The Night Before
Producer
The Night Before Lyrics
[Verse 1: Paul McCartney, John Lennon & George Harrison]
We said our goodbyes (Ah, the night before)
Love was in your eyes (Ah, the night before)
Now, today, I find
You have changed your mind
Treat me like you did the night before
[Verse 2: Paul McCartney, John Lennon & George Harrison]
Were you telling lies? (Ah, the night before?)
Was I so unwise? (Ah, the night before?)
When I held you near
You were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
[Bridge: Paul McCartney]
Last night is a night
I will remember you by
When I think of things we did
It makes me wanna cry!
[Verse 3: Paul McCartney, John Lennon & George Harrison]
We said our goodbye (Ah, the night before)
Love was in your eyes (Ah, the night before)
Now, today, I find
You have changed your mind
Treat me like you did the night before
(Yes)
We said our goodbyes (Ah, the night before)
Love was in your eyes (Ah, the night before)
Now, today, I find
You have changed your mind
Treat me like you did the night before
[Verse 2: Paul McCartney, John Lennon & George Harrison]
Were you telling lies? (Ah, the night before?)
Was I so unwise? (Ah, the night before?)
When I held you near
You were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
[Bridge: Paul McCartney]
Last night is a night
I will remember you by
When I think of things we did
It makes me wanna cry!
[Verse 3: Paul McCartney, John Lennon & George Harrison]
We said our goodbye (Ah, the night before)
Love was in your eyes (Ah, the night before)
Now, today, I find
You have changed your mind
Treat me like you did the night before
(Yes)
[Guitar Solo]
[Refrain: Paul McCartney]
When I held you near
You were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
[Bridge: Paul McCartney]
Last night is a night
I will remember you by
When I think of things we did
It makes me wanna cry
[Verse 4: Paul McCartney, John Lennon & George Harrison]
Were you telling lies? (Ah, the night before?)
Was I so unwise? (Ah, the night before?)
When I held you near
You were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
Like the night before
[Refrain: Paul McCartney]
When I held you near
You were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
[Bridge: Paul McCartney]
Last night is a night
I will remember you by
When I think of things we did
It makes me wanna cry
[Verse 4: Paul McCartney, John Lennon & George Harrison]
Were you telling lies? (Ah, the night before?)
Was I so unwise? (Ah, the night before?)
When I held you near
You were so sincere
Treat me like you did the night before
Like the night before
About
Genius Annotation
Written by Paul McCartney, “The Night Before” was featured in the 1965 movie, Help! The song was arbitrarily chosen to be played before a chase scene involving tanks.
The song was notably recorded in just two takes on February 17, 1965.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
What did The Beatles say about "The Night Before"?
Genius Answer
That’s Paul again. I’ll just say it’s Paul, meaning I don’t remember anything about it except it was in the movie Help!
— John Lennon, All We Are Saying, David Sheff
What inspired Paul McCartney to write this song?
Genius Answer
The song was written by Paul McCartney when he was living with his then girlfriend Jane Asher. It has been speculated that it is about their turbulent relationship, however, there is no direct evidence to support that.
- 2.Misery
- 4.Chains
- 5.Boys
- 6.Ask Me Why
- 10.Baby It’s You
- 12.A Taste of Honey
- 13.There’s a Place
- 14.Twist and Shout
- 16.It Won’t Be Long
- 18.All My Loving
- 19.Don’t Bother Me
- 20.Little Child
- 24.Hold Me Tight
- 33.If I Fell
- 35.And I Love Her
- 36.Tell Me Why
- 38.Any Time at All
- 39.I’ll Cry Instead
- 41.When I Get Home
- 43.I’ll Be Back
- 45.No Reply
- 46.I’m a Loser
- 47.Baby’s in Black
- 50.Mr. Moonlight
- 53.Words of Love
- 54.Honey Don’t
- 60.Help!
- 61.The Night Before
- 63.I Need You
- 64.Another Girl
- 66.Ticket to Ride
- 67.Act Naturally
- 68.It’s Only Love
- 72.Yesterday
- 73.Dizzy Miss Lizzy
- 75.Drive My Car
- 77.You Won’t See Me
- 78.Nowhere Man
- 80.The Word
- 81.Michelle
- 82.What Goes On
- 83.Girl
- 85.In My Life
- 86.Wait
- 90.Taxman
- 91.Eleanor Rigby
- 93.Love You To
- 99.For No One
- 100.Doctor Robert
- 101.I Want to Tell You
- 103.Tomorrow Never Knows
- 108.Getting Better
- 109.Fixing a Hole
- 110.She’s Leaving Home
- 113.When I’m Sixty-Four
- 114.Lovely Rita
- 117.A Day in the Life
- 119.Magical Mystery Tour
- 120.The Fool on the Hill
- 121.Flying
- 122.Blue Jay Way
- 124.I Am the Walrus
- 125.Hello, Goodbye
- 127.Penny Lane
- 131.Back in the U.S.S.R.
- 132.Dear Prudence
- 133.Glass Onion
- 134.Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
- 135.Wild Honey Pie
- 139.Martha My Dear
- 140.I’m So Tired
- 141.Blackbird
- 142.Piggies
- 143.Rocky Raccoon
- 144.Don’t Pass Me By
- 146.I Will
- 147.Julia
- 148.Birthday
- 149.Yer Blues
- 150.Mother Nature’s Son
- 152.Sexy Sadie
- 153.Helter Skelter
- 154.Long, Long, Long
- 155.Revolution 1
- 156.Honey Pie
- 157.Savoy Truffle
- 158.Cry Baby Cry
- 159.Revolution 9
- 160.Good Night
- 162.Yellow Submarine
- 163.Only a Northern Song
- 164.All Together Now
- 165.Hey Bulldog
- 166.It’s All Too Much
- 167.All You Need Is Love
- 168.Pepperland
- 169.Sea of Time
- 170.Sea of Holes
- 171.Sea of Monsters
- 172.March of the Meanies
- 176.Come Together
- 177.Something
- 179.Oh! Darling
- 180.Octopus’s Garden
- 182.Here Comes the Sun
- 183.Because
- 185.Sun King
- 186.Mean Mr. Mustard
- 187.Polythene Pam
- 189.Golden Slumbers
- 190.Carry That Weight
- 191.The End
- 192.Her Majesty
- 194.Two of Us
- 195.Dig a Pony
- 196.Across the Universe
- 197.I Me Mine
- 198.Dig It
- 199.Let It Be
- 200.Maggie Mae
- 201.I’ve Got a Feeling
- 202.One After 909
- 204.For You Blue
- 205.Get Back
- 207.Love Me Do
- 208.From Me to You
- 209.Thank You Girl
- 210.She Loves You
- 211.I’ll Get You
- 213.This Boy
- 215.Sie Liebt Dich
- 216.Long Tall Sally
- 217.I Call Your Name
- 218.Slow Down
- 219.Matchbox
- 220.I Feel Fine
- 221.She’s a Woman
- 222.Bad Boy
- 223.Yes It Is
- 224.I’m Down
- 225.Day Tripper
- 226.We Can Work It Out
- 227.Paperback Writer
- 228.Rain
- 229.Lady Madonna
- 230.The Inner Light
- 231.Hey Jude
- 232.Revolution
- 234.Don’t Let Me Down
- 236.Old Brown Shoe
Credits
Producer
Writers
Vocals
Bass
Electric Piano
Harmony Vocals
Drums
Released on
August 6, 1965
Tags
Comments
Sign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓
Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.
