The composition adheres to the pitches of the Indian equivalent of Dorian mode and emulates the khyal vocal tradition of Hindustani classical music. For musical inspiration, Harrison drew from the work of master sitarist Ravi Shankar, who became his sitar tutor shortly after the recording was completed. In its lyrical themes, "Love You To" is partly a love song to Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd, while also incorporating philosophical concepts inspired by his experimentation with the hallucinogenic drug LSD. In the context of its release, the song served as one of the first examples of the Beatles expressing an ideology aligned with that of the emergent counterculture.
"Love You To" has been hailed by musicologists and critics as groundbreaking in its presentation of a non-Western musical form to rock audiences, particularly with regard to authenticity and avoidance of parody. Author Jonathan Gould describes the song's slow sitar introduction as "one of the most brazenly exotic acts of stylistic experimentation ever heard on a popular LP". Ronnie Montrose, Bongwater, Jim James and Cornershop are among the artists who have covered "Love You To".
Love You To
Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I turn around, it's past
You don't get time to hang a sign on me
Love me while you can
Or I'll get a plan
A lifetime is so short
But what you've got means such a lot to me
Make love all day long
Make love singing songs
Make love all day long
Make love singing songs
There's people standing round
Who screw you in the ground
They'll fill you in with all the things you see
I'll make love to you
If you want me to
In the Beatles song "Love You To", the lyrics are sung from the perspective of someone who is hyperaware of the passage of time and the fleetingness of life. The lines "Each day just goes so fast, I turn around it's past" speak to how quickly time can slip away from us. The subsequent lines "You don't get time to hang a sign on me, love me while you can or I'll get a plan" suggest a sense of urgency, as though the singer is imploring their loved one to cherish them while they're still around.
The song goes on to emphasize the preciousness of what they have together, and how it's something that can't be easily replaced or replicated. The lyrics "A lifetime is so short, a new one can't be bought, but what you've got means such a lot to me" recognize the finite nature of our time on earth, and underscores the importance of appreciating the present moment.
The song then takes a somewhat unexpected turn with the lines "Make love all day long, make love singing songs". While certainly suggestive, these lyrics can also be interpreted as encouraging the importance of physical intimacy and emotional connection. The final lines "There's people standing round who screw you in the ground, they'll fill you in with all the things you see, I'll make love to you if you want me to" juxtapose the negative influences around us with a positive, life-affirming act.
Line by Line Meaning
Each day just goes so fast
Time seems to run through my fingers rapidly
I turn around, it's past
Before I even realize it, the present becomes the past
You don't get time to hang a sign on me
I can change quickly without any warning
Love me while you can
Cherish the moments we have together while they last
Or I'll get a plan
Otherwise, I will need to prepare a new direction for my life
A lifetime is so short
Our time on earth is brief
A new one can't be bought
We cannot buy extra time or new chances
But what you've got means such a lot to me
However, the time we have together is important and valuable to me
Make love all day long
Let's spend our days loving each other
Make love singing songs
Make love while celebrating our togetherness with music
There's people standing round
There are individuals surrounding us
Who screw you in the ground
Who will harm you and bring you down
They'll fill you in with all the things you see
They will try to influence your thoughts and beliefs
I'll make love to you
However, I will remain loyal and devote myself to you
If you want me to
As long as you want me to
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE HARRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RobertCeisler
Each day just goes so fast
I turn around, it's passed
You don't get time to hang a sign on me
Love me while you can
Before I'm a dead old man
A lifetime is so short
A new one can't be bought
But what you've got means such a lot to me
Make love all day long
Make love singing songs
Make love all day long
Make love singing songs
There's people standing 'round
Who'll screw you in the ground
They'll fill you in with all their sins, you'll see
I'll make love to you
If you want me to
@loxleymoon
It's funny; the longer I've been a Beatles fan, the more and more this one seems to become one of my favorites.
@JesusVazquez-jz2qm
I've been a Beatles fan for 43 years now and I admire them more than never. I never get bored of them. Their music always surprise me. Greetings from México.
@WinstonWolfe21
Always really liked this one 👍
@SpaceGuyTDG810
Indian music goes so hard 🗣🗣🔥🔥
@hongjuanwu7539
Loxley Moon, what you said is true.
@AqueleRod
George will live forever in our hearts. Peace and love my friends! ✌
@damianlopez7630
May He Rest In Holy GOD'S Presence!
@tomn9094
🕉
@RobertCeisler
Each day just goes so fast
I turn around, it's passed
You don't get time to hang a sign on me
Love me while you can
Before I'm a dead old man
A lifetime is so short
A new one can't be bought
But what you've got means such a lot to me
Make love all day long
Make love singing songs
Make love all day long
Make love singing songs
There's people standing 'round
Who'll screw you in the ground
They'll fill you in with all their sins, you'll see
I'll make love to you
If you want me to
@thejonegcle7759
such great lyrics