Song Of The Week - Im A Loser

[nimrod]

I'm a loser, I'm a loser
And I'm not what I appear to be
Of all the love I have won or have lost
There is one love I should never have crossed
She was a girl in a million, my friend
I should have known she would win in the end
I'm a loser, and I lost someone who's near to me
I'm a loser, and I'm not what I appear to be
Although I laugh and I act like a clown
Beneath this mask I am wearing a frown
My tears are falling like rain from the sky
Is it for her or myself that I cry
I'm a loser, and I lost someone who's near to me
I'm a loser, and I'm not what I appear to be
What I have done to deserve such a fate
I realize I have left it too late
And so it's true pride comes before a fall
I'm telling you so that you won't lose all
I'm a loser, and I lost someone who's near to me
I'm a loser, and I'm not what I appear to be


I always loved this song, it has one of my favourite lines from any Beatles song;

Although I laugh and I act like a clown
Beneath this mask, I am wearing a frown

Sort of summed up my teenage years.....brilliant line !
Johns voice fits perfectly on this song imo, in fact the whole thing is perfect, the only thing I would change is the harmonica, Id simply change it for another instrument...

In 1980, Lennon said the song was "me in my Dylan period" and added, "Part of me suspects I'm a loser and part of me thinks I'm God Almighty. " Country music and Bob Dylan were catalysts for the song. The country is in the fingerpicking, guitar twang and downhearted words; in 1964, the Beatles were listening to songs by Buck Owens and George Jones that McCartney said were "all about sadness." 
Musicologist Alan Pollack said the song contained "a stronger blend of folk elements than almost anything else The Beatles had done to-date
Lennon hits a low G in the verses, a note usually reserved for baritone and/or bass singers. This was atypical of Lennon; he sang the bulk of his Beatles songs in a tenor register. "I'm a Loser" does not mark the only occasion on which Lennon sang a low G, he also did so in "Happiness Is a Warm Gun".

The Beatles recorded this song on 14 August 1964, the same day as "Mr. Moonlight" and "Leave My Kitten Alone". It was recorded in eight takes with no overdubs.
It was released four months after it was recorded, but beforehand, it was previewed on BBC Radio on 17 November, along with three other songs from Beatles for Sale and also the "I Feel Fine"/"She's a Woman" single.


Personnel

John Lennon – lead vocals, harmonica, acoustic rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass guitar
George Harrison – lead guitar
Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine

Personnel per Ian MacDonald


I'm A Loser -Beatles For Sale

[Klang]

I always liked it a lot. I picked up on the country tinges, but it struck me as very folky, too, at the time. Another example of something distinct and fairly unique by these guys hitting the airwaves.

[tkitna]

One of my favorites. Probably a top ten for me.

[Hombre_de_ningun_lugar]

This is one of those little gems by the Beatles that fans have the fortune to discover and love. I love it too.

[KelMar]

It's funny that this would appear as the song of the week because I actually heard it twice today. It was meant to be! I always thought of it as a country-ish song but now that it's been mentioned I do hear the folk aspect of it. It has some great lyrics; Is it for her or myself that I cry? stands out for me. Is he crying because he really misses her or does he just feel sorry for himself that he doesn't have anyone now? I also like And so it's true pride comes before a fall. I always wondered what that line was and then one day I heard it clear as a bell with no outside assistance. I was tempted to be proud of that but I didn't want to fall. I like the into a lot too. It gets right to the point. All in all a great song that I didn't mind hearing twice today.

[Hello Goodbye]

John was most certainly in his "Dylan Period" here.  I love this 1965 live performance in Paris...


The Beatles - I'm a Loser (Live In Paris, 1965)


I have an Elton harmonica holder just like that one which I bought in the 60s.  Playing Bob Dylan songs on guitar just about required it, along with the proper key harmonica.  John looks great wearing that harmonica holder!

John makes his typical face when he sings the line "And so it's true pride comes before a fall."  It's hard to set the words in proper cadence.  I've flubbed that line many times.  It sounds awful when I do.  It looks like John found a way to get that line right.  I've seen him do that in other live videos of this song too.

I like this song a lot!  I like Beatles For Sale a lot too and this song is so representative of the album's mood.  The Beatles were maturing and becoming introspective with this album

[KelMar]

^^^

I was just going to go looking for that video!

[Hello Goodbye]

The Beatles recorded this song on 14 August 1964, the same day as "Mr. Moonlight" and "Leave My Kitten Alone".

The same day as Mr. Moonlight.  Now that's why I like Mr. Moonlight so much.  John was in top form that day!

[Hello Goodbye]

^^^

I was just going to go looking for that video!

No you don't have to.   

[Hello Goodbye]

Now if you don't have the proper key harmonica, just ask...


Bob Dylan - Anybody have an E Harmonica ?

[KelMar]

No you don't have to.   

You were the one who showed it to me in the first place: http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/index.php?topic=2330.msg271549#msg271549 

[Hello Goodbye]

I'm A Loser

THE BEATLES CARTOON Ep13a I'm A Loser

We finished the picture and I'm giving you a bonus, boy.  My personal check for 12 dollars and 38 cents.

[nimrod]

The same day as Mr. Moonlight.  Now that's why I like Mr. Moonlight so much.  John was in top form that day!

'Kitten' shouldve been on the bloody album Barry, its brilliant !

[Hello Goodbye]

'Kitten' shouldve been on the bloody album Barry, its brilliant !

I think so too, Kev.  I'd say so but I already get enough laughs when I say I love Mr. Moonlight.   

[nimrod]

Ive never been keen on Moonlight myself Baz, its a bit plodding for me, I hate the organ, it reminds me of a working mans club in 70's England.

Its all about what we like though isnt it, I cant really listen to Bob Dylan, the man gives me no pleasure at all.