Songs > Do You Want To Know A Secret

Do You Want To Know A Secret

(Lennon/McCartney)

Song background
"Do You Want to Know a Secret" was written by John to his first wife Cynthia shortly after she became pregnant with their son Julian. The song was influenced by a song from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in which Snow White sings, "Wanna know a secret? Promise not to tell? We are standing by a wishing well." The demo of "Do You Want to Know a Secret" was recorded by John in the bathroom, and a toilet can be heard flushing in the background.

Recording dates

Release dates

March 22, 1963 (UK) (on Please Please Me)
July 12, 1963 (UK) (on "Twist And Shout" EP)

Recording notes

Chart performance

Quotes

"The idea came from this thing my mother used to sing to me when I was one or two years old, when she was still living with me. It was from a Disney movie: "Do you want to know a secret? Promise not to tell/You are standing by a wishing well." So, with that in my head, I wrote the song and just gave it to George to sing. I thought it would be a good vehicle for him, because it had only three notes and he wasn't the best singer in the world. He has improved a lot since then; but in those days, his ability was very poor. I gave it to him just to give him a piece of the action. That's another reason why I was hurt by his book." - John Lennon, Playboy, 1980

Awards

Other notes

Notable covers