Little Children (song)
Encyclopedia
"Little Children" is a song written by J. Leslie McFarland and Mort Shuman
. It was recorded by Billy J. Kramer
& The Dakotas, which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in March 1964, and number seven in the US Hot 100 singles chart later the same year. The B-side of "Little Children", "Bad to Me" peaked at number nine on the US charts as well.
The lyric concerns a man's entreaties to his girlfriend's young siblings not to reveal his courtship of their elder sister and to leave them alone. As such, it was a departure from the traditional love songs hitherto recorded by Kramer (sometimes supplied by Lennon & McCartney
). When offered another Lennon and McCartney song ("One and One is Two") for his next single by the manager of both groups, Brian Epstein
, Kramer turned it down and chose "Little Children" instead after a search for suitable material from music publishers.
Mort Shuman
Mort Shuman was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas"...
. It was recorded by Billy J. Kramer
Billy J. Kramer
Billy J. Kramer is a British Invasion/Merseybeat singer. In the 1960s he was managed by Brian Epstein, who also managed The Beatles, and he recorded several original Lennon and McCartney compositions.-Early life and career:He grew up as the youngest of seven siblings and attended the St George of...
& The Dakotas, which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in March 1964, and number seven in the US Hot 100 singles chart later the same year. The B-side of "Little Children", "Bad to Me" peaked at number nine on the US charts as well.
The lyric concerns a man's entreaties to his girlfriend's young siblings not to reveal his courtship of their elder sister and to leave them alone. As such, it was a departure from the traditional love songs hitherto recorded by Kramer (sometimes supplied by Lennon & McCartney
Lennon/McCartney
The Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations in history...
). When offered another Lennon and McCartney song ("One and One is Two") for his next single by the manager of both groups, Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
, Kramer turned it down and chose "Little Children" instead after a search for suitable material from music publishers.