When you consider that George didn't have a songwriting partner (like John and Paul), nor did he have a lot of support from John or Paul at various points, I think he did remarkably well. I think in nearly any other band, he would have been the principal songwriter.

Regardless of actual lyrics George had a special talent without a doubt...he went up a gear towards the end of the Beatles to not only compete with but in some cases surpass the two greatest songwriters of our lifetime

One has to agree that George Harrison put good or a lot of effort into his lyrics ; that so many of them were very very cleverly crafted.

Thank you! I've always been drawn to George Harrison. Wether it's his spiritual search, the longing quality of his music, the tasteful guitar sounds that almost always hit the sweet spot, his genuine and unaffected personality in spite of the Beatles phenomenon...or a combination of all the above. He's been and will forever be my favorite musician.

Love You Too/Within and Without You had spiritual/searching lyrics that resonated deeply with me when I was younger (so much younger than today).

Great analysis! Love George. All Beatles were great lyricist in their own way. The Beatles made the World a better place and brought such joy to so many people.

I have fond memories of leafing through "The Illustrated Lyrics" during long car rides. Almost every page contains a masterpiece.

George always had a slightly edgier bitter quality to his lyrics which reminded me more of the Stones than the other writers in the Beatles. I love Don't Bother Me . It's a perfect example of his sardonic style.

so many times George's lyrics rival Johns.. both have a simplicity about their words and they get to the root of the theme without being overly sentimental.. both also have that biting sarcasm and dry wit in their lyrics. A great exploration of Georges words John, well done. One of my favourites is Cockamamie Business..

I think you did justice to George's song lyrics. It was a comprehensive view, covering so many albums, some more familiar to me than others. But I want to add to all these gorgeous songs one thing: I think George had a "haunting" quality--that I think John and Paul did not have at least in the same way. Haunting lyrically. A haunting voice. Haunting tunes.This doesn't cover many of the songs that i love but it is what comes to mind.

I am glad you pointed how good That is All is as Robert Hilborne said is the best song he had written since Something, and he put down Living in the Material world.

'Try some buy some' might have been mentioned. Interesting lyrics, though the music carries the thing more. (Bowie was a big fan of that song and covered it as you probably know). 'Long, long long has also been overlooked a bit, apart from Ian McDonald's book. The first song, 'Don't bother me', is also overlooked with that mad guitar break in the middle

I'd like to give a mention of Wake Up My Love. It's a great example of a Harrison song that could be about a lover or god. It seems more like the former at first, but by the end it's emphatically the latter. One curious thing is that I always read the title as "Wake up, my love" (notice the comma), but "wake up" does seem to be used as a transitive verb, as in "activate my love". I also like it how he puts emphasis on "my" on the second or third chorus. And I like how the song climaxes just before the final chorus and then the final chorus just fades out.

Nice analysis John, it's good to hear something positive about 'Within You and Without You' for once. It's amazing that George came up with such great lyrics at such a young age, particularly as he'd bunked off school almost entirely!

Looking For My Life, Stuck Inside a Cloud and Rising Sun honorable mentions from Brainwashed, what could be an underrated album for George. Great topic, George wrote great lyrics, always enjoyed his take on life...thanks

I always thought George's humour shone through even when he was being cynical or sarcastic. Within you and Without is very underrated lyrically.

Have u done a mccartney top 20 best melodies from beatles wings and solo..that's a hard one ..there's so many ...

Great video John. Well done and looking forward to others!

Thanks John. A very good summary of all aspects of George's songwriting themes. I like some of his early songs, but I agree, it took him a while to become more fully distinguished.

Pisces fish deserves a shout. To my mind, George is a close second to John as a lyricist. I think his brainwashed song is the height of irony but he was in very deep.

I love Any Road and the video is awesome, too!

Nice breakdown of George’s lyrics and the very different direction (apart from the love songs) he took as a solo artist. Of course, he wrote several brilliant songs as a Beatle that displayed his increasing creativity but even then, he was always very much under appreciated compared to John and Paul. It’s easy to understand why he would have felt stifled in that role. I loved the Beatles as a group but frankly, by the time they broke up, George had more to offer on his own. As a George fan from the beginning, I felt somewhat vindicated at the triumph that ATMP turned out to be. The songs sound as vibrant and timely today as when I first heard them. The more I listen to his solo albums, the more I fall in love with them. (Songs like ‘What Is Life’ and ‘Who Can See It’ are just a few of my many favorites). Something in the combination of George’s lyrics, his outlook on life, his musicianship, his voice…blends together so beautifully that I never get tired of hearing him. I thorough enjoyed your commentary and reading of the lyrics. George was a very gifted artist and I love finding other people who feel the same way.

"Be here now" wonderful lyrics."Run of the mill" is incredible lyrically, im pleased you pointed it out. "This is love" too has some of my favourite lyrics. "Since our problems have been our own creation they also can be overcome when we use the path provided, free to everyone" Good video John. I enjoyed it. Thank you.

