Although the music came together fairly easily, the words were worked on in India, and remained unfinished even as recording began back in London.

[3] Donovan could not recall writing any of the early lyrics for the song but said that he possibly assisted McCartney with the "shape of the chords", in keeping with the "descending movements" in his own melodies.

[8] During an interview for Radio Luxembourg to promote the release, McCartney emphasised the wide range of musical styles found on the double album.

He also views it as lacking in genuine emotion, however, due to the lyrics and musical arrangement, and concludes: "This is one of the few instances in which the restraint Paul typically brought to his ballad singing blanches into something that sounds like simple indifference.

'"[10] Howard Sounes welcomes the diversification of McCartney's non-rock White Album contributions such as "Martha My Dear" and "Honey Pie" but he says of "I Will": "[It] exemplified Paul's weakness for the soft-centred love song.

"[11] Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of its release, Jacob Stolworthy of The Independent listed "I Will" at number 12 in his ranking of the White Album's 30 tracks.