After the Beatles stopped touring in 1966, George started writing more songs than could be fitted onto the albums so that by the time of the split he had built up a collection of songs, some used on his debut solo album, All Things Must Pass. The album, released in 1970, contains the two-time number one hit, "My Sweet Lord".
Harrison is also credited for creating music benefits, notably the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. Harrison played beside Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, and Leon Russell to a crowd of 40,000 in Madison Square Garden, New York. The show raised over $240,000 benefiting the George Harrison Fund for Bangladesh relief.
Harrison went on to release several successful solo albums, and in the late 1980s collaborated with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, in a group called Traveling Wilburys. The group released two albums. Later, Harrison reunited with the other two surviving Beatles, after John Lennon's murder in 1980, to produce two final Beatles records, "Free As a Bird" and "Real Love" featuring the voice of Lennon, taken from home demos provided by Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. The three Beatles also co-wrote a massive autobiography and television special, both titled "The Beatles Anthology."
Before his death, Harrison conceived of a Cirque du Soleil show, "Love," featuring remixes of Beatles music which were overseen by Beatles producer George Martin.
Harrison died on November 29, 2001 after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a wife and son, Olivia and Dhani Harrison. His last album, Brainwashed, was released posthumously and featured the single "Any Road".
A benefit concert in Harrison's memory was played on 29 November 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall. The star-studded event (featuring Eric Clapton and Monty Python, as well as former band mates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr) was released on the DVD double-album, Concert for George.
03 Fish On The Sand
George Harrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you're close to everyone
At times it's like you don't have a hold on me
I see you in the love
I see you in the moon above
But I want to know that you're not lost inside of me
You know I love you
If I'm not with you
I'm not so much of a man
I'm like a fish on the sand
You call me in the night (You call me in the night)
And hide behind the daylight
You're blowing like a wind, you don't let me see
You know I feel a pain (You know I feel a pain)
I'm tired of playing games with you
Though there's nothing else I want that would set me free
You know I love you
You know I need you
If I can't be with you
I'm not so much of a man
I'm a fish on the sand
No use to no one else, they've all dried up
Watching all our lives go by
I can't believe you'd want to see me crying
I hold you in my heart (Hold you in my heart)
I know that you're a part of me
But it's a must to know that you love me too
I look you in the eye (Look you in the eye)
You're swimming by my teardrops
But I want to know for sure that you'll let me see
You know I want you
You know I need you
If I'm not with you
I'm not so much of a man
I'm like a fish on the sand
You know I need you
You know I love you
If I'm not with you
I'm not so much of a man
I'm a fish on the sand
Not so much of a man
More a fish on the sand
The lyrics to George Harrison’s “Fish On The Sand” reflect the singer’s feelings of confusion, insecurity, and vulnerability in a relationship. The opening lines suggest that the person he addresses is popular and outgoing, but perhaps not as committed to him as he would like. The image of a fish on the sand, helpless and unable to move, suggests that without the presence of the other person, he is lost and powerless. The line “I’m tired of playing games with you” suggests that there is a level of gamesmanship in the relationship, and perhaps a lack of trust. The image of tears reinforces the theme of vulnerability and emphasises how much the singer needs reassurance from the other person.
Later in the song, the stakes are raised, with the line “No use to no one else, they’ve all dried up”. This implies that without the love and attention of the other person, the singer feels he has nothing left. The plea for confirmation of love in the final verse is particularly poignant, with the line “But it’s a must to know that you love me too” suggesting that the lack of a reciprocal declaration from the other person has been causing the singer distress. Ultimately, the song is a plea for connection, for the assurance that the other person’s feelings are genuine and that he is not alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you're in the sun
I am aware that you are in the spotlight
I know you're close to everyone
I know that you are familiar with almost everybody
At times it's like you don't have a hold on me
Sometimes it feels like you cannot control me
I see you in the love
I can see you in every act of love
I see you in the moon above
I can see your reflection in the moon
But I want to know that you're not lost inside of me
However, I desire to know that you have not become trapped within me
You know I need you
You're aware of how important you are to me
You know I love you
You understand that I have strong feelings for you
If I'm not with you
When I am apart from you
I'm not so much of a man
I feel incomplete, like I am missing a part of myself
I'm like a fish on the sand
I feel helpless and stranded, like a fish out of the water
You call me in the night (You call me in the night)
You contact me at nighttime
And hide behind the daylight
But conceal yourself during the day
You're blowing like a wind, you don't let me see
You keep changing and being evasive, making it hard for me to comprehend you
You know I feel a pain (You know I feel a pain)
You know that it hurts me
I'm tired of playing games with you
I am weary of the mind games you play
Though there's nothing else I want that would set me free
Even though I want nothing more than to be free of these games
No use to no one else, they've all dried up
I am not useful to anyone else, they have all become disinterested in me
Watching all our lives go by
Observing our lives pass by
I can't believe you'd want to see me crying
I find it unbelievable that you would enjoy seeing me in tears
I hold you in my heart (Hold you in my heart)
I keep you dear in my heart
I know that you're a part of me
I acknowledge that you are an integral part of me
But it's a must to know that you love me too
However, it is essential that I know that you love me as well
I look you in the eye (Look you in the eye)
I stare into your eyes
You're swimming by my teardrops
You are avoiding talking about my tears
But I want to know for sure that you'll let me see
But I want assurance that you will allow me to speak about my feelings
You know I want you
You know that I desire you
If I'm not with you
When I am not in your presence
I'm a fish on the sand
I feel weak and vulnerable when away from you
More a fish on the sand
Actually more vulnerable and helpless than I have expressed
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: GEORGE HARRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind