"Here Comes The Sun" By The Beatles Video Showcase

"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 "Here Comes the Sun" was written in Clapton's garden as Harrison was avoiding Apple Records meetings. 1969 was a difficult year for Harrison: he was arrested for marijuana possession, he had his tonsils removed, 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. 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.

Read the Wikipedia article about Here Comes the Sun...

Photo author: Kim Scarborough from flickr.com