Cry for a Shadow

Tony Sheridan, The Beatles

About Cry for a Shadow

"Cry for a Shadow" is an instrumental rock piece recorded by the Beatles on 22 June 1961. They recorded the song at Friedrich-Ebert-Halle within the gymnasium, Hamburg, Germany while they were performing as Tony Sheridan's backup band for a few tracks, under the moniker the Beat Brothers. It was written by George Harrison with John Lennon, as a pastiche of the Shadows style. (The Shadows, who backed Cliff Richard, were the biggest British instrumental rock & roll group at the time of the recording. ) It imitates the lead guitar with typical Hank Marvin licks, the melodic bass fills, and even has an imitation during the second middle eight of the famous Jet Harris yell. It is the only Beatles track to be credited to Lennon and Harrison alone. "Cry for a Shadow"'s original title was "Beatle Bop". It was intended to be released as the B-side of "Why", another Sheridan song with the Beatles, but the record company Polydor chose to release another song instead. This instrumental is the Beatles' first recording of an original song commercially released when, in January 1962, it was included on Tony Sheridan's French E. P. entitled "Mister Twist". In mid 1963, as the Beatles were gaining popularity, Polydor decided to rerelease this EP in Germany as "Tony Sheridan With The Beatles", and in early 1964, "Cry for a Shadow" was released in Britain, Germany and Australia as a single with "Why" changed to the b-side, while in North America, Sheridan's song was designated as the a-side. This song is one of only two officially released Beatles singles to feature Pete Best on drums. The other is "Ain't She Sweet," although it is alleged that studio drummer Bernard Purdie "sweetened" the drum parts on this recording for American release. 


Year:
2005
2:25
40 
#1

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Way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away
That's where my heart is yearning ever,
Home where the old folks stay

Way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away-hey
Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
Home where the old folks stay

All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam
I'm a still a-longin' for the old plantation,
Oh, for the old folks at home

Ah-oh-oh!

Oh, my my!

Well, way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away-hey.
Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
Home where the old folks stay.

All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam.
I'm still a-longin' for the old plantation,
And for the old folks at home.

All the world is sad and dreary,
Ev'rywhere I roam
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home

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The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. Their best-known lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, they later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. In the early 1960s, their enormous popularity first emerged as "Beatlemania", but as their songwriting grew in sophistication, they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era's sociocultural revolutions. more »

57 fans

Written by: ALFRED NEWMAN, STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER

Lyrics © Royalty Network

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Origin
"Cry For a Shadow" is the only Beatles' recording that is credited to John Lennon and George Harrison alone rather than the Lennon-McCartney set, which indicates the duo that wrote it.
Recording Session
The song was recorded on 22 June 1961 at Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Hamburg, Germany, during the same session in which they were backing Tony Sheridan on his own songs.
Pete Best
"Cry for a Shadow" was one of the few official recordings on which Pete Best, the original drummer of The Beatles before Ringo Starr, played.
Audio Settings
Being an instrumental track, "Cry for a Shadow" does not have any lyrics. It stands out as one of the few instrumental cuts recorded by The Beatles during their career.
Intention
It was intended as a parody of The Shadows, a British group renowned for their instrumental works at the time. That explains the ‘shadow’ in the song title.
First Release
The song was first released on Tony Sheridan and The Beatles' 1964 album, "The Beatles' First!".
Sound Style
"Cry For a Shadow" is significant because it is heavily styled after the trademark sound of 60s band The Shadows, complete with a "hoots" echo.
Beatles Song Rarity
The Beatles have very few instrumental songs making "Cry For a Shadow" a rarity in their discography.
Reissues and Re-Releases
The song has been re-issued and rereleased several times, appearing on compilations such as "Anthology 1" and is available on streaming platforms.
Composition
It's a beat-based song mainly focused on the interplay between Lennon's rhythm guitar and Harrison's lead guitar, reflective of the early Beatles sound.
Historic Value
"Cry For a Shadow" remains a testament to The Beatles' early days in Hamburg, showcasing their sound and style before they received worldwide recognition.

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