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.
If Not For You
George Harrison Lyrics
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Babe, I couldn't even find the door
I couldn't even see the floor
I'd be sad and blue, if not for you
If not for you
Babe, the night would see me wide awake
The day would surely have to break
If not for you, my sky would fall
Rain would gather, too
Without your love I'd be nowhere at all
I'd be lost, if not for you
If not for you
The winter would hold no spring
Couldn't hear a robin sing
I just wouldn't have a clue, if not for you
If not for you, my sky would fall
Rain would gather, too
Without your love I'd be nowhere at all
I'd be lost, if not for you
If not for you
The winter would hold no spring
Couldn't hear a robin sing
I just wouldn't have a clue, if not for you
If not for you
, is a love song composed by George Harrison that was released on his 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass. The song's lyrics convey the sentiment that without the presence and love of the singer's significant other, life would lose its meaning and become a dismal, empty existence. The song's melody is light and cheerful, reinforcing the message of hope that the singer expresses throughout the song.
The first verse of the song depicts the singer's sense of disorientation and confusion when trying to navigate the world without their lover. The line "I couldn't even find the door, I couldn't even see the floor" suggests that every aspect of their life would be incomprehensible without the light and guidance that the lover provides.
The second verse continues with this theme, as the singer states that without their lover night and day would be interchangeable, and that life would lose all novelty and excitement. The line "It would not be new, if not for you" suggests that the lover is the catalyst for all joy and fulfillment in the singer's life.
The chorus of the song expresses the high stakes of the singer's dependence on their lover. The lines "If not for you, my sky would fall, rain would gather too, without your love I'd be nowhere at all, I'd be lost" show that the singer's relationship is the foundation of their happiness and sense of purpose, establishing the lover as the most important person in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
If not for you
Without you in my life
Babe, I couldn't even find the door
I would be lost and without direction
I couldn't even see the floor
I would be so consumed by sadness that I wouldn't be able to function
I'd be sad and blue, if not for you
My life would be full of sadness and despair
Babe, the night would see me wide awake
I would be troubled and unable to sleep
The day would surely have to break
I would only find brief respite in the darkness of the night
It would not be new, if not for you
My life would be stale and monotonous
If not for you, my sky would fall
Your presence keeps me from falling apart completely
Rain would gather, too
My life would be full of sadness and despair
Without your love I'd be nowhere at all
Your love gives my life direction and purpose
I'd be lost, if not for you
I would be unable to find my way without you
The winter would hold no spring
My life would be bleak and without hope
Couldn't hear a robin sing
I would be so consumed by sadness that I wouldn't be able to appreciate the beauty of nature
I just wouldn't have a clue, if not for you
I would be lost and without direction
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind