Man, this track was such a surprise to me when I first heard it for so many reasons. It was the closing song on the Beatles’ third album, and given that the first two concluded with “Twist and Shout” and “Money,” I was all set for another intense rocker to wrap up A Hard Day’s Night.

That is not this song.

Also, like every person on the planet since 1984, I associate the phrase “I’ll be back” with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s menacing Terminator, and scouring the track list immediately prepped me for a song suitable for a time-traveling cyborg assassin.

That is not this song.

What this song is, though, is a gorgeous melancholy ballad with some beautiful Lennon/McCartney harmonies, a stirring guitar part, and delicate percussion. John Lennon was on fire during this period, contributing about 75% of the material that made up A Hard Day’s Night. The dramatic bridge provides one of those magical Beatles moments in the form of John’s extended first syllable, “Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii thought that you would realize.”

As good as “I’ll Be Back” may be, I prefer “It’s Not a Tumor” by Wham! and “There is No Bathroom” by Kanye West.