@graniterhythm53

3 жыл бұрын

Freud would have something to say about the opening lyric of 'Run Of The Mill' - not everyone does have choice, too damaged!!

Fantastic video John! , I'm surprised you didn't mention Something

Well done as usual John..

I really like the lyrics of "That's the Way It Goes". I'd never heard it before "Concert for George", but it's a nice bit of social commentary combined with McCartney "characters"

Thank you John for your overview. It's amazing having those two great poets, George & John in the same band. Tho I think George appeared to be a bit more versatile than John. "You know you pick me up From where some try to drag me down And when I see your smile Replace every thoughtless frown Got me escaping from this zoo Baby, I'm in love with you I'm so glad you came here, it won't be the same now When I'm with you If I grow up I'll be a singer Wearing rings on every finger Not worrying what they or you say I'll live and love and maybe someday Who knows, baby, you may comfort me" Old Brown Show (released 1969)

"Something" is one of the most beautiful love song ever written. Some other not mentioned that really get me as well are "Be here now", "Not Guilty" (the Anthology version is better), "Circles", "When we was fab" (a nice recollection of Beatlemania) and "It don't come easy"

@1nelsondj

3 жыл бұрын

'Blow Away' is another favorite of mine that wasn't mentioned.

@Notalloldpeople

3 жыл бұрын

Be here now is stunningly brilliant and very few people know if it

Great subject

I know the tune is similar but 'My Sweet Lord' is sufficiently different to be a distinctive song. There should never have been a court case.

@patrickthomas8890

3 ай бұрын

What?! It was the exact same melody!

@keddw

3 ай бұрын

It's a subjective thing. To me it is distinct, certainly not 'exact same melody' @@patrickthomas8890

On 'My Sweet Lord' "Rather than the Chiffons song, he said he used the out-of-copyright Christian hymn 'Oh Happy Day' as his inspiration for the melody." Wikipedia I like George's nature songs the best, 'All Things Must Pass,' 'Here Comes the Sun', 'Blow Away'. It puts our little human problems into a bigger frame. Yes he was a flawed person, a man that spent a lot of time following spiritualism but was also into racing cars and airing grievances in some songs. 'Not Guilty' is a favorite of mine, clearly he was annoyed about his small allotment of songs on each Beatles album. Shame it didn't make The White Album.

@MrDpbazan1955

3 жыл бұрын

I still can't hear the similarity of He's So Fine & My Sweet Lord. I'm not saying there isn't one. Technically perhaps. But not to my ear. However, I have thought Day Tripper to be a second version of Satisfaction. They really all ought not sue one another. Not one person, I'm sure, in the whole of life ever said: I was just about to buy He's So Fine but having just heard My Sweet Lord- I'm getting that instead!

@patrickthomas8890

3 ай бұрын

@@MrDpbazan1955It’s the exact same melody. He deserved to be sued and pay. It went way beyond being an inspiration and was flat out stealing.

George was quite alike in many respects líke John. His songs were more personal, unlike Paul who would write about fictional subjects.

Here Comes the Sun is actually about all the business things that were going on at the time and then him not showing up to one of the meetings to go jam with Eric

I think the lyrics of Lovr you too on Revolver are great. Surprised you didn't discuss that one.

George was a qualified Beatle. Do you want to know a secret? Quite tremendous. He sang if not wrote. Taxman was so strong it didn't matter if he was right miffed. Here Comes The Sun & Something as good as it gets for any Beatle song. The Beatles emphasized all four members as lead vocalists and song writers. A true group. George had it (relatively!) rough as a Beatle. As an original member he felt relegated, along with Ringo, to being a "side man." What tho would Ringo care? Joining late as he did. I don't buy Got My Mind Set in You as a quite actual George number. More like Jeff Lynne business. Although a very enjoyable thing to hear. Yes. George auditioning on the top level of a city bus for John. And so history gets made. Hard to take in it's all so very long ago now.

Are you going to do a world Cup Knockout of the solo albums like me and Andrew Dixon?

On Devils Radio he said "Don't be a broadcaster" inspired him to write it from the church billboard.

I would think if someone would have pointed the similarities to the song She's So Fine would have been his producer Phil Spector! That being said My Sweet Lord is the finer song. Also it is ironic in light of George's later complaint about the material world he was the penny pincher in the band and more aware of their earning in the band when he wrote Taxman.

Great stuff John enjoyed it need to check Paul’s your 1st review for me George wrote to the two best tracks on abbey road yes the others had merit here comes the sun for me could and soon have followed something /come together has a single it’s brilliant also loved it’s all too much /only a northern song has its moments thought what is life was also class again For me another single great stuff John enjoyed it

Thanks for the review of the Dark Horse- George Harrison. Is there any chance that you could review the Travelling Wilbury albums (Volumes 1&3 )? Enjoying your videos. Keep up the good work.

