- Published on 1969
- Author: Harrison
- Track 7 on “Abbey Road“
- Track 22 on “The Beatles 1967-1970” (Blue Album)
GEORGE 1980: “…written at a time when Apple was getting like school, where we had to go and be businessmen– all this signing accounts, and ‘sign this’ and ‘sign that.’ Anyway, it seems as if winter in England goes on forever; by the time spring comes you really deserve it. So one day I decided, ‘I’m going to sag-off Apple,’ and I went over to Eric Clapton’s house. I was walking in his garden. The relief of not having to go and see all those dopey accountants was wonderful. And I was walking around the garden with one of Eric’s acoustic guitars, and wrote ‘Here Comes The Sun.’”
About “Here Comes The Sun”
“Here Comes The Sun” was written by George Harrison and is one of his best-known compositions. Harrison wrote the song in early 1969 at the country house of his friend Eric Clapton, where Harrison had chosen to play truant for the day to avoid attending a meeting at the Beatles’ Apple Corps organisation. The lyrics reflect his relief at the arrival of spring and the temporary respite he was experiencing from the band’s business affairs.
The Beatles recorded “Here Comes the Sun” at London’s EMI Studios in the summer of 1969. Led by Harrison’s acoustic guitar, the track features a Moog synthesizer, which he had introduced to the band’s sound after acquiring an early model of the instrument in California. Reflecting the continued influence of Indian classical music on Harrison’s writing, the composition includes several time signature changes.
“Here Comes the Sun” has received acclaim from music critics. Combined with his other contribution to Abbey Road, “Something“, it gained for Harrison the level of recognition as a songwriter previously reserved for his bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney. “Here Comes the Sun” was the track used to promote the 50th anniversary reissue of Abbey Road in 2019. It peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart at that time and has since been certified double platinum for UK sales since 2010. As of 2021, it was the most streamed Beatles song on Spotify globally.
Harrison played the song during many of his relatively rare live performances as a solo artist, including at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 and, with Paul Simon, during his appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1976. Richie Havens and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel each had hit singles with “Here Comes the Sun” in the 1970s. Nina Simone, George Benson, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Peter Tosh and Joe Brown are among the many other artists who have covered the song.
Meaning of “Here Comes The Sun”
“Here Comes the Sun” is known for its optimistic and uplifting tone, and its meaning is often interpreted as a celebration of new beginnings, hope, and the arrival of better times.
The lyrics convey a sense of relief and joy, with Harrison expressing his happiness at the arrival of a new day after a long and cold winter. The phrase “Here comes the sun” is a metaphor for the emergence of positivity and warmth after a period of darkness and difficulty.
At the time of writing the song, George Harrison was experiencing a period of personal and creative growth. The composition of “Here Comes the Sun” coincided with a time when Harrison was feeling inspired and rejuvenated, which is reflected in the song’s cheerful and hopeful lyrics.
Overall, “Here Comes the Sun” is often seen as a song about embracing change, finding light in dark times, and looking forward to a brighter future. It has become one of the most beloved and enduring songs in the Beatles’ catalog, celebrated for its timeless message of optimism and renewal.
Personnel
The Beatles
- George Harrison – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, harmonium, moog synthesizer, handclaps
- Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass, handclaps
- Ringo Starr – drums, handclaps
Additional musicians
- Uncredited – four violas, four cellos, double bass, two piccolos, two flutes, two alto flutes, two clarinets
- George Martin – orchestral arrangement and conducting
