Georges son was attending classes at Brown University in Providence Rhode Island. I was on my way to work and stopped to get a coffee at a shop there. As I walked in to get a coffee I noticed George sitting in a booth with another person. I wanted to go over and just thank him for the great music and memories. But I restrained myself and respected his privacy. On my way out our eyes locked George nodded and smiled. It’s a cherished memory that I will always have! George was a beautiful spirit and a fantastic musician.It’s sad that he suffered so much in his last years.Love You Mr.Harrison.

I think George's accomplishments alone is enough for him to be considered one of the greatest artist of all time.

I AM team George - all the way. He wrote probably the greatest three Beatles songs, Here Comes the Sun, Something and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Brilliant doesn't even begin to say it. I loved him since I was 9 and I love him still.

George's contributions to The Beatles are and always will be greatly appreciated by all Beatle Fans.

And yet - one of the most heartfelt "tribute" songs ever written is George's tribute to John, "All Those Years Ago." It makes me cry every single time.

George was my favorite Beatle, he was quiet, after left the Beatles, going out on his own, brought his music into the limelight . He was different. Singing songs from his heart.😊

George is my favorite. Love that his song is the most streamed on Spotify

George was more tender hearted, more spirituality evolved. Many in today's world would say he was weak. I say he was closer to God. 🙏💖🙏

Having watched several performances of George Harrison with "The Traveling Wilburys" I had the impression that George H was enjoying that time more than as a "Beatle".

This is info we've come to know, after the fact. And it is sad in retrospect. We feel for George, and Ringo ,too. I think the ambitious McCartney & Lennon were so dominated by the machine they helped to create, which included the pressures to prolong the group's hit machine, the PR demands, and their attention to friends, lovers, hobbies, touring...etc., we're blinding to say the least. George finally did come into his own, and in that, we can truly take some comfort.

Don't Bother Me is a very fine song! When I heard it back in 1964-65, it stood out! Harrison gave depth to The Beatles!

I can't believe George didn't have confidence. He wrote some amazing songs, and I think he helped start the Traveling Willburys. Very talented!!

Even though George should've gotten more credit with the other three,I like George talking about Paul later on in the 80's being asked about his then current relationship and feelings towards Paul being off,he clapped back"I don't care what anybody says about Paul and I being at each other.Weve been friends since grade school and no one is gonna tell me we aren't now because him and I will always be friends no matter what anyone says".So outside of the music,they normally got along fabulously enough that he came across really meaning that.They used to hitchhike together in their teens.Paul did always look out for George,in the group should have been more,obviously,but overall,likewise,they were connected forever,like brothers.I loved that he shrugged off the"battle with Paul"idea that everyone was suggesting at the time.Musically,he was not always happy with Paul,but life for George,and all four,really goes way beyond music.Im happy for George being astute enough to understand that.

One of my VERY FAVORITE songs he did was the Beatles TAXMAN. His superb singing and guitar playing REALLY came to light.

I can understand how George must have felt! He was so underrated! I love his songs and videos! From "Here Comes The Sun" to "Something" to "My Sweet Lord" to songs he co-wrote with Ringo! And I also love his songs with Indian influence! George needed to speak up and tell Paul how he felt! George and I were alike in many ways and that's why he was my second favorite! George was the quiet Beatle and so am I! George expressed his feelings in his songs! I surely appreciated that! Long live George in songs!

George produced some superb stuff and recognition of his songs dawned very late for many people. Additionally, his and Ringo's instrumental contributions to a hell of a lot of songs, even from the early days, were an essential part of their success. The sum of their parts was always greater than the separate - that chemistry was magical!

George was by far my favorite Beatle. In the 60’s when The Beatles came onto the music radar George’s guitar stood out to me. As I got older, George’s songs made more sense to me. I was entering puberty by the time The Beatles broke up, I bought George’s All Things Must Pass, mainly because the song All things must pass helped me deal with my Mother passing in June 1970. When the album and the song came out in December it spoke to me. As Beatle solo careers took off it was George Harrison and John Lennon’s solo careers I followed the most. Paul’s stuff just did not appeal to me. Ringo liked being on the funny side.

This is absolutely brilliant !! I always thought the lyrics were caustic, but now i look at them in a new way. George Harrison was by far the most thoughtful of the songwriting Beatles!!

George wasn't as prolific as Paul and John but he created some gems. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "I Need You", and "If I Needed Someone" are among my favorites.

George wrote some great songs, that were my favorite songs of all time. "Here comes the Sun" "All things must pass" "Wile my guitar Gently Weeps" all of his songs were so wonderful!

Out of all the Beatles George Harrison was BY FAR my favorite Although he was nicknamed THE QUIET one because of his laid back demeanor there was nothing quiet about the way he sang and played guitar. His slide guitar playing was phenonemal.

Magnificent review of George’s song AND personality!

I think McCartney felt responsible for driving the band forward and ensuring the quality of the product they were producing. He was (or felt he was) the most sophisticated composer they had and this led him to value John's musical input and turn a deaf ear to George's songs and choices. The pressure to keep turning out hit songs was immense for them. The success on a scale they never dared to dream. You climbed a cliff face, got really high. Keep climbing or fall off, success can turn so quickly into a fall and a messy outcome. The guys were so graceful they got out at the right time, bruised but intact. George was full of grace, spirituality and insight, he leapt (acted) at the perfect time.

George's sense of humor and way of expressing things is just brilliant - he is no less a musical genius than Ringo, John and Paul ♪ ♫

When George put out All things must pass it was a real breath of fresh air.!! It showcased a side &talent of George we never saw with the Beatles !!

Brilliant analysis. I guess George is smiling up there, that you did him justice.

I was 11 years old when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. My Dad called me in to watch them knowing I loved their music. I always gravitated to George an Ringo's songs even tho all the songs were great. Needless to say I became a Professional Musician and made a living for over 45 years doing so. With all that said I have to say I busted up laughing when you played Northern Song with your rendition of lyrics, soo true. Thanks for your excellent assessment of an obvious (to me) tumultuous Era for the Beatles. Their loss of Epstein was more difficult emotionally than even they could admit. Carry on my Good Man, you Rock!! I always thought " Don't Bother Me" was one of the best songs on that album. Still do, great hook, great harmonies, great beat! RIP George!

This is the best and most predictable insight of how the Beatles worked together that fans have been waiting for. An intelligent description of how each band member viewed themselves and others is a remarkable eye opener, especially in the case of George’s unsurpassed talents being completely ignored was a devastating loss to the Beatles and the musical world, forever.

The rarest of gems is the rock group where all the players get along.

Always liked this tune, never understood why a lot of people say its one of their worst.

@James Hargreaves Guitar - I loved this essay. I'm not sure I agree with all of your observations but I love your take on the relationship between Harrison and McCartney. Thanks for an awesome and thought provoking watch! I particularly loved your closing statement of not taking sides. I feel the same way! I don't think you need to dislike the others just because one is your favourite! Thank you, sir!

Paul and John's egos grew faster and larger than George and Ringo's did. I'm sure that contributed to how George felt excluded or minimalized. In a way, "The Beatles" as a rock and roll phenomenon was probably over for them as a tight unit by the end of '65. It's a shame they never really got their cards on the table. Maybe if they'd had, The Beatles would have had a longer career together. I think your assessment of this song is spot on. Even back when it was released, I thought something was rong, but as a little kid, I couldn't suss out what it was. I think you nailed it.

Another Harrison composition..."Long, Long, Long", from 'The Beatles', (also known as 'The White Album"), is another hidden Harrison gem. I'm not usually a fan of Beatles covers, from other bands...but there is one of this track, that is absolutely gorgeous. A father and daughter harmony duet, that is fantastic. It is listed on KZfaq as, "Long, long, long" A tribute to George Harrison, with the name Stanley Samuelson as the poster. Give it a listen...you won't be disappointed.

