Any Time At All

Album: A Hard Day's Night (1964)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is one of those songs that was finished "on the fly" so to speak. John Lennon had it half written when they went into the studio with it and he just finished it up and recorded it there. He called it, "An effort at writing 'It Won't Be Long'... with me shouting."
  • Lennon's original draft of this song had two extra verses that he left off, the last of which started, "I'll be waiting here all alone/Just like I've always done." He left them off because he felt they didn't really advance the story in the song.
  • Lennon's handwritten lyrics were auctioned for £6000 in 1988.
  • This is one of the songs not in the film A Hard Day's Night which was written to fill out the album. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • Lennon wrote 10 of the 13 songs on A Hard Day's Night. In his Playboy interview in September of 1980, he went through the entire Lennon/McCartney catalogue song by song, and stated which bits of the songs were his and which were Paul's. This was the first time we learned specifically about the songwriting breakdown between John and Paul.
  • Albert Goldman thought in his book The Lives of John Lennon that the refrain was fantastic: "It sounds as a pistol shot... his voice is burning in a true gospel frenzy... he had a remarkable ability to utter cries from the deep of his soul." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Johan Cavalli, a music historian in Stockholm

Comments: 27

  • Barry from New York, NyPaul wrote the middle-eight section. It’s music only, lyrics were never written for it.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaLove George's guitar.
  • Linc from Beaumont, TxTrue 1960s rock tend to have a driving tempo accentuated by drums and percussion...this is a good example.
  • George from Belleville, NjClassic rock,not at all like the songs you hear today.This is on another level,so much better.Powerful in it's straightforward simplicity.The Beatles were miles ahead of the others whether you talk about the early songs or the later songs.
  • Chloe from St. Louis, Mogreat song! i cant believe id never heard it before now. and, oh my god, i love the video on this page! i was laughing so hard at all the stupid stuff they did for the camera.
  • Barry from New York, NcSome obscure artist/band has recently covered this song. I think it was a car commercial. Anyone remember the ad? Who was the artist?
  • Rosario from Naples, FlLove this song! It's one of the most underrated songs in history, as are most songs on "A Hard Day's Night." I think a Hard Day's Night is in there top 5 best albums, actually.
  • Svetlin from Sofia, BulgariaSimply amazing! One of my favourite songs ever! So powerful, with its great lyrics and music! I love that song!
  • Chris from Charleston, ScEveryone should love this song. No questions asked. A true rocker from the year 1964. Powerful, a gem, a classic. I dare anyone to write a better rock song.
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I LOVE THIS SONG! I SCREAM WHEN I LOVE SOMETHING
  • John from New York, NyAmazing song.
  • Joey from Nowhere Land, CaI think this song is absolutely brilliant. Period.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI'd have paid more than 6,000 pounds too. The song is a classic, and John's vocals are good. Paul's echoing the lines does remind me too of what good friends they were at the time.
  • Sam from Shanghai, ChinaSeriously! Can't believe these lyrics only went for 6000 GBP! What a fantastic song! I love how the instruments just come to a slamming stop for thre beginning of the chorus.
  • Steve from Fenton, MoAnother great song that would have been a single in a hearbeat for any other band. John's voice was magnificent on the Beatles early rockers.
  • Linus from Hamilton, On, CanadaI'd pay more than 6000 pounds for the lyrics!
  • Meredith from Mechanicsburg, Payes, john's voice is so sexy here..not rare at all!!! He's so DREAMY. haha. and yes, i agree paul's echoing is bittersweet because it reminds me of the "good old beatle days" such as when i watch the old movies (well, help and a hard day's night at least)
  • Linus from Hamilton, On, CanadaA classic early Beatles song.
  • Sylvia from London, England Oh, and John's voice is really, erm, cute and raspy in this song! This is rare for me to comment like this on John.
  • Sylvia from London, England I like this song a lot. I love the first part when John sings 'any time at all' then Paul echoes it. It reminds me of how good of friends they were then... Too bad in the end they sorta...left each other in the cold, broke up or something of the sort. :(
  • Lee from Clearwater, FlIts a simple song, but I like it.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScOf course it sounds great loud. Especially with a good pair of head phones on
  • Laura from Santa Fe, NmMaybe Ain't no mountain was inspired by this. I love it!
  • Ben from Cheverly, MdI love this one. The solo's awesome.
  • Barry from New York, NcThis is a tune that sounds great LOUD!!! Crank it up.
  • Nessie from Sapporo, JapanBen, that's so true. Good one.
  • Kristen from Aurora, IlNo Comments?? Well this is a good song. It reminds me of You've Got a Friend with the line all you have to do is call and I'll be there. I like the echoing of John and Paul.
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