# Hello Little Girl

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Song by John Lennon

For the Desperate Housewives episode, see [Hello, Little Girl](/source/Hello%2C_Little_Girl).

"Hello Little Girl" Song by the Beatles from the album Anthology 1 Released 20 November 1995 Recorded 1 January 1962 Studio Decca Studios, London Genre Rock and roll Merseybeat Length 1:40 Label Apple Records Songwriter Lennon–McCartney Producer Mike Smith

"**Hello Little Girl**" is a song written by [John Lennon](/source/John_Lennon) in 1957, one of the first songs he wrote and one of the earliest written songs credited to [Lennon–McCartney](/source/Lennon%E2%80%93McCartney). It was most notably performed by [the Beatles](/source/The_Beatles) at their unsuccessful 1 January 1962 [audition](/source/The_Beatles'_Decca_audition) for [Decca Records](/source/Decca_Records) and ultimately included on the 1995 [compilation album](/source/Compilation_album) *[Anthology 1](/source/Anthology_1)*. A 1960 home demo recording has never been officially released.

[Liverpool](/source/Liverpool) groups [the Fourmost](/source/The_Fourmost) and [Gerry & the Pacemakers](/source/Gerry_%26_the_Pacemakers) recorded versions in 1963. The former reached number nine in the British charts while the latter remained unreleased until 1991.

## Composition and structure

[John Lennon](/source/John_Lennon) wrote "Hello Little Girl" near the end of 1957, around the same time [Paul McCartney](/source/Paul_McCartney) wrote "[I Lost My Little Girl](/source/I_Lost_My_Little_Girl)".[1] Lennon described it as one of his first finished compositions.[2] Beatles historian [Mark Lewisohn](/source/Mark_Lewisohn) describes it as "the third song he wrote (but the first to stick)".[3] According to Lennon, he drew on an old "Thirties or Forties song" that his mother sang to him.[4] Lewisohn identifies it as the 1939 dance-band and film number "Scatterbrain". In particular, Lennon was captured by the rhythmic flow of lines like, "When you smile it's so delightful / When you talk it's so insane / Still it's charming chatter, scatterbrain."[5] Lewisohn writes that the song is "steeped in [the Crickets](/source/The_Crickets)' sound"[1] and that, "the [Buddy Holly](/source/Buddy_Holly) influence is overwhelming."[5] [Musicologist](/source/Musicology) [Walter Everett](/source/Walter_Everett_(musicologist)) agrees, writing the song "has strong Holly characteristics."[6] In particular, "Hello Little Girl" is the first Beatles song to recreate Holly's [double-tracked](/source/Double_tracking) vocal parts with Lennon on lead and McCartney singing the [descant](/source/Descant); the Beatles used this arrangement in almost all of their duets through 1969.[7]

The song underwent significant changes between 1960 and 1962.[8] Everett notes that in measures 22–23, the earlier version seeks to emulate Buddy Holly much more than the [syncopated](/source/Syncopation) passage in the later version.[9] The earlier version is also "supported by a single chain of applied V7s, VI♯7–II♯7–V7, whereas the later version repeats much faster-moving [diatonic](/source/Diatonic_scale) [fifth](/source/Perfect_fifth)-sequence heard nearly four full times."[10] The change was likely made in part to accommodate added backing vocals from McCartney and [George Harrison](/source/George_Harrison),[10] emulating [the Jordanaires](/source/The_Jordanaires) and the Crickets in singing sustained vowels behind the soloist.[11] Everett writes that the earlier version is the closest any composition by [the Beatles](/source/The_Beatles) comes to using the eight-bar bridge chord change III♯–VI♯–II♯–V typical to [Tin Pan Alley](/source/Tin_Pan_Alley) songs;[12] He also writes that, like most early compositions by the Beatles', the song is "thoroughly diatonic, grounded solidly in the major scale,"[13] though the song features a "bluesy" guitar solo.[14] The later version also includes a new ending, using the same triplet close heard in "[Twist and Shout](/source/Twist_and_Shout#The_Beatles_version)" and "[I Want to Hold Your Hand](/source/I_Want_to_Hold_Your_Hand)".[15] Musicologist and writer [Ian MacDonald](/source/Ian_MacDonald) writes that the only musically interesting part of the song is "the swift chromatic descent at the end, paralleling the equally swift chromatic ascents in "[Like Dreamers Do](/source/Like_Dreamers_Do)".[16]