Very interesting analysis. While the vast majority of the song is likely directed to John and Paul, I believe some of it may be directed towards George Martin who also neglected Harrison throughout the Beatle years. I recall reading an interview where Martin specifically mentioned that he didn't like Northern Song. I also recall reading that Martin apologized to Harrison (long after the breakup) for neglecting and under-rating his talent.

The best musical analysis I have ever watched. The bar is set very high here. Was George in the wrong band? From the suffering he underwent, undoubtedly yes, nobody 'deserves' such pain and torment. But as a bequest to us, to history, to music itself? Who knows if he would ever have written his greatest works without going through the nightmare of humiliation and deprecation that he endured. From a songwriting perspective, judging from what was mercilessly rejected and ignored, it doesn't look as if George's contribution could be characterised as being the stubborn piece of 'grit in the oyster' that filled the Fab Four's catalogue with most of its dazzlingly precious pearls. But turned the other way round, it definitely looks as if Paul and John were the grit in George's songwriting oyster. He has enough pent-up frustration and bitterness to write an endless succession of songs which are outpourings of resentment, misery and grief. Misery is a powerful muse. His voice and lyrics are mostly laced with tragedy and regret. But let's not forget that his writing, whilst it was most often systematically held back from making its mark on the Beatles' legacy and contributing to their success, his guitar playing was not. He was one of the most influential musicians who ever lived. Great songwriting and distinctive vocals, as crucial as they were to making the Beatles the Beatles, were still only part of the recipe: if George Martin's contribution was crucial as arranger and producer, as 'the fifth Beatle' that did so much to make the Beatles sound the way they did, then George's guitar was no less important to a sound where the uniqueness of the tunes, singing and lyrics just can't be separated from the signature inventiveness of the production and instrumentation. The trials and tribulations of George are an 'agony and ecstasy' story and perhaps we need to temper our delight at his incomparably uplifting gifts to us with more than a bit of guilt about how we are the beneficiaries of great suffering. Thanks George, as far as we are all concerned, it was definitely worth it and you deserved much better.

I think that musically, "Only A Northern Song" belongs along side "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields". It's a great psychadelic song!

I think Don't Bother Me is more than an OK song. It is a pretty catchy song with downbeat lyrics instead of the happy ones that Lennon and McCartney were writing. It is enough of a good song to encourage George by saying what else do you have George in the way of songs. The songs he contributed of Help, Rubber Soul and Revolver are worthy to be on Beatles albums. Although George did receive some help with Taxman I think it is his first song that rose to the level of the best of what Lennon & McCartney produced. Then in the last part of The Beatles recording career he really blossom. He produced two of the best songs on Abbey Road. I often joke that All Things Must Past was George's I'll show them album. lol :)

I think this was an almost flawless analysis of their interactions. Great job, loved every minute of it.

George was always my favourite Beatle for all these reasons but mainly for his songs.

In the Get Back documentary you never see any friendly chat between George and Paul and yet George makes the brilliant contribution to the song Get Back by suggesting it should slow down and build up again which absolutely lifts the song. Plus, how much more mature is George's song All things must pass compared to the twee tin pan alley of the thematically similar acceptance of change Let it be.

This and Its All Too Much are by far the best songs George wrote whilst in The Beatles. Re OANS, its been widely accepted that George wrote this after finding out that his songs were published through Northern Songs by default, and that as an owner of Northern Songs to the tune of 0.5%, he was pretty much employed as a staff writer, while Lennon/McCartney and Dick James were getting rich from his songs. It was one of the things that led him to push Harrisongs, and begin writing much more than he had been. As a songwriter, a lot of people think that L/Mc were the two who pushed The Beatles into new territories, and that an album like Sgt Pepper was groundbreaking, but I'd make a case that it was George who pushed further than the others; Within You Without You broke completely new territory that had never been heard before. Who else had *ever* written a pop song specifically for Indian instruments, and then had it orchestrated with a classical arrangement? Those three worlds had never met so effectively until George put them together. John and Paul were the better songwriters, but George did things his own way.

I know this is bad news for Beatles fans, but I think you nailed it. George and Paul were friends as kids, but George grew to dislike Paul. Paul's personality was like a fingernail on a blackboard to George. You can clearly see this in his many snide, mocking comments about Paul in TV interviews of the 70s and 80s.

Whew, this video was a real eye opener, I never realized it all like this. I read in May Pang's book that George slapped John because he was so frustrated. Maybe that's why George turned to spiritual things more intensely, to better deal with his frustration. Thanks for your effort!

This was an excellent outline. Yes, George did graduate as a great writer. He dominates Abbey Road with the two best songs.

"All the way through he has both Lennon (on glockenspiel) and McCartney (on trumpet) creating an ungodly racket on top os his song from start to finish"

The exact same thing happened with the Rolling Stones, where the band began to revolve around Mick Jagger and Keith Richards due to their song writing and production talents, with the other members (Jones, Watts, and Wyman) relegated to a supporting role. Bill Wyman writes about this in his book, "Stone Alone" where he said Jagger and Richard looked upon Bill's efforts at song writing as little more than a "hobby", not to be encouraged or taken seriously. Brian Jones feared he would be ridiculed if he presented a song to the group that he had written. Wyman thought that Keith Richards actively undermined Brian Jones' self confidence. Mick Taylor quit the group after five years when his contributions to some of their songs were not acknowledged, when he was promised they would be. Many rock groups had internal conflict when it became apparent that the big money was in song writing royalties. Credence Clearwater Revival is perhaps the worst example!

I loved Don't Bother Me the first time I heard it in 1964. Still love it. The instrumental track is quite thrilling.

I think this is something that from very beginning, was inevitable. George was an amazingly talented musician and song writer. I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must have been to have his creativity restrained in such a manner.

WONDERFUL and BEAUTIFUL:: sensitive, intelligent, informative, personal, hugely human and relatible...maybe the best Beatle review I've EVER heard. Brings together the essence of their souls and mine, I ME MINE !!!, .... just like their music did......bravo sir.... take a bow.

Great analysis. I’m a huge fan of George’s songs and this is no exception. For some reason people tend to only recognize George’s Abbey Road tracks but I think all of his stuff was great. He brought his own flavour into the Beatles idiom with a mildly sardonic wit that perfectly complimented Paul’s sweetness and John’s rebelliousness.

At first I was a die hard Lennon fan on his use of lyrics and word play and makes you think about yourself and society. Then I enjoyed Paul’s songs as it was very much about love and the person you love. Then I started listening really listened to George’s song and now I’m a super fan of his.

"Only A Northern Song" was admittedly one of my least favorite Beatles songs, but this video has made me view it in a more appreciative light. It's a very weird-sounding song, but what makes it all the more interesting is that there is a rather unfortunate story behind why it sounds the way it does. These analysis videos where you break down the meanings of songs were always some of my favorite content on your channel. Even if they involve a little speculation, I always come out of them feeling like I've learned something new.

Yes, he was a legend. And held the intellect to lampoon them - but it went right over their heads.

"The main thing is this: You have always been boss. Now I've been, sort of, secondary boss." This is the exact quote in 'Get Back' from Paul to John, not the other way around. John would never have said that to Paul.

This is terrific. I love James' insights into all this. They make absolute sense. Thanks for sharing.

A brilliant synopsis of Harrison's song! Its so George to get his frustrations out in this way. I always loved the ironic lyrics and dissonant sounds that are every bit a beatlesque sound! I like it even more now that you gave me a new appreciation for who it was directed at. I think I always thought it was railing against EMI. But now that I realize just how brutal the Lennon-McCartney team was on him, I see it like you do!

