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".
Isn't It a Pity
Billy Preston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How we break each other's hearts and cause each other pain?
How we take each other's love without thinking anymore
Forgetting to give back, isn't it a pity?
Some things take so long but how do I explain?
Not too many people can see we're all the same
And because of all their tears, their eyes can't hope to see
Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame
How we break each other's hearts and cause each other pain?
How we take each other's love without, without thinking anymore
Forgetting to give back, isn't it a pity?
Forgetting to give back, isn't it a shame?
Forgetting to give back, isn't it a pity?
Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame
How we break each other's hearts and cause each other pain?
Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame
How we take each other's love without thinking anymore?
It's a pity, it's a shame, oh yeah, oh yeah
Forgetting to give back, it's a pity, oh yeah
Isn't it a shame?
The lyrics to Billy Preston's song "Isn't It a Pity" speak to the universal struggle of human relationships and love. The song starts by asking the question "Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame / How we break each other's hearts and cause each other pain?" The lyrics highlight the irony of how humans are capable of loving and caring for one another, yet also have the capability of hurting each other deeply. Preston suggests that this is largely due to our forgetfulness in giving back the love that we take, without thinking about the impact on the other person.
Preston goes on to explain that some things take a long time to understand, such as the fact that all people are fundamentally the same. He argues that because of the tears and struggles that we face, our eyes can often not see the beauty around us. In this way, the song brings attention to the fact that we can be blind to the good in life when we focus only on the negative.
The chorus of the song repeats the refrain "Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame / How we break each other's hearts and cause each other pain?" This repetition drives home the message that we must be more mindful in our relationships, and that forgetting to give back is both a shame and a pity.
Overall, "Isn't It a Pity" invites the listener to take a step back and consider the impact of their actions on others. It advocates for greater empathy and understanding, and challenges the listener to be more conscious in their relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame
It is unfortunate and disappointing that we cause each other heartbreak and pain
How we break each other's hearts and cause each other pain?
We hurt each other emotionally without realizing the extent of our actions
How we take each other's love without thinking anymore
We don't appreciate and reciprocate the love that others give us, taking it for granted
Forgetting to give back, isn't it a pity?
It is regrettable that we forget to return the kindness and love we receive from others
Not too many people can see we're all the same
Many people are unable to recognize our commonalities as human beings
And because of all their tears, their eyes can't hope to see
Because of their sadness and pain, people become unable to see the beautiful things in life
All the beauty that surrounds them, isn't it a pity?
It is sad that people can't appreciate the beauty around them due to their emotional state
Forgetting to give back, isn't it a shame?
It is a disappointing thing that we don't give back what we take from others
It's a pity, it's a shame, oh yeah, oh yeah
It's really regrettable and unfortunate
Forgetting to give back, it's a pity, oh yeah
It is a pity that we don't reciprocate the love and kindness shown to us
Isn't it a shame?
It is lamentable and disheartening
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WonderWaageRadio
Billy Preston was an unbelievable talent.
@tomcedergren2032
The fifth Beatle
@wilsonantonio6587
Billy fifth beatle forever
@marialucias2523
Billy preston we love you
@stevebutkovic3365
Incredible both how Preston complimented the Beatles and vice-versa. And also how all of the Concert for George musicians compliment each other's styles. A once-in-a-lifetime experience!
@stuckinthestation
A M E N
@Persona.G
Праздник дши и отдохнвения. Боагодати Божьей всем причастным.
@petejones879
Billy is superb here.. Great voice great playing
@bold810
You know how you make a legendary song immortal?
George Harrison wrote it
Billy Preston sang it
..and we all got to hear it.
@prathameshbhambure
Clapton played it+