It still should be appreciated more as an early Beatles classic by George since it hardly gets noticed next to WMGGW.  

Funny thing is that George himself did not regard his debut as a writer very high. "I forgot all about it as soon as it was on the album", he said.

One bad sign with this one is that at only 2:30 or so it still seems to go on too long. It's filler, and the structure (?) sounds awkward to me, but the dour tone and leave-me-alone subject matter are distinctively George.

...and, come to think of it, all in all very much like Not Guilty.

Quoted from Wayne L.

Don't Bother Me is a great underrated Beatles classic from the early 60's & one of the first songs ever written by George which I think is equal to anything Lennon/McCartney wrote at the time.

Anybody else miss Wayne!! Apparently a dirge like Don't Bother Me is equal to songs L & M were knocking out at the time. Like All My Loving, She Loves You, and I Want to Hold Your Hand. I never knew that!

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Anybody else miss Wayne!! Apparently a dirge like Don't Bother Me is equal to songs L & M were knocking out at the time. Like All My Loving, She Loves You, and I Want to Hold Your Hand. I never knew that!

I love eccentric opinions... anybody want to stick up for "Ebony and Ivory?"

I badgered George to write again. The very first recording the Quarry Men did was of the Buddy Holly number 'That'll Be the Day' and an original number 'In Spite of All The Danger', by George Harrison and Paul McCartney. When they did their Hamburg recording sessions with Bert Kaempfert backing Tony Sheridan, they asked Kaempfert if they could record any of their original numbers. He listened to them and chose 'Cry For A Shadow', written by George Harrison and John Lennon. I mentioned this on the cover of Issue No. 2 of Mersey Beat in July 1961 that George had written the number.
Once the Beatles had begun recording and it was all Lennon & McCartney originals, I asked George why he wasn't writing. He didn't seem to have much confidence. I pointed out that the first mention of an original Beatles number in print was his number on the cover of Mersey Beat. I suggested he try a number with Ringo. He then wrote a song with Ringo and told me about it during another chat and I even mentioned the fact in Mersey Beat, although I don't know what the number was and it wasn't recorded.
So when I kept mentioning it to him when we met for drinks at the Blue Angel or the Cabin in Wood Street, it obviously had some sort of effect because when I was with them at a TV show in Blackpool George came up to me and thanked me. I asked him what for. He said that he was about to come out for a drink in town one night and then realised he'd meet me and I'd begin badgering him about writing a song again, so the title 'Don't Bother Me' came into his mind. He thanked me again, saying he'd already made over 7,000 pounds in royalties. I don't know why he didn't mention this in his book 'I Me Mine', but this is how it actually happened.

You're a good egg, Bill!

George didn't mention much in his book 'I Me Mine', so I'm not surprised this anecdote was left out, too. I think you hit the nail on the head with the observation that "He didn't seem to have much confidence." Paul and John had confidence to spare, and I think that helps to fuel the creative process (at least in my case).

Thanks once again for sharing your experiences. It's always great to see you.

Cheers Bill, it's always good to read your stories. Even though you just gave away one of the answers in the Beatles Mastermind quiz!!

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Anybody else miss Wayne!! Apparently a dirge like Don't Bother Me is equal to songs L & M were knocking out at the time. Like All My Loving, She Loves You, and I Want to Hold Your Hand. I never knew that!

email him and get him back then!

I like the song. It's very unusual compared to the others' work, and compared to all pop music in general at the time. I can't think of anything else quite like it. A different sort of melody, instrumental arrangement, subject matter, and it rocks. The dark tone simply punctuates something that helped make this band great: the power of diversity in their individual personalities and artistic sensibilities. A counter-punch to all the sweet stickiness that the others (brilliantly) put forward. I rate it very high.

i've always loved this track, i think it was a great start for George's writing.  

I've always really liked the song too.

Interesting note: according to my teacher, the song is neither major nor minor -- it's "modal". Can't say more than that; my knowledge of music theory isn't that good.