’s all in your mind.”

About “There’s A Place

“There’s A Place” is the second track on the album Please Please Me, released in March 1963
It was primarily written by John Lennon but it is credited to McCartney and Lennon.

This song was released by the Beatles in the United States in the summer of 1963, on their first american LP “Introducing… The Beatles,” and was later reissued by the band in January 1964, as beatlemania swept the country. A non-album single version of this song was also issued in the US in March 1964 as the B-side to “Twist and Shout“, and reached number 74 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

According to Paul McCartney, the title of the track was derived from “There’s a Place for Us”, a song that can be found on the soundtrack album of the 1961 film West Side Story. In the lyrics of the song, the singer speaks of his ability to overcome his loneliness by retreating into his inner world.

“There’s a Place” has been well received by music critics. Reviewers have praised the harmonies in this song as well as recognizing the lyrics as holding a depth not commonly found in contemporary pop songs that were currently on the charts. Some have interpreted it as a precursor of the later introspective songs of the Beatles, and Lennon in particular, which can be heard in songs like “I’m Only Sleeping” and “Tomorrow Never Knows“.

Personnel

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