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.
That's What It Takes
George Harrison Lyrics
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And you found the eyes to see
Each little drop at dawn of every day
Your smile, it comes back to me
And whatever you may say
Don't let it stop, never fade away
Doesn't really matter if we start to make some changes, oh
If that's what it takes, that's what it takes
Then I've got to be strong, that's what it takes
Don't want to be wrong
If that's what it takes
The closer I get that's what it takes
Into that open door, what it takes
I've got to be sure
If that's what it takes
And now that it's shining through
And you can see all this world
Don't let it stop, never fade away
If we got to be in this life forever, oh-oh
Then we'd better be taking all the chances, oh oh
If that's what it takes that's what it takes
Then I've got to be strong that's what it takes
Don't want to be wrong
If that's what it takes
The closer I get that's what it takes
Into that open door,what it takes
I've got to be sure
If that's what it takes
That's what it takes, that's what it takes
That's what it takes, that's what it takes
That's what it takes, that's what it takes
That's what it takes, that's what it takes
That's what it takes, oh, that's what it takes
Oh, that's what it takes
The song "That's What It Takes" by George Harrison is an inspirational ballad that speaks of finding the determination and courage to pursue one's dreams, no matter how challenging the journey may be. The opening lines "And now it begins to shine, and you found the eyes to see" are a metaphor for the realization that one has the ability to achieve their goals. The singer acknowledges the struggles that one faces on this journey, represented by "each little drop at dawn of every day." The phrase "your smile, it comes back to me" suggests that the singer draws strength from the support and encouragement of his loved ones.
The chorus of the song highlights the importance of perseverance and conviction in pursuing one's dreams. The phrase "If that's what it takes" is repeated several times, emphasizing the idea that achieving one's goals may require significant effort and sacrifice. The final lines of the chorus, "I've got to be sure, if that's what it takes," underscore the importance of standing firm in one's convictions, even in the face of difficulties.
The verses of the song also contain a message about the importance of taking risks and seizing opportunities. The line "Doesn't really matter if we start to make some changes" suggests that embracing change is necessary to make progress towards achieving one's dreams. The lines "If we got to be in this life forever" and "Then we'd better be taking all the chances" reinforce this idea.
Overall, "That's What It Takes" is an inspiring song that encourages listeners to pursue their dreams with conviction and perseverance, even in the face of obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
And now it begins to shine
A new beginning is here and things are starting to look brighter
And you found the eyes to see
You have finally discovered the ability to perceive the beauty of the world
Each little drop at dawn of every day
Every moment counts and should be appreciated, no matter how small
Your smile, it comes back to me
Your happiness is contagious and brings joy into my life
And whatever you may say
No matter what you do or say, I will always believe in you
Don't let it stop, never fade away
Hold onto the beauty of life and cherish it always
As we got to get out in this world together, oh
We need to navigate this world together and support each other
Doesn't really matter if we start to make some changes, oh
It's okay to make changes and take risks in life
If that's what it takes, that's what it takes
We should be willing to do whatever it takes to make things better
Then I've got to be strong, that's what it takes
We need to be strong and confident in ourselves to achieve our goals
Don't want to be wrong
We don't want to make mistakes, but it's okay if we do because we can learn from them
The closer I get that's what it takes
As we get closer to our goals, we need to work even harder to make them a reality
Into that open door, what it takes
We need to take advantage of opportunities when they arise and work hard to achieve success
I've got to be sure
We need to be confident in ourselves and our abilities to achieve our goals
That's what it takes, that's what it takes
We must be willing to work hard and make sacrifices to achieve our goals
Oh, that's what it takes
We need to persevere and stay committed, even when things get tough
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GEORGE HARRISON, JEFF LYNNE, GARY WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind