Crashing out over these early handwritten lyrics to "It's Only Love", shared by @thedissenters back in 2021. There's so much that was left out! And it's passionate and revealing! John talking shit about his lyrics for this song later on makes even less sense now, seeing as he was working on more complex, personal lyrics at the time.
This song was not throwaway, and this gives more support to my theory that post-breakup he denigrated it specifically because it was personal to him and dealt with the tempestuous vulnerability of his relationship with Paul.
Also, spot the increasingly messy and hard-to-read handwriting - the quote from the Hunter Davies bio comes to mind: "When I did any serious poems, like emotional stuff later on, I did it in secret handwriting, all scribbles, so Mimi couldn't read it."
New life mission: reclaim this gorgeous and heartfelt song from the crap John talked about it, from a place of pain.
Transcribed lyrics
Strikethroughs from the text preserved. Uncertain words in square brackets.
I get high when I see you go by, my my, oh my
When you sigh my [...] inside just flys, [like] butterflies
Why am I so glad shy when I'm beside you
It's only love and that is all
Why should I feel the way I do
It's only love and that is all
Can't explain or name I [think] in pain, [hurt] again
I'm ashamed the flame of love is maimed, now and then
You're to blame, the same as I
I'll complain in vain, and I'll still love you
Though it's true Is it right that you and I [are in love [..] in love] should fight every [night]
In Through my plight the sight of you is bright [than the night]
[Write] the slights away, we'll make it up girl
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