## Recording

The earliest known recording of the song is from 1960.[17][nb 1] This recording features Lennon on lead vocal and his [Höfner](/source/H%C3%B6fner) Club 40 guitar while McCartney provides harmony vocals and plays his [Framus](/source/Framus) Zenith [acoustic guitar](/source/Steel-string_acoustic_guitar).[19] McCartney recalls, "Sometimes I'd borrow a tape recorder—a Grundig with a little green eye—[or] John would manage to borrow one, and we'd go around my house and try to record things. I seem to remember recording '[Hallelujah, I Love Her So](/source/Hallelujah%2C_I_Love_Her_So),' because I had the [Eddie Cochran](/source/Eddie_Cochran) record. They were very much home demos, very bad sound quality."[18][nb 2] Though the recording features Lennon, McCartney and [Stu Sutcliffe](/source/Stu_Sutcliffe), "Hello Little Girl" includes only Lennon and McCartney on guitars.[17] The track has never been officially released but circulates unofficially.[21]

The Beatles recorded the song for their [Decca audition](/source/The_Beatles'_Decca_audition) on 1 January 1962. Lewisohn writes that Harrison's guitar work on this recording of "Hello Little Girl" is substandard compared to his normal work.[22] [Pete Best](/source/Pete_Best) adds full-measure [snare rolls](/source/Drum_roll) between sections.[23] Lewisohn further writes that the track is one of the few in the session that turned out well, mostly due to Lennon and McCartney's combined lead vocal.[24]

On 8 February 1962, the Beatles recorded "Hello Little Girl" and three other songs in an audition for radio producer Peter Pilbeam.[25] As audition tapes were not kept, the recording is almost definitely lost.[26] From the performance of "Hello Little Girl" in particular, Pilbeam marked McCartney as "NO" but Lennon as "YES".[27] On 7 March 1962, the Beatles recorded at the [Playhouse Theatre](/source/Playhouse_Theatre) for Pilbeam's BBC program. They recorded four tracks for the program, including "Hello Little Girl", though it was the only song of the four not broadcast.[28]

On 13 February 1962, Beatles manager [Brian Epstein](/source/Brian_Epstein) visited producer [George Martin](/source/George_Martin) for the first time. He gave Martin a 78 acetate of "Hello Little Girl" and "[Till There Was You](/source/Till_There_Was_You#The_Beatles_version)" from their Decca audition.[29] Epstein marked the record in pen as "Hullo Little Girl" [*[sic](/source/Sic)*] by "John Lennon & the Beatles", crediting the song to "Lennon, McCartney" and "Til There Was You" [*[sic](/source/Sic)*] as "Paul McCartney & the Beatles".[30][31] In the raw transcripts and manuscripts for his 1964 autobiography, *[A Cellarful of Noise](/source/A_Cellarful_of_Noise)*, Epstein recalls "George [Martin] liked Hello Little Girl, Till There Was You. Liked George on guitar. Thought Paul was the one for discs."[32]

[The Fourmost](/source/The_Fourmost)'s lead guitarist Brian O'Hara recalls that Lennon and Harrison made him a demo tape of "Hello Little Girl" on acoustic guitars and gave it to him a few days before the recording session.[33]

## Release

The Beatles rendition for their Decca audition was released on their 21 November 1995 [compilation album](/source/Compilation_album) *[Anthology 1](/source/Anthology_1)*.[34]

A Decca-made acetate of "Hello Little Girl" and "[Like Dreamers Do](/source/Like_Dreamers_Do)" sold for [£](/source/Pound_sterling)4,000 in 1996 (equivalent to [£](/source/Pound_sterling)8,000 in 2025).[35]

In March 2016, Omega Auctions auctioned off an acetate once owned by Les Maguire of [Gerry and the Pacemakers](/source/Gerry_and_the_Pacemakers) (dubbed the "Holy Grail") featuring "Hello Little Girl" and "Till There Was You" for £77,500, exceeding the original estimate of £10,000.[36][31]

## Personnel

**Decca audition (*Anthology 1*) version**

According to [Ian MacDonald](/source/Ian_MacDonald):[34]

- [John Lennon](/source/John_Lennon) – lead vocal, rhythm guitar

- [Paul McCartney](/source/Paul_McCartney) – bass, harmony vocal

- [George Harrison](/source/George_Harrison) – lead guitar

- [Pete Best](/source/Pete_Best) – drums

## Versions by the Fourmost, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Sheila

"Hello Little Girl" Single by the Fourmost B-side "Just in Case" (Boudleaux Bryant) Written 1957 Released 30 August 1963 Recorded 3 July 1963 Studio EMI Studios Genre Merseybeat Label Parlophone Songwriter Lennon–McCartney Producer George Martin The Fourmost singles chronology "Hello Little Girl" (1963) "I'm in Love" (1963)

On 3 July 1963, with the Beatles in the studio, the [English](/source/England) [Merseybeat](/source/Beat_music) band [the Fourmost](/source/The_Fourmost) recorded "Hello Little Girl" at [EMI Studios](/source/Abbey_Road_Studios).[33] The song was released as their debut single.

On 17 July 1963,[37] [Gerry and the Pacemakers](/source/Gerry_and_the_Pacemakers) recorded a version of the song, but the version by the Fourmost was selected for the issue.[38] The Fourmost's release reached number 9 in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom).[39] Everett describes both performances as "straight" with "square syncopation, in strictly even eights as opposed to John's much freer style, in the music-hall tradition and lacking all soul."[40]

The recording by Gerry and the Pacemakers was not released until the 1991 compilation, *The Best of Gerry & the Pacemakers*.[40] The Fourmost's version of this song is also on 1979 *[The Songs Lennon and McCartney Gave Away](/source/The_Songs_Lennon_and_McCartney_Gave_Away)* [compilation album](/source/Compilation_album).

In early 1964, local pop star Sheila – later internationally famous as Sheila B. Devotion - released a French-language version "Hello Petite Fille" on her fifth maxi-single for Philips (cat.no. 434849). The song became the lead track for media play and the record eventually sold over 150,000 copies, reaching number 4 in the French charts and number 19 in Belgium.[41][42] Her May 1964 TV performance of the track on the programme *Jeunesse Oblige was* the first time this piece of Lennon & McCartney music had been broadcast on francophone television.[43]

### Weekly charts

Chart (1963) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[44] 9

## References

### Footnotes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Lewisohn writes it was recorded around 18 June 1960 (McCartney's 18th birthday).[18] Everett writes it was around April 1960.[19]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** This quotation is from a 3 November 1995 interview with Lewisohn. Audio of it is included on *[Anthology 1](/source/Anthology_1)*, "Sometimes I'd borrow ... those still exist".[20]

### Citations

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn201310_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn201310_1-1) [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Miles & Marchbank 1978](#CITEREFMilesMarchbank1978), p. 79, quoted in [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 372n44