You skipped It’s all too much from yellow submarine…love it

With such an extensive collection.of songs you were never going to do GHs catalogue justice in such a short video. Should have split it in two at least and taken Extra Texture as the breakpoint. But interesting analysis.

How can you discuss “Here Comes the Sun” but ignore “Something”, one of George’s greatest songs? Extraordinary oversight.

@johnheaton5667

3 жыл бұрын

‘Something’ of course a masterpiece...just didn’t come to mind lyrically when i did the video

@jasonbrooks6562

3 жыл бұрын

@@johnheaton5667 There's that word masterpiece again!🤭. Thesaurus sorely needed.

I've always thought that "Don't Bother Me" was a superb dark rocker.

Don't Bother Me I find superior to most all of his songs "This Song" was his angriest-"There's nothing bright about it"-Bright Tunes inc. owned He's So Fine! Bobby Whitlock tried to warn him but he wouldn't listen- (years later he said it was Oh Happy Day he was unconsciously lifting.) It's not that "he didn't flourish as a Lyricist" while he was a Beatle, HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO! even Paul now admits that George came up spontaneously with the intro riff to And I Love Her while they were sitting there ready to record it and realized the had no way to start it!

It always struck me that Simply Shady was about George’s affair with Maureen. It’s certainly an incident that was rarely addressed, in public anyway, except by John (who else) and knowing how close George and Ringo were, it must have a source of deep regret to him. Mind you, Ringo wasn’t exactly a paragon of virtue and I remember Maureen describing him as “a sodding great Andy Capp!”

@Notalloldpeople

3 жыл бұрын

Very obviously about little willow but also covers the coldness of his relationship with Patti

Re My Sweet Lord; during playback after one of the takes & with most if not all the musicians listening ,, at the conclusion a Bobby Whitlock who played & did back up vocals with George , stood up with an instant reaction & said “it sounds similar to that chiffons song” and he said “ it all went quiet” ,,, you mention that no one pointed this out during the recording but it was and you can hear bobby state this on one of his yt clips . Your evaluation that George got better after the Beatles & point out All Things Must Pass as the first example of this is not accurate at all ,, cause most of those songs were written during his time with the Beatles and some of them were rejected by the Beatles . So George had fully matured as a lyricist and continued on from there once the Beatles broke up. You do a fine job and I think anyone would get tripped up on Beatle facts etc.

I always "the inner light".

Hi John, you should do a video on your thoughts on McCartney III now it’s been a few months. Have your views changed?

@MIB_63

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe you overlooked this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/lJ2VsLyPgZW7fKg.html

Nice video. Could you review any Nick Drake album

I think Brainwashed could have his best lyrics

think my sweet lord as George said is more like the old roalty free spiritual song When Jesus wwalked!

As Lennon & McCartney had shares in Northern Songs they made more from George’s songs than he did. So it’s only a northern song, what do I care.

@gailg2327

4 ай бұрын

George and Ringo became millionaires from Paul and John’s songs as early 63-64. So are they complaining!

Very thespian

You got a B for that assignment!? You should've gotten an A! That is preposterous

You forgot old brown shoe

I never never never read lyrics. In fact, I avoid doing so like avoiding the plague. Less is more. If there's words or a phrase which you can't quite make out, the gobbledegook your imagination invents to fill the gap is always better and much more satisfying anyway. Because of this I could only watch the first few minutes of your video and then had to stop to protect my enjoyment in the future. I don't wanna know. After all, if for example you were contemplating a sculpture in a museum or gallery, surely you wouldn't want the management providing you with a diagram, or the sculptor whispering in your ear telling you what he/she thinks their work 'means' (and they wouldn't really know, anyway). The words of lyrics are best as abstract texture. Trying to intellectually 'own' art only diminishes it. Oompah oompah stick it up your jumper.

@MrDpbazan1955

3 жыл бұрын

I do agree. But fortunately never remember what anyone says about lyrics or actual lyrics themselves. Plus, I sense my take must be right! I just saw Satisfaction lyrics. They got it wrong! Even if Mick Jagger himself did write it, then he got it wrong! My buddy he can't be a man if he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me! That's what I've been hearing for 56 years.

@jamesgriffithsmusic

3 жыл бұрын

Your position seems to be 'I'm not interested in what people have to say, and furthermore, no-one else should be either'.

George was hit and miss “I look at the floor/And I see it needs sweeping”…ugh

Taxman is the only Beatles song that is disgusting lyrically. Ya, if you’re making millions you should be taxed very high on the top part of your earnings. The whole situation with wealth inequality now is almost entirely driven by decreased taxing of the rich.

Dylan 1970 set is a big disappointment, can’t hardly hear George on any track just a bit of guitar here and there