YOU CAN'T DO THAT ~ THE BEATLES

"You Can't Do That" is a song written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon/McCartney) and released by The Beatles as the B-side of their sixth British single "Can't Buy Me Love". One of Lennon's semi-autobiographical songs You Can't Do That "contradicted the genial tone with its tense threats, sexual paranoia and nagging, dragging groove" ... so wrote Robert Sandall. The song's jealousy theme was re-visited in other Lennon compositions, such as "Run for Your Life" and "Jealous Guy".It was the first song completed in the week before the Beatles began filming A Hard Day's Night, though "I Should Have Known Better" and "And I Love Her" were also started on the same day. The Beatles were filmed miming to "You Can't Do That" as part of the final concert sequence in the A Hard Day's Night film. The filming took place on 31 March 1964 at the Scala Theatre, London, but was not used. It was, however, broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show on 24 May. The performance is included in the documentary The Making of "A Hard Day's Night". "You Can't Do That" was covered by Harry Nilsson for his debut album Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967). The Supremes covered the song on their 1964 album A Bit of Liverpool.