If I needed someone to love
Youre the one that Id be thinking of
If I needed someone
If I had some more time to spend
Then I guess Id be with you my friend
If I needed someone
Had you come some other day
It might not have been like this
But you see now Im too much in love
Carve your number on my wall and
Maybe you will get a call from me
If I needed someone
- guitar solo -
If I needed someone to love
Youre the one that Id be thinking of
If I needed someone
If I had some more time to spend
Then I guess Id be with you my friend
If I needed someone
Had you come some other day
It might not have been like this
But you see now Im too much in love
Carve your number on my wall and
Maybe you will get a call from me
If I needed someone
"If I Needed Someone" is a song written by George Harrison. Versions by the Beatles and by the Hollies appeared simultaneously, both being released in the United Kingdom on 3 December 1965. The Hollies version appeared on a single. Most of the Hollies' previous singles had been big top ten hits. When their version of "If I Needed Someone" only reached the lower half of the top 20 in the UK, they were quite critical and said they had made a mistake recording it.
The Beatles' recording of the song first appeared in the UK on the 1965 album Rubber Soul and was later included in the 1966 North American release, Yesterday and Today.
"If I Needed Someone" was the only Harrison composition played during any of the Beatles' tours; otherwise Harrison sang only covers onstage. Hence, it is the first and only song written by Harrison performed by him in concert until the group disbanded in 1970. "If I Needed Someone" is one of only two tracks from Rubber Soul that the Beatles performed live (the other was "Nowhere Man")
Within a month of "If I Needed Someone" being recorded by the Beatles in October 1965 at Abbey Road, The Hollies' were brought a demo of the song by their producer Ron Richards, who in turn was offered the demo by George Martin.
They recorded their version in three takes on 17 November 1965 in the same studio as the Beatles, and it was released by Parlophone on 3 December 1965, the same day as Rubber Soul. The single was released by Imperial Records in the United States in November 1967.
"If I Needed Someone" was the first George Harrison composition to be a UK chart hit, as a result of the Hollies' cover. Their version reached No. 20 on 9 December 1965, but by their standards it was one of their least successful singles. Many in the public perceived the song as the Hollies attempting to ride on the Beatles' coattails.
Dismissive comments about the Hollies' track by Harrison, basically calling it "rubbish" in an interview with NME magazine, effectively stalled its run on the charts and led to angry exchanges between the groups
PersonnelGeorge Harrison – double-tracked vocal, twelve-string lead guitar
John Lennon – harmony vocal, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass guitar
Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine
George Martin – harmonium
Personnel per Ian MacDonald