Frank Sinatra, in concert, referred to the song “Something” as the greatest love song written in 50 years. He then thanked his friends John Lennon and Paul McCartney for writing it. There are one or two things wrong with that statement. “Something” was not written by Lennon and McCartney; it was written by George Harrison. Frank eventually realized his mistake and began to attribute the song to George. (This blog is assuming that you are familiar withThe Beatles. If you’re not, you should be!)
Living in Laramie, Wyoming in the mid-1960s, I was aware of the whole “Paul is dead” scare. I remember thinking that it was ridiculous even at that young age. Supposedly, some radio stations were running Paul look-alike contests in an effort to help replace him with the band. Several of my friends thought that I should have sent in my older brother’s picture as a shoo-in for Paul. I figured that it was the hair that confused them. Hal looked like George, not Paul. (Ok, maybe you had to squint just a bit.)
Maybe that’s why, from an early age, George was my favorite Beatle. At the start, he was not much of a singer. Somewhere along the way, it became the thing that Ringo was allowed to sing lead on one song each per album. George was given two. And each tried their hands at writing. The story goes that Ringo would come in with a great song idea, only to be told that someone else had already written it and he’d just forgotten. Of course, George had his problem with “My Sweet Lord” sounding an awful lot like “He’s So Fine” written by Ronald Mack and recorded by The Chiffons.
You can track the ways in which George’s writing improved over time. He never reached the master tune-smith caliber of Paul, or the caustic edge of John, but he developed his own style and voice. My absolute favorite Beatles’ song was written by George: “While my Guitar Gently Weeps.” (But that’s another blog.)
This is about “Something.” As the lead guitarist for the band, George often let his guitar say as much, if not more than. his lyrics. Think about the bright, crisp acoustic guitar part in “Here Comes the Sun.” (Eric Clapton played the guitar solo for “While my Guitar Gently Weeps,” which is exactly what it did.) The legato line from the electric guitar conveys such longing in “Something.”
Originally, George had not even intended to sing the song. He was going to give it to another singer that he was producing through Apple. That fell through. Then, he gave the song to Joe Cocker, and produced the recording. He played the song for the band and their producer, George Martin, and they were not impressed. At first.
George Harrison persisted, and quickly the band and producer fell in love with the song. Paul has said that he took the simple bass line as George’s way of telling him that he thought Paul’s basslines were getting too florid. He also has said that this may have been the best song that George had ever written. George Martin praised the song for its beauty and simplicity. John Lennon said that it was the best song on the Abbey Roadalbum. Ringo Starr has praised the song saying that it ranks with the best of Lennon and McCartney. “Something” is the second most covered Beatles song, after “Yesterday.” (George’s favorite cover was done by James Brown.)
Patti Boyd, who was George’s wife at the time, has said that the song is about her. George denied that, saying that he had written the song about a woman and loving God in her.
You hear the first few notes of the guitar intro and you know what song this is. The melody starts out so simply. Only two notes in the first part of the first phrase. The chord structure also starts out quite simply. It is how the parts come together (a completely different Beatles’ song) that makes the magic.
There are so many different moods in this song. I have complained before about unnecessary key changes, but the key change in this song works. It makes sense. We start out singing about how something that our love does attracts us. Then, at the first rhythmic change, we get “I don’t want to leave her now.” Making a break from the first bit. Then comes the key change, asking the question: “Will my love grow?” And answering, “I don’t know,” as if it could not be possible to love her more.
Originally, this song ran for eight minutes. Thank goodness for editing, because they took it down to where it needed to be:
Something in the way she moves,
Attracts me like no other lover.
Something in the way she woos me,
I don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.
Something in her smile she knows,
That I don’t need no other lover.
Something n her style that shows me.
I don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.
You’re asking me will my love grow,
I don’t know, I don’t know.
You stick around now, it may show,
I don’t know, I don’t’ know.
Something in the way she knows,
And all I have to do is think of her.
Something n the things she shows me.
I don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.
I’ll be playing this song with a few of the others mentioned in this blog this week on my Minnich Music Facebook page, so check those out. And share any stories that you may have in the comments down below.
Until next time!
Living in Laramie, Wyoming in the mid-1960s, I was aware of the whole “Paul is dead” scare. I remember thinking that it was ridiculous even at that young age. Supposedly, some radio stations were running Paul look-alike contests in an effort to help replace him with the band. Several of my friends thought that I should have sent in my older brother’s picture as a shoo-in for Paul. I figured that it was the hair that confused them. Hal looked like George, not Paul. (Ok, maybe you had to squint just a bit.)
Maybe that’s why, from an early age, George was my favorite Beatle. At the start, he was not much of a singer. Somewhere along the way, it became the thing that Ringo was allowed to sing lead on one song each per album. George was given two. And each tried their hands at writing. The story goes that Ringo would come in with a great song idea, only to be told that someone else had already written it and he’d just forgotten. Of course, George had his problem with “My Sweet Lord” sounding an awful lot like “He’s So Fine” written by Ronald Mack and recorded by The Chiffons.
You can track the ways in which George’s writing improved over time. He never reached the master tune-smith caliber of Paul, or the caustic edge of John, but he developed his own style and voice. My absolute favorite Beatles’ song was written by George: “While my Guitar Gently Weeps.” (But that’s another blog.)
This is about “Something.” As the lead guitarist for the band, George often let his guitar say as much, if not more than. his lyrics. Think about the bright, crisp acoustic guitar part in “Here Comes the Sun.” (Eric Clapton played the guitar solo for “While my Guitar Gently Weeps,” which is exactly what it did.) The legato line from the electric guitar conveys such longing in “Something.”
Originally, George had not even intended to sing the song. He was going to give it to another singer that he was producing through Apple. That fell through. Then, he gave the song to Joe Cocker, and produced the recording. He played the song for the band and their producer, George Martin, and they were not impressed. At first.
George Harrison persisted, and quickly the band and producer fell in love with the song. Paul has said that he took the simple bass line as George’s way of telling him that he thought Paul’s basslines were getting too florid. He also has said that this may have been the best song that George had ever written. George Martin praised the song for its beauty and simplicity. John Lennon said that it was the best song on the Abbey Roadalbum. Ringo Starr has praised the song saying that it ranks with the best of Lennon and McCartney. “Something” is the second most covered Beatles song, after “Yesterday.” (George’s favorite cover was done by James Brown.)
Patti Boyd, who was George’s wife at the time, has said that the song is about her. George denied that, saying that he had written the song about a woman and loving God in her.
You hear the first few notes of the guitar intro and you know what song this is. The melody starts out so simply. Only two notes in the first part of the first phrase. The chord structure also starts out quite simply. It is how the parts come together (a completely different Beatles’ song) that makes the magic.
There are so many different moods in this song. I have complained before about unnecessary key changes, but the key change in this song works. It makes sense. We start out singing about how something that our love does attracts us. Then, at the first rhythmic change, we get “I don’t want to leave her now.” Making a break from the first bit. Then comes the key change, asking the question: “Will my love grow?” And answering, “I don’t know,” as if it could not be possible to love her more.
Originally, this song ran for eight minutes. Thank goodness for editing, because they took it down to where it needed to be:
Something in the way she moves,
Attracts me like no other lover.
Something in the way she woos me,
I don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.
Something in her smile she knows,
That I don’t need no other lover.
Something n her style that shows me.
I don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.
You’re asking me will my love grow,
I don’t know, I don’t know.
You stick around now, it may show,
I don’t know, I don’t’ know.
Something in the way she knows,
And all I have to do is think of her.
Something n the things she shows me.
I don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.
I’ll be playing this song with a few of the others mentioned in this blog this week on my Minnich Music Facebook page, so check those out. And share any stories that you may have in the comments down below.
Until next time!
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