The Story of the Beatles Hit “Here Comes The Sun”

Harrison wrote one of the lightest Beatles songs while skipping “school.” By 1969, Apple Records was in ruins: manager Allen Klein and attorney John Eastman wrestled for control of the business, and arguments over finances were the order of the day.

“Apple was as attractive as school – we had to show up there regularly and play the businessman: ‘Sign here, sign there!'” One day, Harrison says, he got so fed up with Apple that he went to Eric Clapton country drove. “It was an incredible relief not having to deal with those insane accountants anymore. I went out into the garden, picked up one of Eric’s acoustic guitars and wrote ‘Here Comes The Sun’.”

George Harrison and Eric Clapton

Kinfauns, Harrison’s home, was only about half an hour from Clapton’s mansion – perhaps one reason why the two guitarists had become best friends. Clapton had contributed the solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, while Harrison helped write Cream’s hit “Badge”.

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“It was a beautiful spring morning,” writes Clapton in his autobiography, “and we were sitting on a hilltop. We had our guitars with us and were strumming when suddenly he started singing, ‘De da de de, it’s been a long cold winter’. And bit by bit it came out of him—until it was time for lunch.”

Along with “Something,” Harrison’s song proved that the Beatles now had three gifted songwriters. “George just thawed,” Starr said. “Just when the Beatles were going downhill.”

Even Lennon and McCartney, who had previously defended songwriting as their domain, unreservedly acknowledged Harrison’s qualities.

On the album: “Abbey Road”. Released September 26, 1969.

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