Really great deep dive into this number most overlook. George is a gas. I was a Beatle Nut and my father always brought home each record as they were released. Thanks!

I liked this song immediately. I liked the strangeness of Only a Northern Song. I only recently discovered that the song was a criticism of his band mates and the publishing company. I also heard that George Martin didn’t like the song, and that may have what ultimately nixed it from Sgt. Pepper. By 1966 George was writing one great song after another. Also on Yellow Submarine is It’s all Too Much, which is arguably one of the best underrated Beatles songs, and one that sadly got lost in the shuffle.

There are several points of disagreement here. In Only A Northern Song, my understanding was they were trying to get to the end of their EMI contract so they were purposely putting out less than stellar material, like Georges song. Makes sense. It's only a northern song, so sod it. Yes, John and Paul admitted they kept George down. Yet in some videos I've seen where they did give George a chance and George wasn't ready, didn't have a song title, and didn't know what to do. For instance when he was presenting Something, he was more or less begging Paul for help. And some of the suggestions were ludicrous. In his anger George often put down the great John and Paul, for thinking their songs were better. Which they were. You can't argue with that level of success. But they could have been kinder to him. That's how it is when you have a younger (pest) brother who thinks he's better than he is. John and Paul definitely knew what they were doing and they were reaching for the amazing success they had. George became a great writer and a much better guitarist. I love them all and they were all geniuses, regardless of what the general populace thinks.

I always wondered why there wen't very many songs written by Harrison and Starr actually their songs are some of my favorites I'm ashamed to admit I never knew how talented Harrison was until the Traveling Wilbury's where he shinned like the the star he was

What a great analysis! There really is much more to this song than I realised. Only A Northern Song would have been a perfect fit for Sgt Pepper as many of the songs deal with loneliness and this song is about loneliness within The Beatles.

Very intelligently spoken. Well done mate! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

George in the end showed he was just as great singer an song writer as a Beatle / solo artist. My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here Comes The Sun and Something and many songs. These songs were major hits for the Beatles!

wow, this really hits home. My first listen of northern song was summertime ~1971. I liked the song and played the record over and over. I noticed it was different and something odd or dark in it, but never knew what to say about it. I guess it was just over my head. Now, 50+ yrs later, i see your video and it totally makes sense. Thank you!

An outstanding summary! I was 16 when I first heard OaNS. Didn't quite "get it", just thought it went along with the album's concept. You've made perfectly good sense of it. Americans loved George because he was so humble. We also knew he was a very talented songwriter through his earlier efforts. Loved George and Ringo too. What's great about your summary is that you took us "full circle" and it can't get better than that. Thanks a whole lot! BTW, George came down here to Southern Illinois to visit his sister in Benton 50 years ago. His first solo LP was magnificent and awe inspiring. I'll always miss him. I only could wish someone would make a movie about him - thanks to you, there's a great story to be told about him. He deserved far more praise than he ever received. Thanks again.

Northern song was one of my favorites on the album. A real ear pleaser.

Don't Bother Me was one of my favorite songs on that album. I didn't realize George wrote it but it was great. I was disappointed that Paul didn't sing it on his Got Back tour. Now I know why.

Wow. I was a teen in the Beatles initial heyday, and though I liked this song, and was always kinda fascinated with George, I never even gave these lyrics much thought, other than knowing it was generally about songwriting. This deep dive into the song's lyrics and music is eye-opening, and it absolutely rings true. It also is a definitive example of George's eloquence as a songwriter. There's no denying the genius of the others, and I guess it's true that someone had to take charge of the group in Brian's absence lest they just wander off in a loose and messy collection of 4 different musical personalities. But imagine how even more prolific the Beatles would have been, if that's even possible, if Lennon and McCartney had included him a bit more in the creative process.

