Birthday Lyrics

[Chorus: Paul McCartney & John Lennon]
They say it's your birthday
Well, it's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you

[Interlude: Paul McCartney]
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight!


[Bridge: John Lennon, with Paul McCartney, with Paul McCartney & George Harrison]
Yes, we're goin' to a party, party
Yes, we're goin' to a party, party
Yes, we're goin' to a party, party

[Refrain: Paul McCartney]
I would like you to dance
(Birthday) Take a cha-cha-cha-chance
(Birthday) I would like you to dance
(Birthday) Dance, yeah, woo, come on (Come on)

[Instrumental]

[Refrain: Paul McCartney]
(Birthday) I would like you to dance
(Birthday) Take a cha-cha-cha-chance
(Birthday) I would like you to dance
Woo, dance! Dance!
[Chorus: Paul McCartney & John Lennon]
They say it's your birthday
Well, it's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you

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About

Genius Annotation

Written by Lennon and McCartney in the studio, largely on the spot off the top of their heads. Paul was the main songwriter, coming up with the riff and most of the lyrics. According to him,

We thought, “Why not make something up?” So we got a riff going and arranged it around this riff. So that is 50-50 John and me, made up on the spot and recorded all in the same evening.

Lennon later sort of disowned the song:

I think Paul wanted a song like “Happy Birthday Baby,” the old ’50s hit. … It was a piece of garbage.

The song is a riff-based straightforward rock and roll piece that went on the opposite direction of most Beatles songs of the time. Pattie Harrison and Yoko Ono provide backing vocals.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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