One of Lennon's semi-autobiographical songs,[5] "You Can't Do That" "contradicted the genial tone with its tense threats, sexual paranoia and nagging, dragging groove", wrote Robert Sandall.

Influenced by the then relatively unknown Wilson Pickett,[3] it is rooted in the twelve-bar blues form, with Lennon introducing a discordant sharp 9th (F) on the D7th chord, pointedly emphasising "…I told you before…" and then pushing this note for the exasperated "Oh!"

The recording took nine takes to complete, and was considered for the A-side of their next single until McCartney wrote "Can't Buy Me Love".

Whilst in New York for The Ed Sullivan Show, guitarist George Harrison was presented with a Rickenbacker 360 Deluxe electric 12-string guitar worth $900 in 1964 ($9,100 now).

It also became a part of the group's live repertoire that year, and was the second song in their set—after "Twist And Shout"—during their Australian and North American tours.

[15] According to Mark Lewisohn's book The Beatles Recording Sessions, George Martin overdubbed a piano track to Take 9 on 22 May 1964, ostensibly for the album version of this song, but it was never used.