Skip to main content

The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand – 1963

About The Song

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” is a seminal song by The Beatles, released in 1963. It marked a significant turning point in the band’s career, propelling them to international stardom and sparking the “British Invasion” in the United States.

Five facts about “I Want to Hold Your Hand”:

  1. Beatlemania Igniter: The song is often credited with kickstarting the wave of Beatlemania not only in the UK but also in the United States. It quickly became a massive hit on both sides of the Atlantic and played a pivotal role in establishing The Beatles as a global phenomenon.
  2. Record-Breaking Sales: “I Want to Hold Your Hand” set a record for the fastest-selling single in the UK, reaching one million copies sold within just three weeks of its release. It also achieved similar success in the United States, topping the charts and selling over a million copies in its first week.
  3. Ed Sullivan Show Performance: The Beatles made their historic debut on American television with a performance of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on February 9, 1964. This appearance is considered a cultural milestone and a defining moment in the history of popular music.
  4. First US Chart-topper: The song became The Beatles’ first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It marked the beginning of a series of chart-topping successes for the band in the U.S., solidifying their status as the forefront of the British Invasion.
  5. Collaboration with George Martin: The recording of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was produced by George Martin, The Beatles’ longtime producer. Martin played a crucial role in shaping the band’s sound and guiding them through their creative evolution, contributing to the success of many of their iconic tracks.

Video

Lyrics

Oh, yeah, I’ll tell you somethin’
I think you’ll understand
When I say that somethin’
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand

Oh, please, say to me
You’ll let me be your man
And please, say to me
You’ll let me hold your hand
You’ll let me hold your hand
I want to hold your hand

And when I touch you
I feel happy inside
It’s such a feelin’ that my love
I can’t hide
I can’t hide
I can’t hide

Yeah, you got that somethin’
I think you’ll understand
When I say that somethin’
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand

And when I touch you
I feel happy inside
It’s such a feelin’ that my love
I can’t hide
I can’t hide
I can’t hide

Yeah, you got that somethin’
I think you’ll understand
When I feel that somethin’
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand