3 Forever George Harrison Songs From His Years With The Beatles

When the Beatles broke up in 1970 after the release of their album Let It Be, perhaps no member of the group was as relieved as guitarist George Harrison. It seemed he had just had enough being the third banana in the band and he wanted to break out, stretch his wings, and do his own thing. Well, he got the chance to do that for sure.

But before the dissolution of the group, Harrison still had his moments when he shined. Here below, we wanted to explore three such examples. A trio of songs from Harrison that helped make the former Fab Four what they were. Indeed, these are three forever George Harrison songs from his years with The Beatles.

[RELATED: The Paul McCartney Diss Track John Lennon Recruited George Harrison To Play On]

“Here Comes the Sun” from Abbey Road (1969)

Both written and sung by George Harrison, this song seems to portend his future solo work. Reflective, meditative, and even philosophical, the track is sweet in its delivery but it also scratches the same type of itch a moment sitting in a quiet field with your eyes closed and legs crossed might satisfy. And that’s certainly the kind of music Harrison released in his years post the Fab Four. And on this track, he sings brightly,

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, it’s all right

Little darling
It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter
Little darling
It feels like years since it’s been here

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, it’s all right

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” from The Beatles (1968)

One of The Beatles’ most famous songs and likely Harrison’s as well, this song, which was written and performed as an ode to the guitar and the emotions it can both summon and shed from its player and those listening to it. Guitars with their six bendable strings often sound like they’re crying or weeping and Harrison summed up that feeling on this track from the group’s self-titled 1968 LP (also known as The White Album). Famously, guitarist Eric Clapton was featured on the track, playing the solos. And between those movements, Harrison sings,

I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don’t know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don’t know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you

“Taxman” from Revolver (1966)

Written and sung by Harrison, this track bemoans the governmental take of a person’s earnings. As they say, in life there are only two certainties: death and taxes. And on this track, Harrison rebels against the latter. The taxman will always be here to take off the top, rich or poor. And Harrison just needed to get his anger out about that in a buzzy electrified tune. On it, he sings,

Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
‘Cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman

Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
‘Cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman

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