"Love Me Do" is an early Lennon/McCartney song, principally written by Paul McCartney in 1958-59 while playing truant from school. John Lennon wrote the middle eight. The song was The Beatles' first single, backed by "P.S. I Love You" and released on 5 October 1962. When the single was originally released in the UK, it peaked at number seventeen; in 1982 it was re-issued and reached number four. In the U.S. the single was a number one hit in 1964.
"Love Me Do" begins with bluesy harmonica played by John Lennon, then features Lennon and McCartney on joint lead vocals although McCartney handles the low solo vocal line on the song's title phrase when all the instruments go silent. Lennon had previously sung these sections, but this change in vocals was made in the studio under the supervision of producer George Martin when the harmonica part was added, as Lennon needed to resume playing it on the same beat as the "do" of "love me do".
