While My Guitar Gently Weeps

From BeatlesWiki

Jump to: navigation, search

While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a song off The Beatles' 1968 self-titled album. It was written by George Harrison.

Contents

Writing

Although George is believed to have written the melody in India in Spring 1968, the lyrics are believed to have been written after he returned to England from India. From there, the lyrics underwent many changes. George had based the lyrics off of the I Ching. He recalled, "I wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps at my mother's house in Warrington. I was thinking about the Chinese I Ching, the Book of Changes... The Eastern concept is that whatever happens is all meant to be, and that there's no such thing as coincidence - every little item that's going down has a purpose. While My Guitar Gently Weeps was a simple study based on that theory. I decided to write a song based on the first thing I saw upon opening any book - as it would be a relative to that moment, at that time. I picked up a book at random, opened it, saw 'gently weeps', then laid the book down again and started the song." In May 1968, an early demo version was recorded at Kinfauns, George's home in Esher. The lyrics differ greatly from the final released version:

"I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Problems you sow are the troubles you're reaping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I look at the trouble and hate that is raging
While my guitar gently weeps
As I'm sitting here, doing nothing but aging
Still my guitar gently weeps"

George recorded a solo version at Abbey Road Studios on July 25, 1968, with just him, a guitar, and a quiet organ part towards the end. This version was included on 1996's Anthology 3. It included this unused verse:

"I look from the wings at the play you are staging
While my guitar gently weeps
As I'm sitting here doing nothing but ageing
Still my guitar gently weeps"

George Harrison felt that John Lennon and Paul McCartney did not pay enough attention to the song. George brought Eric Clapton, one of his friends, to play lead guitar, forcing the group to pay more attention to the song. George recalled, "We tried to record it, but John and Paul were so used to just cranking out their tunes that it was very difficult at times to get serious and record one of mine. It wasn't happening. They weren't taking it seriously and I don't think they were even all playing on it, and so I went home that night thinking, 'Well, that's a shame,' because I knew the song was pretty good. The next day I was driving into London with Eric Clapton, and I said, 'What are you doing today? Why don't you come to the studio and play on this song for me?' He said, 'Oh, no - I can't do that. Nobody's ever played on a Beatles record and the others woulnd't like it.' I said, 'Look, it's my song and I'd like you to play on it.' So he came in. I said, 'Eric's going to play on this one,' and it was good because that then made everyone act better. Paul got on the piano and played a nice intro and they all took it more seriously."

Recording

The Beatles first recorded the song as a full band on August 16, 1968. They recorded 14 takes of the basic track, including rhythm guitar, organ, bass, and drums. The song was returned to on September 3, when new overdubs were added. These were the first ever on the then-new eight track equipment used by Abbey Road Studios. This whole session was spent trying to record a backwards guitar solo. This solo would end up unused. On September 4, George overdubbed lead vocals, maracas, drums, and lead guitar. When being played back the song, George decided to start over. The Beatles recorded 28 takes of a remake later that day. This basic track featured Harrison on acoustic guitar and guide vocals, Lennon on lead guitar, McCartney playing piano and organ, and Starr on drums. On September 6, Eric Clapton played a guitar solo on a Les Paul, which went uncredited on the final version. To give the solo more of a Beatles sound, it was varispeeded. Later that day, Paul added a distorted bass part, George played organ, and Ringo played percussion. Also recorded were lead vocals by George Harrison and backing vocals by Paul McCartney.

Recording Sessions

  • July 25, 1968: Recording Session. Songs Recorded: While My Guitar Gently Weeps. →
  • August 16, 1968: Recording Session. Songs Recorded: While My Guitar Gently Weeps. →


LOVE Mix

A version of this song was included on the 2006 Beatles remix album LOVE. It contained one of the two newly-recorded sounds on the entire album; a string quartet. These string parts were played over the July 25 demo on acoustic guitar. In addition to this, part of Eric Clapton's solo from this song was included in the mix of Lady Madonna.

Personnel

The Beatles

Guest Musicians

Production

Available Versions

Available On

Cover Versions

Source

Retrieved from "http://www.beatleswiki.org/wiki/While_My_Guitar_Gently_Weeps"
Personal tools