Written by: Burnette-Burnette-Burlison-Mortimer
Recorded: 10 July 1963
Producer: Terry Henebery
Released: 30 November 1994 (UK), 5 December 1994 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, lead guitar
Paul McCartney: bass
George Harrison: rhythm guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Live At The BBC
The Beatles recorded Lonesome Tears In My Eyes just once, for a BBC radio show in 1963.
The song was first released in March 1957 by Johnny Burnette and his Rock 'n' Roll Trio. It was written by Burnette, his brother Dorsey, Paul Burlison and Al Mortimer.
The Beatles performed Lonesome Tears In My Eyes on 10 July 1963, for the sixth edition of the Pop Go The Beatles radio show. It was taped at the Aeoloan Hall in London, and first broadcast on 23 July.
This is a Dorsey Burnette number – brother of Johnny Burnette – called Lonesome Tears In My Eyes, recorded on their very first LP in 1822!
Live At The BBC
In April 1969, Lennon and McCartney recorded The Ballad Of John And Yoko together at Abbey Road Studios. The song's bass line and closing guitar riff bear a notable similarity to those of Lonesome Tears In My Eyes.
Lyrics
Oh baby baby baby, blues and sorrow
And I love you tomorrow
Just suit you just fine
Oh baby baby baby, blues and sorrow
I love you tomorrow
Just suit you just fine
I can't forget that you told me
So many promising lies
I'm a-tryin' to forget these
lonesome tears in my eyes
You've broken my heart, gonna do it again
I can't forget the spell that I'm in
Can't forget that you told me
So many promising lies
I'm a-trying to forget these
lonesome tears in my eyes
You've broken my heart, gonna do it again
I can't forget the spell that I'm in
I can't forget that you told me
So many promising lies
I'm a-trying to forget these
Lonesome tears in my eyes
Oh baby baby baby, blues and sorrow
And I love you tomorrow
Just suit you just fine
Oh baby baby baby, blues and sorrow
I love you tomorrow
Just suit you just fine
I can't forget that you told me
So many promising lies
I'm a-trying to forget these
Lonesome tears in my eyes
What, no comments on this song?? I would think that with this being the only known performance, and its similarity to “The Ballad Of John And Yoko” would generate some interest.
This is one of my favorite live at the bbc songs. Another example of what a great rockabilly guitarist George was.
I love this song. And Ballad of John & Yoko does contain the guitar riff, not sure bout the bass riff. The Beatles did great rock n roll covers at the beginning of their career. John was a great rock n roll singer.
The riff in this song is exactly like the one in Ballad of John and Yoko. They maybe played in a different register but the riff is spot on. It’s on You Tube take a listen.
I seriously think its John on lead guitar on this one along with Sweet Little Sixteen after the intro which explains how he would know how to play the ending of The Ballad of John and Yoko and both solos are done in a similar rough and ready style that easily could be attributed to John. I seriously think John is on lead and if I could prove that its true some how I would be truly happy because I feel JL dosent get the credit he deserves as a lead player. He had fabulous rhythms but still could play a mean lead guitar.
Paul did a syndicated radio special about 10 years ago where he played Johnny Burnette’s version. He then said that John used to play an excellent lead guitar on that song during the Beatles Hamburg days. I would conclude that John is playing lead guitar on the BBC version. Too Much Monkey Business also might be an uncredited Lennon solo as well.
Thanks for the info – that’s useful to know.
There is no doubt in my mind that John plays the solo on Too Much Monkey Business during the solo you hear a riff that John also plays in his solo on Long Tall Sally and several other Chuck Berry style songs Sweet Little Sixteen also sounds like him as well.