The Story and Meaning Behind “A World Without Love,” the Peter & Gordon Hit that Paul McCartney Delivered from Next Door
"A World Without Love," written by Paul McCartney, made John Lennon chuckle. Peter & Gordon's version topped the charts in 1964.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney's songwriting set them apart, as they created massive hits from their own material, unlike many other bands.
"A World Without Love" was one of McCartney's early songs. Lennon's laughter at its opening line kept it from being a Beatles track.
Peter Asher and Gordon Waller, schoolmates in London, had strong Beatles connections. Asher's sister, Jane, dated McCartney, helping the duo get Lennon/McCartney songs.
The song's opening line, "Please lock me away," expresses the narrator's wish for isolation without his girl. It describes loneliness and hope for reunion.