Jim’s prompt for today is "Long, Short, Small, Tall," and my choice is The Beatles’ "Long, Long, Long."
George Harrison wrote this on the band’s trip to Rishikesh, India to study under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968. He had just recommitted himself to playing the guitar after a couple of years spent mastering the sitar, and was especially inspired by Bob Dylan’s album Blonde On Blonde, the only record he brought with him on the trip. George experienced a musical "growth spurt" while he was in India; Wikipedia tells us "Donovan, the Scottish singer-songwriter who joined in the Beatles’ musical activities in Rishikesh, recalled that Harrison played both sitar and guitar at the ashram and was developing a style of music that became ‘the finest spiritual sound’." The chord changes in the song were based on those from Dylan’s "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands," and its laid-back arrangement shows the influence of The Band’s Music From Big Pink.
Reviews were generally mixed, with some saying it was one of the best songs on the album, while others being totally underwhelmed by it. While at first you get the impression that he’s addressing a woman, George said he was addressing God.
The lyrics are from Genius:
How could I ever have lost you
When I loved you?
It took a long, long, long time
Now I’m so happy I found you
How I love you
So many tears I was searching
So many tears I was wasting, oh, oh
Now I can see you, be you
How can I ever misplace you?
How I want you
Oh, I love you
You know that I need you
Oh, how I love you
That’s Song Lyric Ssunday and Song of the Day for February 21, 2021.
I never heard of this song before and my mom is a HUGE Beatles fan. Well, she didn’t like a lot of Harrison’s stuff a, maybe that is why she skip this song. (My mom loooooooooooooooooooove John though.)
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It comes after “Helter Skelter” on the white album, not the best place to put it…
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Yes George had a different writing style to Paul and John but it was still excellent. I loved this song ☺️
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George’s songwriting was more spiritual than the other two, although he could be very funny, with songs like “Crackerbox Palace” and “When We Was Fab.” He was more of an introvert than the other two, who seemed to be in a perpetual battle to see who could write more songs. He was a tremendous musician…
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Thanks John. Jim just did a great write up today on Harrison’s Blue Jay Way. Check it out if you can.
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I just did. Oddly, it’s one of my favorite Fab Four songs…
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Soooo perfect for this prompt. I thought of “Long and Winding Road” but didn’t do it. I love George and feel he had his own special talent. It was just overshadowed by Paul and John. Great choice! 🙂
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George’s talent as a songwriter developed later than Paul’s and John’s. It wasn’t really until “Revolver” that they let him write more than one song per album. Paul and John thought of him as the “kid brother” more than anything, and he ended up saving a lot of his songs and not sharing them. He offered “All Thimgs Must Pass” and “Sour Milk Sea,” which eventually ended up on his first solo album (a three-record set). Glad you enjoyed it!
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🙂 I certainly did.
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I’m in the love it camp. Of course George is my favorite Beatle too. The idea of him singing to God is that much more special.
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His songs had a maturity and depth that Paul’s and John’s didn’t. I think going to India had more of a profound effect on him than the others.Glad you liked my pick!
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I work with people who spent time in India. The same effect could be said for them too. Some said it was life changing.
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George was a very spiritual person. Nice choice John.
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Thanks! George was definitely a special person.
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Nice song and thank you for the backstory.
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Wikipedia is great! Thanks!
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Most welcome!
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Such a great song….George was the best ! 💜
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He was. He’s the only one I can listen to for any length of time and nit get bored…
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Yes he is so good, or was 💜
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In my book- ‘Long, Long, Long’- an overlooked gem from George.
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It’s tucked away on side 3 with “Birthday,” “Yer Blues,” “Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey,” and “Helter Skelter,” a bunch of loud and rambunctious songs with which it doesn’t fit.It’s easy to miss.
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Doesn’t matter who he’s addressing – this is such a moving song. And the first time I’ve ever heard it.
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It is, and I’m glad you liked it!
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Good call!
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Likewise! 🤣
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Great song. I love the background info.
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Hooray for Wikipedia! Thanks!
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Ah but you took the time to look it up. 🙂
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This is a new song to me, John. I enjoyed it and it made more sense to me that he might be addressing God. I guess we will never know for sure. Thanks for posting this one. It has a familiar feel even though I never recall ever hearing it before tonight.
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He pretty much came out and said it was about God. He wrote it while they were in Rishikesh, which was like a retreat for him. Glad you liked it!
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