You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away: Introduction

“You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” is a Beatles’ song that is also on their album, “Help!”. Moreover, this song appears in the film as well. Indeed, they sing this song in the part of the film where they are in the London flat they share.

But they are soon on the run again when the cult leaders attack yet again. For those who like alternative versions, Take 5 is also on their Anthology 2 album.

In Detail

• Release Date: August 6, 1965 (mono and stereo) (UK), August 13, 1965 (US)
• Recorded: February 18, 1965
• Studio: EMI Studios, London
• Genre: Folk music
• Track Duration: 2:11
• Record Label: Parlophone
• Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
• Producer: George Martin
• Engineer: Norman Smith

Performers And Instruments

• John Lennon: double-tracked vocal, also a 12-string acoustic guitar
• Paul McCartney: his bass guitar
• George Harrison: classical acoustic guitar
• Ringo Starr: brushed snare drum, tambourine, as well as the maracas

Other Performer

• John Scott: tenor, also the alto flutes

Where To Find “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”

You can still buy this song because it is on two excellent albums. However, if you only need the original version, purchase the Help! album.

You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away: Background

Bob Dylan Influence: Not since 1962 did The Beatles use a session musician. However, they did on this song. Not only that but we start to see influences from the great Bob Dylan, especially since the band began to use acoustic guitar. In contrast, Dylan began using an electric guitar!

“That’s me in my Dylan period again. I am like a chameleon, influenced by whatever is going on. If Elvis can do it, I can do it. If the Everly Brothers can do it, me and Paul can. Same with Dylan.”

John Lennon
All We Are Saying, David Sheff.

“You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away is my Dylan period. It’s one of those that you sing a bit sadly to yourself: ‘Here I stand, head in hand…’ I’d started thinking about my own emotions. I don’t know when exactly it started, like I’m A Loser or Hide Your Love Away, those kind of things.

Instead of projecting myself into a situation, I would try to express what I felt about myself, which I’d done in my books. I think it was Dylan who helped me realise that—not by any discussion or anything, but by hearing his work.”

John Lennon
Anthology

Song Meaning?

We may never know why this song came about because, up to now, no official explanation is available. Therefore, we can only speculate. However, there are a few stories to consider.

Firstly, in April 1963, manager Brian Epstein and John Lennon went on holiday together in Spain. While Epstein was a homosexual, Lennon wasn’t. However, that didn’t prevent rumours of sexual activity between the pair while they were on vacation. But both deny any such contact.

Secondly, another rumour suggests it was about an affair that John Lennon was having with a woman at the time. We may never know unless someone comes forward with concrete evidence, and this is unlikely to happen now, of course.

Recording Studio

As with talent such as The Beatles, this song was complete in one day, February 18, 1965. There were nine takes in total, but only two takes were full recordings. Take 9 is the version on the classic album Help!, while track 5 is what we get on the “Anthology 2” album.

While recording at the EMI Studios in London, they employed session musician and flautist Johnnie Scott to help out. This was the first time they would employ a session artist since their recording of “Love Me Do.” However, in the future, many more session musicians would take part in Beatles recordings as the band became studio artists rather than touring or gigging.

Take A Listen To “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”

You have the information about this son, so take a listen to it. Once you do, leave a comment below. You can also use our massive Beatles Forum to socially interact with other fans.