I'll Cry Instead

Lennon later reflected that the lyrics of "I'll Cry Instead" represent his then newfound feelings of frustration with success and the sense that he had lost his freedom.[6] Lennon's wife, Cynthia Lennon, similarly described the lyrics as a cry for help, explaining that "[i]t reflects the frustration he felt at that time", being "the idol of millions ... [while] the freedom and fun of the early days had gone."[7] McCartney later suggested the song referred to difficulties in Lennon's marriage with Cynthia.[6]

In contrast to the Beatles' earlier teenage love songs, the lyrics of "I'll Cry Instead" are comparatively darker.[6] The song's singer explains that, while he is now crying over a lost love, he plans to seek vengeance and break the hearts of girls "around the world", thereby punishing anyone who had ever rejected him.[9] Author and musician John Kruth describes the song as one of Lennon's "stalker songs", alongside his other 1964 compositions "You Can't Do That" and "No Reply", dealing in themes of separation and uncontrollable jealousy.[10] The singer makes reference to a chip on his shoulder, something author Steve Turner suggests signals Lennon's entrance into a period of self-examination that lasted through the 1969–1970 break-up of the Beatles and his first solo albums.[9]

"I'll Cry Instead" is in 4/4 (common time) and is in the key of G major, except the bridge, which modulates to D major. The song uses the three blues chords I, IV and V. Structurally, it employs two bridges while avoiding instrumental solos and double verses between bridges.[11]

Among musicologists and authors, several describe "I'll Cry Instead" as country, including Ian MacDonald, Jean-Michael Guesdon & Philippe Margotin, Alan W. Pollack, Tim Riley and William Ruhlmann.[11][12][13] Jonathan Gould calls is "rockabilly-styled",[4] and Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes it as "tough folk rock".[14] Country music was popular in the Beatles' hometown of Liverpool throughout the 1950s and Lennon listened to the genre regularly before he experienced rock and roll.[15] Doggett writes the song is the first among several by the Beatles from 1964 and 1965 that were overtly country and rockabilly influenced,[8] as does critic Richie Unterberger, who compares the song to the Beatles' next studio album, Beatles for Sale, and McCartney's 1965 composition "I've Just Seen a Face".[16] Doggett further comments that, even if it lacks the "pace or bite of Carl Perkins or Elvis Presley at their peak", the influence is heard in the lead guitar work of George Harrison, as well as Lennon's rhythm guitar playing and chord progressions.[8]

The Beatles recorded "I'll Cry Instead" on 1 June 1964, during an afternoon session in which they also recorded covers of "Matchbox" and "Slow Down". Recording took place in EMI's Studio Two, with George Martin producing the session, assisted by balance engineer Norman Smith.[17] Rather than recording the song straight through,[18] the Beatles split it into two parts designated "Section A" and "Section B",[17] something author John C. Winn suggests would allow for greater versatility in editing the track into the film.[18]

Six takes of "Section A" were recorded followed by two takes of "Section B",[18] with the latter takes marked seven and eight.[17] Both sections consist of four tracks, with electric guitar, bass and drums on the first track; Lennon's vocal on the second; his acoustic guitar on the third; and overdubs onto the fourth,[18] including a tambourine from Ringo Starr and a second vocal from Lennon to double-track his original.[19][note 2] On the third line of each verse ("show you what your lovin' man can do"), McCartney adds a bass break which Riley suggests anticipates those heard on the Beatles' 1966 songs "Rain" and "I'm Only Sleeping".[21]

On 4 June 1964, Martin and Smith mixed several songs, including "I'll Cry Instead".[22] They mixed each section for mono, then edited takes six and eight together; take six consists of the first two verses, the bridge and the third verse, while take eight begins at 1:09, containing the fourth verse, a repeating bridge and a fifth verse. The completed mono mix lasts 2:04.[18] On 9 June, Martin and Smith copied this mix,[22] sending it to the US record labels United Artists and Capitol.[18]

On 22 June 1964, Martin and Smith finished production on the rest of the A Hard Day's Night LP, including mixing "I'll Cry Instead" for stereo.[23] Like the mono version, they edited together takes six and eight,[23] but joined the takes at a different place.[18] After an edit at 1:08, the song cuts to the second bridge, omitting the fourth verse and resulting in a length of 1:43, 21 seconds shorter than the US mono mix. To make the mono and stereo version match, they roughly trimmed the mono version, bringing it down to 1:44, though this fix was only made to the UK mono releases, the longer mono version having already been sent for printing in the US.[24][note 3]