The Final Introspective Song Recorded by the Beatles Was Written About George Harrison’s Rampant Ego

The end of the Beatles was a tumultuous time. Many factors contributed to the band’s downfall, but one arguable force was their opposing egos. By the end of their tenure, each member of the group had their own reasons for wanting things to end. Paul McCartney had an iron claw around the creative process; John Lennon found himself at odds with his songwriting partner because of it; George Harrison’s songs were routinely shutdown by the former two members. We’re focusing on Harrison’s feelings prior to their breakup today.

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Harrison penned several timeless tracks for the Beatles. Notably, he penned the final song the Beatles ever recorded. Learn more about that track, below.

The Final, Debated Song the Beatles Recorded: “I Don’t Care If You Don’t Want It”

All through the day
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
All through the night

I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
Now they’re frightened of leaving it
Everyone’s weaving it
Going on strong all the time
All through the day I me mine

The final Beatles song ever recorded was “I Me Mine.” Influenced by his spirituality, Harrison wrote this track as a reflection on his rampant ego.

“Suddenly I looked around and everything I could see was relative to my ego, like ‘that’s my piece of paper’ and ‘that’s my flannel’ or ‘give it to me’ or ‘I am,’” Harrison once said. “It drove me crackers, I hated everything about my ego, it was a flash of everything false and impermanent, which I disliked.”

“The truth within us has to be realized,” he continued. “When you realize that, everything else that you see and do and touch and smell isn’t real, then you may know what reality is, and can answer the question ‘Who am I?’”

While Harrison’s spirituality was absolute, the rest of the band didn’t subscribe. So, when he brought this Beatles song to his bandmates, he was met with some resistance.

“‘I Me Mine’, it’s called,” Harrison said during the recording process. “I don’t care if you don’t want it… It’s a heavy waltz.”

His bandmates eventually gave in, recording this song for Let It Be. Revisit “I Me Mine,” below.

I me me mine
I me me mine
I me me mine
I me me mine

All I can hear
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
Even those tears
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine

(Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)