When George sings that the "harmony is a little dark and out of key", Paul stays on the tonic with the bass and George goes to other chord, actually making it sound out of key.

Most interesting! I never thought of this song like this; probably because I was so young when it was released (I must have been 14). I was thinking he (George) was just playing with words, and that he didn't want anyone to take the song too serious! Just playing around, cause he could! To me - it was Always obvious that Paul was different in how he wanted to produce music. I guess that's ok, but it wasn't how the rest of the band travelled. To me - they (each) were more about adding their Own specializations to the music. Paul wanted things His way! I'm Not a fan of Paul! I honestly think that George got it right! I. think he discovered that he was Really very talented! He always conveyed his thoughts and emotions. Great video!

All things must pass is the greatest Beatle album ;) I love the fact he overcame the dysfuntion and domination with great aplomb. He understood how great the music writing talent was , that he was up against, and the maturity of an equally great talent not to have squandered his chances by falling out trying to destroy what they had. A genius to comprehend the whole picture and subtly subvert the direction in order to bring about eventual blossoming of himself .

An extremely compelling analysis all the way around. I've always thought there was more to that song than it initially seems, and you did an excellent job of connecting the dots. Well done, sir!

I normally don't like videos with a lot of build up to the actual topic of the video, but this was really well done. Extremely interesting take on Only a Northern Song. Have never thought of it that way before. Happy to be a new subscriber!

Seeing similar tensions in the rehearsal room in multiple bands years ago came flashing back watching this. It was rather whimsical how this popped into my feed and I clicked on it. I'm not sure how I feel right now.

you my friend from across the pond are so interesting, i loved your discussion about Noel Gallagher and the suggestion of AI writing the title song, Council skies...your use of playing the chords. and referencing the actual previous releases was mind-blowing. up until that point i only knew Noel as a member of you know who....so to that end you turned me on to his solo work...which in turn made me go buy tickets for my daughter and myself to see him in Atlanta in 2023...but this is so well presented, its lucid, quite logical and allowed me who by the way am ( 62) to see something about the Beatles i kinda had heard but never really understood thank you SO MUCH!!..you rock my friend!!!

Spot on. I was a Beatles fan "back in the day" but the only stuff I still listen to now is George Harrisons. Quality that is lasting.

Fantastic video. You’ve done a great job!

From watching him on video clips I always enjoyed George’s sense of humor. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and taste. For me, some of my favorite Beatles songs were written by George, even from the early days; but also ones that I like the least were we written by him as well. I find it a little bit amazing how L/Mc could think that “while my guitar gently weeps” was anything other than a great song back when they were doing it. Oh well. I guess you had to be there. I Love George, and I miss him.

We can not forget that George” learnt” to write songs when he observed john and paul writing and playing songs. So he got off Beatles and played as a solo artist in the right moment after upgraded his musical habilities

Well done and very insightful. Thank you!

All I can think is how incredibly sad. Everyone wants to feel they are valued and George obviously felt like he wasn’t valued as an equal.

Like many people, when I first took up listening to the Beatles I gravitated toward John's music and others listen to Paul. But once I started really listening to the Beatles I found myself becoming a George fan. I found he was genuinely honest in everything he wrote. He meant it! He wasn't trying to impress anyone or even cared if his songs were popular. As a person he was quiet, not because he was shy, but because he only spoke when he felt he had something important to say. I was recently watching an old talk show known as "The Dick Cavett Show" and George was on, and he was asked by the host why he was so quiet and he stated exactly that! Now one might ask what was he doing on a talk show being George was not a public person and the reason was simple, he was promoting the album, "Concert for Bangledesh". George continued being like this his entire life.

I always thought Lennon and McCartney were over shadowing George and Ringo but don't get me wrong I loved the Beatles work. I always felt George had more to offer and his lead in gathering the other members together to do the Traveling Wilburys band one of my favorite albums. The affects of how George went out of his way to be sure to allow the other members contributions is another example of what he felt was the fair way to treat the band as a whole. So yes James you nailed it with this video.

I wonder when the last verse of "...Northern Song" was written and/or added to the song. If it was in 1967, Harrison could also be sending a cryptic signal (which Lennon & McCartney clearly missed). They lyrics say: "There's nobody there. And it told you there's nobody there," and in fact, Harrison was a good as gone from the group. So the lyrics, in a sense, could be saying ----- "I told you so; I told you I'd leave if you didn't start treating me with respect. You treated me like didn't exist -- like I wasn't there .... and now I'm not -- I'm gone (after the recording of this last album is done.)" --------- And THANKS, JH, for your brilliant insights into this song!

I’ve always loved George his songs were some of my favorites when he was with the Beatles

1. As I've already said, Beatles #1 streamed song = Here Comes The Sun, so eat crow J+P. Who had the last laugh? 2. On another note, thank you for posting this. Finally, another person who gets it! So many people who don't know shit about the Beatles posting all sorts of crap all over the internet. 3. I''ve always thought that on so many of those great Lennon-McCartney songs, it took as much talent, perhaps even more than the persons who actually wrote the songs, to come up with the extraordinary solos that George created. Coming up with 15 second solos that would fit into the songs just like a glove was quite the task. For so many of those songs, George's guitar parts were the icing on the cake and many a time, the most delicious part. 4. Love that chord sequence! Pure delight!

BRILLIANT ESSAY!! Well done, indeed!! Your level of insight is truly remarkable. Frankly, I've always admired George as the Beatle who wrote the band's TWO BEST SONGS: "Here Comes the Sun," and "Something." :)

Every band that I ever played in, fell prey to some version of this. I’d venture to say, keeping a band together is far more difficult than a marriage.

George is my favorite BEATLE. I never looked at the lyrics this way but, it makes sense. Damn!

I love The Beatles!!! Always have. I always thought of them as four brothers. who loved each other very much. And they acted like brothers. I think George being the baby brother was treated like that! John and Paul were the oldest and they figured they had total control as to how the band was going. They had a good thing writing all the songs that became hits. I think they were afraid that George might , as they say... upset the apple cart! 😅.They didn't realize his potential! He was getting really good at song writing but his two older brothers didn't realize it? Ringo did though! When John and Paul realized it, it was too late.. The band was becoming History. 🚶‍♂🚶‍♂🚶‍♂🚶‍♂

I'm 70 years of age and lived thru the Beatles era, and yes you are right, George was pushed out and struggled to get any of his songs on albums, although John and Paul wrote some huge hits I think they forgot about the other two.

Excellent analysis. I would add that last verse regarding "harmony" could have been a reference to harmony in the band as well. Also ironic in that L&M kept ignoring George throughout the Get Back video when the L&M offerings were so poor in comparison to their earlier work while George's eventual contributions on Abbey Road (recorded after Let It Be) virtually dominate their final release with the huge hits of "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun" while L&M song fragments are saved only through George Martin's genius production. (He truly was a "Fifth Beatle.").

John & Paul are reported to have said, around this time, "We could have been the Beatles without George and Ringo." But in their early Cavern/Hamburg history, George was widely, far & away recognized as the best stringman in the band, and they all knew they were going nowhere with Pete Best. George Invited Ringo to fill in on one of Best's numerous absences and all three, Paul, John, and George, glanced left and right at one another in shock at how ROCK steady, loud & clear, and creative Ringo's fills were. As George Harrison put it about his drummer friend, "Ringo's like me. He just listens to a song and finds the perfect part. He never practices. He's a very naughty boy." As is George, of course!

Eye opening and brilliantly presented. I am new to your channel and now a fan.

Excellent presentation, thoughtful comment and opinion. One aspect of The Beatles and their complex relationship that wasn't much mentioned is the fact that George Martin was not only their producer, but he was more or less the director and musical arranger for many of their songs. While they may have argued amongst themselves from time to time, he very apparently had final say in many, if not all cases. I think they really deferred to him. Like any other human being, he had his own biases, of course. You can tell he appreciated Paul musically the most, followed of course, by John, George and then Ringo. He was also very astute in understanding the relationships between the individuals in the band. According to all I've read, he was the one who vetoed "Only a Northern Song" for Pepper, and he also had something to do with an excellent song like "Not Guilty" never seeing the light of day for 27 years! One significant quote from him, what we call in the states "a left-handed complement", is when he said what a great song "Something" was, and that he "didn't know George had it in him!". WTF??? Can you blame George for wanting to quit?

Thanks for this post. Watched the whole thing from start to finish. Great realisations. The irony is that Only a Northern Song is better than All Together Now and Yellow Submarine. George's songs are so underrated. John Lennon would even refer to some of Paul McCartney's song's as granny music. When you listen and actually learn to play George's solo songs, some of them are so complex, more so than Lennon and McCartney. George was misunderstood, underrated and understated when he was actually the deepest one of them all followed by Lennon. Ringo is actually an amazing drummer with a typical drummers sense of humour but he's typically English meat and two veg. McCartney always reminded me of that Smurf that always walked around looking at himself in a hand held mirror. Can't deny his amazing song writing and his compassionate nature, especially towards animals, but being a musician myself I can imagine that he was really hard to work with. RIP George. Beautiful soul. Om Hare Om 🕉

I think you are spot on. Very well delivered and thought out monolog. While I love a lot of the Beatles music, my favorite songs of that band has ALWAYS been Harrison songs. I was alive for ALL of it and my feelings about this has not changed.

Very interesting perspective. When George walked out during Get Back he was also dealing with some issues at home, occupying his mind. George had the lead track on Revolver with Taxman. Paul played the solo and intentionally incorporated some elements of Indian music in the solo. George was struggling with the solo. In Get Back you see The Beatles working on All Things Must Pass and you see John trying to help him with the lyrics to Something - "Pomegranate" until he figures it out. The Beatles song with the most takes is Not Guilty at 102 takes from the White Album sessions. John Lennon's comments on George being sued for My Sweet Lord are interesting. Paul also helped George pass away in private in Los Angeles, California. In my opinion Paul gets far too much blame for too many things. I'm not saying he's blameless but after the Beatles ended both John and George often seemed to go overboard in making Paul look bad. Which leads me to my 2 final thoughts on this: in my opinion the beginning of this tension between Paul and George starts with LSD in 1966. Paul was reluctant to take it while John and George were using it and getting on Paul to join them. George said something about not being able to relate to Paul anymore because of his reluctance. One of the few Beatle songs that Paul did not play bass, guitar, or any instrument on was She Said, She Said. Paul left the studio after they had what he called "a barney". What's that song about? A LSD trip that John Lennon had. Finally, when Stuart Sutcliffe left the band they needed a bass player. Paul became the bass player because neither John or George wanted to do it. All criticism about Paul being bossy should also mention that he changed instruments for the benefit of the band. Also keep in mind that when the Beatles broke up I think Paul went into a state of depression. He isolated himself at that farm, he yelled at Ringo, he was drinking. To me it always seemed like he took the breakup the hardest. By contrast John and George quickly started recording new music, getting their solo careers up and running. Paul did too but it took him longer to get back int the groove.

George was personally my favorite Beatle. He seemed to keep his sense of humor in the midst of the hype.

To be honest, internal bickerings aside, I used to be a McCartney person when I was really young, but these days George Harrison songs are usually my favourites. Lennon songs could get a bit grating - especially from 1967 on - whereas McCartney ones tended to be a bit overworked at times - again, mostly in the late era. George simply wrote just-right, slightly understated perfect songs throughout.