| "Tell Me Why" | |
|---|---|
 Cover to Parlophone single for export release | |
| Song bythe Beatles | |
| from the albumA Hard Day's Night | |
| Released | 10 July 1964 |
| Recorded | 27 February 1964 |
| Studio | EMI, London |
| Genre | Rock and roll,doo-wop[1] |
| Length | 2:10 |
| Label | Parlophone |
| Songwriter | Lennon–McCartney |
| Producer | George Martin |
"Tell Me Why" is a song by English rock bandthe Beatles from their albumA Hard Day's Night. In North America, it was released on both the American version ofA Hard Day's Night and the albumSomething New. Credited toLennon–McCartney, it was written byJohn Lennon in eitherParis orNew York City,[2][3] and recorded in eight takes on 27 February 1964.[4]
Paul McCartney said:
I think a lot of these [Lennon's] songs like "Tell Me Why" may have been based in real experiences or affairs John was having, or arguments withCynthia [Lennon’s wife] or whatever, but it never occurred to us until later to put that slant on it all.[5]
Lennon described the song as resembling "a black New York girl-group song".[6] Its basic structure of simpledoo-wop chord changes and block harmonies over awalking bass line "creates an illusion of sincerity through its sheer attack".[3]
The song is in the key of D major. John, Paul, and George sing a three-part harmony. In the chorus, John's lead vocal part sits higher than George's, and more unusual in this case, Paul's harmonies.
"Tell Me Why" was performed in the Beatles' debut feature film,A Hard Day's Night. The song was part of the "studio performance" sequence, which was filmed at theScala Theatre, London, on 31 March 1964. That marks the only time the song was ever performed in front of a live audience, which consisted of 350 paid actors, one of whom was a thirteen-year oldPhil Collins.[7] The song was mimed by the Beatles and the words were lip-synced on stage.[8]
