Preston first came to widespread attention of a U.S. mainstream audience as the organist (and sometimes vocalist) in the house band on the television show 'Shindig,' popular during 1964-66. On tour backing stars Little Richard and Sam Cooke, he met the Beatles (early in their career) in Hamburg, Germany in 1962. He was later invited by George Harrison to join The Beatles in the studio for the filming/recording of 'Let It Be' (1970). Preston's most memorable performance with the Beatles is on the track "Get Back".
The apparent reason for the collaboration was that the project was being done live— without overdubs— and the Beatles wanted a second keyboardist. Preston's soulful style was to compliment the rhythm and blues approach the Beatles had for this album. His was a genre they'd grown up listening to and were reaching back to as well as paying tribute to.
Another apparent reason for Preston's involvement was to buffer the growing tensions between the members of the band (that had started around the time of filming). Everyone set aside their differences to make Preston feel welcome at the sessions. Members of the band have later commented on their joy with working with Preston, whom they respected as a talented musician.
While Preston was never considered for permanent membership in the Beatles (despite stories to the contrary), he did continue working with them through to the end of the 60s: releasing two solo albums on Apple Records (the Beatles' label), collaborating with George Harrison on 'All Things Must Pass', and joining in on the Concert for Bangladesh— one of the first significant benefit concerts of its kind (at Madison Square Garden in 1972). Preston also later made an appearance in the infamous Beatles tribute film 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1978), as the title character— Sgt. Pepper. He's sometimes been referred to as a 'Fifth Beatle'.
In addition to work with said group, Preston also played and toured with The Rolling Stones, playing on significant albums such as 'Sticky Fingers' and 'Exile on Main St.' In the 70s, Preston also worked with Bob Dylan, playing as an accompanist on ' Blood on the Tracks', and Aretha Franklin, on her record 'Young, Gifted and Black'. As the years went on, Preston collaborated with numerous other artists including Barbra Streisand and Miles Davis, also notable touring with Sly and the Family Stone for a time. He also played organ with the Ray Charles big band on tour in the late 60s.
In terms of his solo career, Preston's hit tracks "Will It Go 'Round in Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing" both reached all the way to number one in the U.S. and still remain staples of oldies stations. He won a Grammy Award for best pop instrumental performance for "Outa Space" in 1971, and he received an invitation to the White House no less in 1974. Though perhaps overshadowed by his collaborative work, he devolved a strong and devoted fan-base as album after album made it into the Billboard top 200 album chart.
Preston was also the music director and band leader for the Garry Shandling show in the 80s, returning to the TV work that had given him his start. Yet, in the 80s and 90s, Preston sadly suffered substance abuse and financial issues. He spent three years in prison in 1997 for a drugs possession charge handed out earlier that year (cocaine possession and assault).
His last recordings were on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album 'Stadium Arcadium' and with Neil Diamond for his "12 songs" record, both produced by Rick Rubin.
A U.S. musical legend, Preston passed away at the age of 59 in a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a result of "malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications".
Eight Days a Week
Billy Preston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guess you know it's true
Hope you need my love babe
Just like I need you
Hold me, love me, hold me, love me
I ain't got nothing but love, babe
Eight days a week
Love you every day, girl
Always on my mind
One thing I can say, girl
Love you all the time
Hold me, love me, hold me, love me
I ain't got nothing but love, girl
Eight days a week
Eight days a week
I love you
Eight days a week
Is not enough to show I care
Ooh I need your love, babe
Guess you know it's true
Hope you need my love babe
Just like I need you
Hold me, love me, hold me, love me
I ain't got nothing but love, babe
Eight days a week
Eight days a week
I love you
Eight days a week
is not enough to show I care
Love you every day, girl
Always on my mind
One thing I can say girl
Love you all the time
Hold me, love me, hold me, love me
I ain't got nothing but love, babe
Eight days a week
Eight days a week
Eight days a week
The lyrics of "Eight Days a Week" by Billy Preston, which is a cover of The Beatles' song, revolves around his immeasurable and boundless love for a woman. He pleads with the woman, stating that he needs her love just as much as she needs his. Preston's declaration of love in the song is remarkable, and he states clearly that he loves her every day of the week and that he always has her in his thoughts. He acknowledges that eight days a week is not enough to express his love and care for her.
The chorus "Hold me, love me, hold me, love me, I ain't got nothing but love, babe, Eight days a week" represents Preston's desire for the woman. He yearns for her company, her affection, and her love. He tells her that he has nothing to offer but love, but that love is boundless and he will love her every day.
In summary, Billy Preston’s “Eight Days a Week” song is a declaration of love to a woman, and he expresses his desire to be loved just as much as he loves. The song's lyrics reveal the singer's devotion and dedication to his lover, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to keep their relationship going.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I need your love, babe
The singer is expressing how much they need the love of the person they are singing to.
Guess you know it's true
The singer believes that the person they are singing to already knows how much they need their love.
Hope you need my love babe
The singer hopes that the person they are singing to also needs their love.
Just like I need you
The singer is emphasizing the reciprocity of their need for love with the person they are singing to.
Hold me, love me, hold me, love me
The singer is expressing a desire for physical and emotional affection from the person they are singing to.
I ain't got nothing but love, babe
The singer is letting the person they are singing to know that their feelings for them are genuine and all they have to offer.
Eight days a week
The singer is using hyperbole to emphasize how much they love the person they are singing to, even more than a typical seven-day week.
Love you every day, girl
The singer is stating that they love the person they are singing to every single day.
Always on my mind
The singer thinks about the person they are singing to constantly.
One thing I can say, girl
The singer is making a declaration to the person they are singing to.
Love you all the time
The singer wants the person they are singing to know that their love for them is constant and everlasting.
Eight days a week
The singer reiterates how strong and continuous their love is for the person they are singing to.
Is not enough to show I care
The singer believes that even expressing their love for eight days a week is not enough to truly convey how much they care for the person they are singing to.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind