Beatles songs, You Can't Do That

You Can't Do That

(John Lennon – John Lennon and Paul McCartney)

Albums in which the song is present

   1964 - The Beatles' Second Album
   1964 - A Hard Day's Night
   1976 - Rock 'n' Roll Music
   1977 - The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl
   1995 - Anthology 1
   2013 - On Air — Live at the BBC Volume 2

JOHN 1964: 'I'd find it a drag to play rhythm all the time, so I always work myself out something interesting to play.
The best example I can think of is like I did on 'You Can't Do That.' There really isn't a lead guitarist and a rhythm guitarist on that, because I feel the rhythm guitarist role sounds too thin for records.
Anyway it drove me potty to play chunk-chunk rhythm all the time.
I never play anything as lead guitarist that George couldn't do better.
But I like playing lead sometimes, so I do it.'

JOHN 1980: 'That's me doing Wilson Pickett.
You know, a cowbell going four-in-the bar, and the chord going 'chatoong!''

I got something to say that might cause you pain
If I catch you talking to that boy again
I'm gonna let you down
And leave you flat
Because I told you before, oh
You can't do that

Well, it's the second time I've caught you talking to him
Do I have to tell you one more time, I think it's a sin
I think I'll let you down (Let you down)
Leave you flat (Gonna let you down and leave you flat)
Because I've told you before, oh
You can't do that

Everybody's green
Cos I'm the one who won your love
But if they'd seen
You're talking that way they'd laugh in my face

So please listen to me, if you wanna stay mine
I can't help my feelings, I'll go out of my mind
I'm gonna let you down (Let you down)
And leave you flat (Gonna let you down and leave you flat)
Because I've told you before, oh
You can't do that, oh

(You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that
You can't do that)

Everybody's green
Cos I'm the one who won your love
But if they'd seen
You're talking that way they'd laugh in my face