An instrumental easy listening arrangement by George Martin, re-titled "Ringo's Theme (This Boy)", was featured in the film A Hard Day's Night and the United Artists soundtrack album.

The track's composition was Lennon's attempt[3][4] to write a tune in the style of Motown star Smokey Robinson,[5] and specifically his song "I've Been Good to You", which has similar circular doo-wop chord changes, melody and arrangement.

[4] Lennon, McCartney, and George Harrison joined in singing an intricate three-part close harmony in the verses and refrain, and a similar technique is employed in later Beatles songs, notably "Yes It Is" and "Because".

[7] Written in D major, the song revolves around a 1950s-style I-vi-ii-V doo-wop sequence in 12/8 time before moving to the harmonically complex middle eight (G-F#7-Bm-D7-G-E7-A-A7) and back again for the final verse and fade-out.

The piece, under the title, "Ringo's Theme (This Boy)", was released as a single—but failed to chart in the UK—on 7 August 1964 with "And I Love Her" on the B-Side,[11] although it did reach number 53 in the American Top 100 later that year.