George Harrison MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) born in Liverpool… Read Full Bio ↴George Harrison MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) born in Liverpool, UK, was an English rock musician, singer-songwriter and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist in The Beatles, along with mainstream success as a solo artist. George contributed to the songwriting talents of his Beatles band mates, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, firstly by adding ideas and guitar parts, and later with his distinctive style of music inspired by Eastern spirituality. Ten years after Harrison's death, and forty-two years after its first release, his classic "Here Comes the Sun" is the number one Beatles download on iTunes.

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.

Wake Up My Love
George Harrison Lyrics

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Here I go again
Hear that knockin' won't you let me in
Only want that same old thing
Yet it's me here ring, ring, ring

I want your love
Wake up my love
And let it in

Well you know it's me out here
Can't give up now let us make that clear
All I've had's the run around
Though I'm barking like some hound

I want your love
Wake up my love
And let it in

I want your love
Wake up my love
And let it in

My life's been so many ways
Too much darkness gets me crazed
All around us people fight
Christ I'm looking for some light

Inside your love
Wake up my love
And let it in

I don't have no friends of mine
Who can swing me down that vine
Not much sense in what I do
That is why I'm calling you

Inside my love
Wake up my love
And let it in
I want your love
Wake up my love
And let it in
I want your love

Wake up my love
And let it in

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Wake Up My Love" are about a man who is desperately trying to win back his lover, who seems to be avoiding him. He keeps knocking on her door, trying to get her to listen to him, and he wants her to know that he's not giving up on their relationship. He's been hurt in the past, and he's looking for something to hold onto, something that will light up his life again. He turns to his lover, hoping that her love will be able to provide him with the warmth and stability he needs.

The song speaks to the universal experience of love and loss. We've all been in situations where we've felt lost and alone, and where we've turned to those we love for comfort and support. The lyrics of "Wake Up My Love" capture that feeling of desperation and hope, of longing and yearning, that comes with being in love. George Harrison's delivery of the song is measured and plaintive, with just the right amount of emotion to give it the impact it needs.

Line by Line Meaning

Here I go again
Starting this process over once more

Hear that knockin' won't you let me in
Asking for entrance into your heart

Only want that same old thing
Looking for the love that has been absent from my life

Yet it's me here ring, ring, ring
Persisting in trying to get your attention

I want your love
Expressing a desire for your affection

Wake up my love
Requesting that you open up and let me in

And let it in
Allowing me and my love to be a part of your life

Well you know it's me out here
Making sure you are aware of who is trying to come in

Can't give up now let us make that clear
Encouraging you and myself to keep trying for love

All I've had's the run around
Having negative experiences with love in the past

Though I'm barking like some hound
Continuing to plead and beg for your love like a desperate dog