Here Comes the Sun
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| “Here Comes the Sun” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by The Beatles | ||
| Album | Abbey Road | |
| Released | 26 September 1969 | |
| Recorded | 7 July-19 August 1969 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:05 | |
| Label | Apple Records | |
| Writer | George Harrison | |
| Producer | George Martin | |
| Music sample | ||
| 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 best-known Beatles contributions alongside "Something", originated from 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". 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.
Harrison stated in The Beatles Anthology:
| “ | "Here Comes The Sun was written at the time when Apple was getting like school, where we had to go and be businessmen: '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 was going to sag off Apple and I went over to Eric Clapton's house. The relief of not having to go see all those dopey accountants was wonderful, and I walked around the garden with one of Eric's acoustic guitars and wrote Here Comes The Sun".[1] | ” |
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.
This song was originally proposed by Carl Sagan to be part of the Voyager Golden Record sent to space in 1977. While the Beatles agreed with this, Sagan was unable to form a definite agreement with Apple Records prior to the spacecraft's launch date.
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[edit] Cover versions
The song was covered by reggae artist Peter Tosh and released as a hit single; another popular Jamaican version was released in 1971 by singer and producer Rupie Edwards on his Success label. Additionally, American folk singer Richie Havens saw his 1971 version reach #16 in the U.S.
The most successful UK cover was by Steve Harley 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. It had been recorded on 19 November 2001 - just 10 days before the death of writer George Harrison. A recent cover (instrumental) by Bill Laswell appears on the album OHM Shanti by Asana (2005), and on the album Una Guitarra, Un Sentimiento (2005) by classic Latin guitar master Pedro Guasti. The pop/rock singer Paul Monday (aka Gary Glitter) also recorded the song and issued it as a single in 1969. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have also covered the song.
The song was also performed by George Harrison and Paul Simon in a televised appearance on Saturday Night Live, in 1976.
Acen sampled the song for the Breakbeat Hardcore track "Close Your Eyes," but copyright issues led to its removal from some releases.
The Punkles did a Punk cover of this song on their fourth Album "For Sale".
Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora also performed the song as a tribute to Harrison after his death.
Voodoo Glow Skulls recorded a cover of this song for their album Who Is, This Is?.
American idol finalist Brooke White, sang her version of this song during the American idol top 11 show. She recorded a version which is available on iTunes for a limited time.
[edit] Movies
This song was used in the 1998 version of The Parent Trap. In the film, mother and daughter re-enact the cover of Abbey Road while "Here Comes the Sun" plays.
A cover version performed by Sheryl Crow, plays at the end of Bee Movie. The song comes up in the final sequence and continues to play into the credits.
[edit] Credits
- George Harrison: lead and rhythm acoustic guitar; lead and background vocals; Moog Synthesizer and harmonium and handclaps.
- Paul McCartney: bass, backing vocals and handclaps.
- Ringo Starr: drums, backing vocals and handclaps.
- Orchestrated and conducted by George Martin (with George Harrison).
[edit] Notes
- ^ Beatles, The (2000). The Beatles Anthology. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 339. ISBN 0-8118-3636-3.
[edit] External links
- Review from the All Music Guide
- Alan W. Pollack's analysis of Here Comes the Sun
