Here Comes the Sun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Here Comes the Sun" | ||
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| Song by The Beatles | ||
| from the album Abbey Road | ||
| Released | 26 September 1969 | |
| Recorded | 7 July-19 August 1969 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:05 | |
| Label | Apple Records | |
| Writer(s) | George Harrison | |
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |
| Music sample | ||
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"Here Comes the Sun" (file info) |
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| Abbey Road track listing | ||
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"Here Comes the Sun" is a song by George Harrison from The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road.
The song, one of Harrison's most well-known Beatles contributions alongside "Something," had its genesis with a songwriting collaboration between Harrison and close friend Eric Clapton called "Badge," recorded by Clapton's group Cream, and featuring an arpeggiated guitar riff that is similar to the one that forms the bridge of "Here Comes the Sun," the final version of which was written in Clapton's garden as Harrison was avoiding Apple Records meetings. 1969 was a difficult year for Harrison: he was arrested for cannabis possession, he had his tonsils out, and he had temporarily quit the band. The song was written while Harrison was away from all of these troubles.
It is widely believed the lyrics were inspired by the feeling Harrison got when he left the Abbey Road Studios during the Abbey Road sessions. At the time, the Beatles were working in grueling shifts to try to finish the album before their inevitable break-up. The phrase "here comes the sun" was about the relief that he felt every day when the day's recording session was over.[citation needed]
Harrison sang lead vocals and played acoustic guitar, moog, and handclaps. Paul McCartney sang backing vocals, played bass guitar, and handclaps. Ringo Starr played drums and handclaps. John Lennon did not contribute to the song as he was recovering from a recent car crash (he was also absent from George Harrison's "Long, Long, Long"). Unknown musicians played violas, cellos, double bass, piccolos, flutes, alto flutes, and clarinets.
Harrison capoed his guitar on the 7th fret, resulting the final key of A major. He also used the same technique on his 1965 song "If I Needed Someone," which shares a similar melodic pattern.
In 2006, "Here Comes the Sun" was voted by the members of the GeorgeHarrison.com forum as their favorite song of his.
The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery awoke to this track following the night-time launch on December 9, 2006. [1]
[edit] Cover versions
The song was covered by reggae artist Peter Tosh, and released as a hit single. Additionally, American folk singer Richie Havens saw his 1971 version reach #16 in the U.S. The most succesful UK cover was by Cockney Rebel who reached number 10 in 1976. Singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone also recorded the song on an album with the same title: Here Comes the Sun (1971). The German bandleader James Last also made a cover version, taking the style of the song sung by Richie Havens as a basis for a version sung on his Beachparty2 album in 1971. In 2002 Linda Eder covered this song as the first track on her Gold album. Recorded just ten days before the death of the writer George Harrison on Nov. 29th. A recent cover (instrumental) by Bill Laswell appears on the album OHM Shanti by Asana (2005).
Acen sampled the song for the Breakbeat Hardcore track "Close Your Eyes," but copyright issues lead to its removal from some releases.
[edit] External links
- Lyrics
- Review from the All Music Guide
- Alan W. Pollack's analysis of Here Comes The Sun