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013513_3-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 513.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESheff2000172_4-0)** [Sheff 2000](#CITEREFSheff2000), p. 172.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013152_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013152_5-1) [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 152.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200152_6-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 52.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200176_7-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 76.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200133_8-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 33.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200133–34_9-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), pp. 33–34.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200134_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200134_10-1) [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 34.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200178_11-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 78.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200150_12-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 50.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200155_13-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 55.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200156_14-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 56.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett2001103_15-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 103.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMacDonald200552n1_16-0)** [MacDonald 2005](#CITEREFMacDonald2005), p. 52n1.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013326–327_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013326–327_17-1) [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), pp. 326–327.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013326_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013326_18-1) [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 326.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200143_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200143_19-1) [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 43.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013834n11_21-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 834n11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013834n12_23-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 834n12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013541_24-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 541.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett200184_25-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 84.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013542_26-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 542.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013562_27-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 562.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013562n_28-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 562n.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013563_29-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 563.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013581_30-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 581.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013570–571_31-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), pp. 570–571.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013570_32-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), p. 570.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_33-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_33-1) ["'Holy Grail' Beatles record sold for £77,500 at auction"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-35870751). *BBC News*. 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2022-05-28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELewisohn2013571,_856n31_34-0)** [Lewisohn 2013](#CITEREFLewisohn2013), pp. 571, 856n31.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett2001167_35-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett2001167_35-1) [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 167.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMacDonald200551_36-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMacDonald200551_36-1) [MacDonald 2005](#CITEREFMacDonald2005), p. 51.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** [Gottfridsson 1997](#CITEREFGottfridsson1997), p. 188, quoted in [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 379n46

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CNN_38-0)** Todd Baxter (22 March 2016). ["'Holy Grail' of Beatles records sells for $110k"](http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/22/europe/beatles-record-auctioned-110k/index.html). [CNN](/source/CNN).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett2001387n178_39-0)** [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 387n178.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** Graham Calkin. ["Hello Little Girl"](http://www.jpgr.co.uk/col_r5056.html). JPGR. Retrieved 31 August 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMacDonald200552n2_41-0)** [MacDonald 2005](#CITEREFMacDonald2005), p. 52n2.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett2001375n89_42-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEverett2001375n89_42-1) [Everett 2001](#CITEREFEverett2001), p. 375n89.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-43)** ["TOP 45 Tours - 1964"](http://www.top-france.fr/html/45tours/45t1964.htm). *www.top-france.fr*. Retrieved 2025-07-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-44)** ["Hello petite fille par Sheila"](https://www.bide-et-musique.com/song/21870.html). *www.bide-et-musique.com*. Retrieved 2025-07-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** ["Sheila on TV 22 May 1964"](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxQR2I9tKI8/). *www.instagram.com*. Retrieved 2025-07-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_UK_46-0)** "[Official Singles Chart on 30/10/1963 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19631030/7501/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved 8 February 2021.

### Sources

- [Everett, Walter](/source/Walter_Everett_(musicologist)) (2001). [*The Beatles As Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul*](https://archive.org/details/beatlesasmusicia00ever). Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-514105-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-514105-4). Retrieved 4 February 2021.

- Gottfridsson, Hans Olof (1997). *The Beatles from Cavern to Star-Club: the Illustrated Chronicle, Discography & Price Guide 1957-1962*. Stockholm, Sweden. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-9-197-18947-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9-197-18947-7).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

- [Lewisohn, Mark](/source/Mark_Lewisohn) (2013). *[The Beatles – All These Years](/source/The_Beatles%3A_All_These_Years), Volume One: Tune In*. Crown Archetype. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4000-8305-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4000-8305-3).

- [MacDonald, Ian](/source/Ian_MacDonald) (2005). *Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties* (2nd revised ed.). London: Pimlico. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84413-828-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84413-828-9).

- [Miles, Barry](/source/Barry_Miles); Marchbank, Pearce, eds. (1978). *Beatles in their Own Words*. New York: Omnibus.

- Sheff, David (2000). [*All We Are Saying*](https://archive.org/details/allwearesayingla00lenn). St Martin's Griffin. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-312-25464-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-312-25464-4).

Authority control databases MusicBrainz work

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hello Little Girl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_Little_Girl) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_Little_Girl?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.