Blind Lemon Jefferson wrote and recorded a song entitled "Match Box Blues" in 1927,[1] which is musically different but which contains some lyric phrases in common.

Her lyrics include the matchbox as a suitcase reference: I'm leaving this morning, with my clothes in my hand I won't stop to wandering, till I find my man I'm sitting here wondering', will a matchbox hold my clothes I've got a sun to beat, I'll be farther down the road Three years later, Blind Lemon Jefferson used it for the title of his recording "Match Box Blues" on March 14, 1927, for Okeh Records in Atlanta, Georgia.

Subsequently, the song was recorded by several blues and country swing musicians, such as Lead Belly, Big Bill Broonzy, the Shelton Brothers, and Roy Newman and His Boys.

As Perkins sang the few words his father had suggested, Jerry Lee Lewis, who was at that time a session piano player at Sun Studios, started a boogie-woogie riff.

The "Matchbox" recording session is historically significant as a milestone in rock and roll history because later that day, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Lewis were all in the Sun Studio with Sam Phillips with Carl Perkins and his band.

[7] The song served as the vocal spot for their drummer, Pete Best, until his sacking in August 1962, at which point John Lennon took over as lead singer.

[12] Starr later recalled feeling "very embarrassed" because he had a bad throat;[11] two days later, he was hospitalized with acute tonsillitis and pharyngitis,[13] resulting in him missing the start of the Beatles' world tour.

[15] In his commentary on the track, author Ian MacDonald dismisses the Beatles' performance as "flat-footed", adding that, as a keen student of Perkins' guitar playing, only George Harrison demonstrates "any motivation" in his contribution.