Things We Said Today
Written by: Paul McCartney (100%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney)Recorded: June 2-3, 1964 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: June 9, 1964; June 22, 1964
Length: 2:35
Takes: 3
Musicians: John Lennon: rhythm guitar (Gibson J160E), piano
Paul McCartney: lead vocal (double-tracked), bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1), rhythm guitar (acoustic), tambourine
George Harrison: lead guitar (Gretsch 6119 "Tennessean")
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig)
First released: July 10, 1964 (UK: Parlophone R5160) (b-side of "A Hard Day's Night")
Available on: (CDs in bold)
- A Hard Day's Night, (UK: Parlophone PMC 1230, PCS 3058, Parlophone CDP7 46437 2, US: United Artists UAL 3366, UAS 6366, Capitol CLJ 46435)
- Something New, (US: Capitol (S)T 2108, CDP 7243 8 66876 2 3)
- Extracts From The Album A Hard Day's Night (EP), (UK: Parlophone GEP 8924)
- Written by Paul on May 3rd, 1964, on acoustic guitar while on vacation in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. He'd chartered a yacht called the Happy Days along with then-girlfriend Jane Asher, Ringo, and his girlfriend, Maureen Cox.
- This song was a direct ode to Jane, reminding her that the moments they do spend together last whenever one of them isn't around.
- This song lyrically pictures a future couple looking back on their early years, a device Paul would later use in the more celebrated Sgt. Pepper track "When I'm Sixty-Four."
BBC radio versions: 2 (for the BBC radio programs Top Gear and From Us To You)
Trivia:
- Writer and music critic Paul Williams has declared this song the greatest work of art produced in the 20th century.
- It's been reported that fans in the Sixties would slow dance with their dates to the minor-key, "ballad" style verses and then separate and "fast dance" during the major-key, "rock" bridges.
