"Do You Want to Know a Secret"

Song: “Do You Want to Know a Secret”
Album: Please Please Me (1963)

“Do You Want to Know a Secret” was written primarily by Lennon and was recorded during an epic nine-song session in February 1963. It was released on the Please Please Me LP in March 1963 and as a single (B-sided by “Thank You Girl”) in March 1964. John and Paul composed the tune for Harrison to sing, whose voice range—at least by Lennon’s estimation—was limited at the time. (John later said George’s voice improved significantly with time). In 1964, it became the first George-sung tune to crack the top ten of the Billboard Top 100, peaking at #2, just behind “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

The lyrics were inspired by the song “I’m Wishing,” which was featured in Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Apparently Lennon’s mom Julia would sing it to him as a child. In fact, the first lines from the Snow White tune—“Want to know a secret? Promise not to tell?”—are used almost verbatim as the third and fourth lines of the Beatles’ track.