10 Amazing Songs Written Out Of Competition
7. If You Gotta Go Go Now - Bob Dylan
After the Beatles started to pick up steam in the '60s, the entire rock world shifted overnight. Aside from the other acts of the time like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, the strange catchiness of the Fab Four ended up striking a nerve with the teenage demographic in a way few other artists could. However, it wasn't like the more conscious rock stars weren't listening either.
Once the Beatles were exposed to Bob Dylan in the early '60s, the influence was clearly felt on I Should Have Known Better, with a harmonica opening that seemed like a carbon copy of something Dylan would have written himself. Though this may have just been a friendly nod to their American folk rock influence, Dylan fired right back on If You Gotta Go, Go Now.
From the outset, Dylan wasn't going to make a Beatle-esque single, but the lyrics to this tune read much more as a reaction to the music that he was hearing. While still being a fan, you can tell that Dylan is taking a swipe at the more infatuated lyrics of the Beatles, with the "I want to be with you gal" owing a little bit to I Want to Hold Your Hand. However, this was only the beginning of the sparring sessions between the '60s greatest musical minds.