Now and Then (song)

"Now and Then" (a.k.a "I Don't Want to Lose You" or "Miss You") is the name given to an unreleased composition by John Lennon. It was first recorded in demo form in 1978 and was resurrected in 1995 as a third possible reunion single by Lennon's former band, The Beatles, for their 1995 autobiographical project The Beatles Anthology.

Origins

"Now and Then" was written by John Lennon in the late 1970s, around the same time as the other two reunion songs "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love". The unfinished piece of music was originally recorded by Lennon in a demo form at his home at the Dakota Building, New York City, circa 1979.

The Beatles version

In January 1994, Paul McCartney was given two tape cassettes by John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, which included home recordings of songs Lennon never completed or released commercially. The songs on the tape included the eventually completed and released "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love", in addition to two other songs "Grow Old With Me" and "Now and Then". In March 1995, the three surviving Beatles began work on "Now and Then" by recording a rough backing track that was to be used as an overdub. However, after only two days of recording, all work on the song ceased and plans for a third reunion single was scrapped permanently. According to Paul McCartney, George Harrison "didn't want to do it," possibly because new verses would have to have been written. Producer Jeff Lynne reported that "It was one day – one afternoon, really – messing with it. The song had a chorus but is almost totally lacking in verses. We did the backing track, a rough go that we really didn't finish." An additional factor behind scrapping the song was a technical defect in the original recording. Like Real Love, a 60 cycles mains hum can be heard throughout Lennon's demo recording. However, it was much louder on the Now and Then recording, therefore making it much harder to remove. Throughout 2005 and 2006, press reports speculated that McCartney and Starr would release a complete version of the song in the future. On April 29 2007, it was reported in the Daily Express[1] that the song may be released to coincide with the Beatles catalogue being released for the first time via digital download. As of the time of writing, the only available recording of this song is Lennon's original demo (complete with the "electronic buzz" embeded in the recording). The overdubs added in 1995 by the other surviving members has yet to surface. In 2007, reports circulated[2] that Paul McCartney was hoping to complete the song as a "Lennon/McCartney composition" by writing new verses, laying down a new drum track recorded by Ringo, and utilizing archival recordings of George Harrison's guitar work.

Lyrics

The lyrics are typical of the apologetic love songs that Lennon wrote in the later half of his career after his short break-up with wife Yoko Ono. Despite reports, for the most part, the verses are nearly complete, however there are still a few important lines the Lennon didn't flesh out on the demo tape performance.

Lyrics transcribed from the 1979 recording

I know, it’s true
It’s all because of you
And if I make it through
It’s all because of you
And now and then,
If we must start again
Well, we will know for sure
That I love you
I don’t wanna lose you
Oh no, no, no
Lose you or abuse you.
Oh no, no, no
If you have to go, away
If you have to go, do do do do do
Now and then, I miss you
Now and then, I wander down a ...(unintelligible)
I know - a-turn to me (unintelligible or unfinished lyric)
I know, it’s true
It’s all because of you
And if you go away
I know you'll miss me
I don’t wanna lose you
Oh no, no, no
Abuse you or confuse you
Oh no, no, no sweet darling
But if you have to go,
Well I won’t stop you again
And if you have to go,
You can leave me back there (unintelligible)

See also

• The Beatles Anthology
• The Beatles bootlegs

External links

• Audio clip of the original "Now and Then" demo