Lennon wrote the melody when he was in The Beatles. They recorded it as a demo called “Child of Nature”, which he’d written about their trip to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It didn’t make it onto any Beatles albums (Paul’s “Mother Nature’s Son” was picked instead).
Lennon re-purposed...
[Verse 1]
I was dreamin' of the past
And my heart was beating fast
I began to lose control
I began to lose control
[Chorus]
I didn't mean to hurt you
I'm sorry that I made you cry
Oh now, I didn't want to hurt you
I'm just a jealous guy
[Verse 2]
I was feelin' insecure
You might not love me anymore
I was shivering inside
I was shivering inside
[Chorus]
I didn't mean to hurt you
I'm sorry that I made you cry
Oh now, I didn't want to hurt you
I'm just a jealous guy
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
I didn't mean to hurt you
I'm sorry that I made you cry
Oh now, I didn't want to hurt you
I'm just a jealous guy
[Verse 3]
I was tryin' to catch your eyes
Thought that you was tryin' to hide
I was swallowing my pain
I was swallowing my pain
[Chorus]
I didn't mean to hurt you
I'm sorry that I made you cry
Oh now, I didn't want to hurt you
I'm just a jealous guy
[Outro]
Watch out, I'm just a jealous guy
Look out baby, I'm just a jealous guy
Jealous Guy was written by John Lennon.
Jealous Guy was produced by Phil Spector & Yoko Ono & John Lennon.
John Lennon released Jealous Guy on Thu Sep 09 1971.