Mark Rutano

Please Please Me, written by John Lennon, was The Beatles first single in the United States and their second in the United Kingdom (Love Me Do was the first) released in 1963. Inspired by Bing Crosby and Roy Orbison, Please Please Me was originally a slower, bluesy, and lovesick song before it was reimagined by The Beatles’ manager, George Martin. When it was released, the song featured upbeat and lively harmonica melodies and lyrics filled with innuendo sexually charging their listeners.

The song is rumoured to be a about a man not only asking for oral sex from his female partner, but begging; this was never verified by The Beatles themselves. This could have been due to the political censorship of the media from that period; for songs and other content to be release to the public or aired on radios and television it had to be deemed appropriate by the powers in charge. They could not be seen endorsing sexual behaviour inappropriate to the youth.

Although The Beatles never confirmed whether or not the song was about oral sex, it can be argued that Please Please Me is about a man craving oral sexual favours from their female partner. The song’s chorus features John Lennon and his backup vocals singing, “C’mon (C’mon)” in increasing pitch several times almost echoing the strong sexually urges of a man and how they would ask for it.

You don’t need me to the show the way, love

Why do I always have to say “love”

C’mon (C’mon), C’mon (C’mon), C’mon (C’mon), C’mon (C’mon).

Please please me, oh yeah, like I please you.

The first couple lines in the stanza above, it tells the story of a, perhaps sexually frustrated, man telling his lover that he does not need to show her what do followed by his c’mon cries. The excerpt below further illustrates the frustrations the man may be feeling. He states that he does all the pleasing and yet, his woman leaves him blue. This can be interpreted as a feeling of sadness or to the more imaginative listeners, the man is given blue balls by his partner because of her poor performance.

I do all the pleasing with you, it’s so hard to reason

With you, oh yeah, why do you make me blue

Please Please Me was short, sweet, and subtle, perfect for the market they were trying to reach at the time. The song was heard by millions and aroused the sexually charged minds of the youth during the sexual revolution. This song gets four great-heads out of five for its impact and protest of the oppressive powers.