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.
When We Was Fab
George Harrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back then long time ago when grass was green
Woke up in a daze
Arrived like strangers in the night
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot doo)
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab!)
Back when income tax was all we had
Caressers fleeced you in the morning light
And we did it all
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot doo)
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab)
In my world you are my only love
And while you're in this world
The fuzz gonna come and claim you
But you mo better wise
When the buzz gonna come and take you away
Take you away. Take you away
The microscopes that magnified the tears
Studied warts and all
Still the life flowed on and on
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot, Gear!)
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab)
But it's all over now, baby blue
(Oo! doot, doot doot. Fab!)
Long time ago when we was fab
(Fab!) Like this pullover you sent me
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot. Gear!)
And you really got a hold on me
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot, Gear!)
George Harrison's When We Was Fab is a nostalgic reflection on his former life as a Beatle. The opening lines "Back then long time ago when grass was green, woke up in a daze, arrived like strangers in the night" present us with imagery of the psychedelic 1960s, a time Harrison recalls as being filled with wonder and magic. The use of "grasses green" alludes to drug use, particularly marijuana, a drug that the Beatles were known to have used frequently during their recording sessions.
Harrison then sings "long time ago when we was fab, back when income tax was all we had." Here, he references the financial aspect of the Beatles' career: in the early days, the band members were barely making enough money to get by and often had to pay high taxes. He continues to describe the harsh realities of life in the limelight, with "caressers" taking advantage of them and "casualties at dawn." This paints a grim picture of the frenzy that surrounded the band's meteoric rise to fame in the early 60s.
Harrison then sings, "And while you're in this world, The fuzz gonna come and claim you, but you mo better wise when the buzz gonna come and take you away, Take you away." This verse conveys the distrust and paranoia that existed between the establishment and the counterculture movement during the 60s. "The fuzz" refers to the police who were seen as the enemy to the youth at the time. Harrison warns that they will come to "claim" you, or arrest you, and "take you away" from the freedoms of youth culture.
In the final verse, Harrison laments, "But it's all over now, baby blue, long time ago when we was fab." He reflects on his current life, acknowledging that the magical and carefree times of his youth were now behind him. He then references the Beatles' song "Baby Blue," a track from their 1965 album Help!, to emphasize the passage of time and the band's former success. The song ends with a repetition of the word "fab," a nod to the iconic phrase "fab four" used to describe the Beatles. Overall, When We Was Fab presents a melancholy and nostalgic look back at Harrison's former life and the glory days of the Beatles.
Line by Line Meaning
One! Two!
Counting in and getting ready to reminisce
Back then long time ago when grass was green
Recalling the past when things were simpler and life was easy
Woke up in a daze
Reflecting on the hazy memory of the good times
Arrived like strangers in the night
Feeling like visitors in a foreign land, but still enjoying the ride
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot doo)
Exclamation of excitement and nostalgia
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab!)
Looking back to the good old days; playing on the word 'fab' to refer to the Beatles era
Back when income tax was all we had
Remembering how simple life was before fame and fortune
Caressers fleeced you in the morning light
Recalling the cons and hustles that came with success
Casualties at dawn
Talking about the negative effects of fame and how it can be harmful to people's mental health
And we did it all
Taking responsibility for their actions and experiences
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot doo)
Exclamation of excitement and nostalgia
In my world you are my only love
Acknowledging a special person in their life who has been there through everything and is the only one that matters to them
And while you're in this world
Recognizing that bad things can happen at any time
The fuzz gonna come and claim you
Referring to the law enforcement and their impact on the pop culture scene
But you mo better wise
Advising to choose carefully and be smart about the people and situations they get into
When the buzz gonna come and take you away
When the drugs are calling and temptation arises
Take you away. Take you away.
Repeating the message of being careful and avoiding danger
The microscopes that magnified the tears
Describing the media's scrutiny and obsession with every detail of their lives
Studied warts and all
Examining every imperfection and flaw, particularly in the context of the Beatles' disbandment
Still the life flowed on and on
Acknowledging that despite the breakup of the Beatles, life goes on and new opportunities open up
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot, Gear!)
Exclamation of excitement and nostalgia
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab)
Recalling the Beatles era once again
But it's all over now, baby blue
Accepting the fact that the good times have come to an end and change is inevitable
(Oo! doot, doot doot. Fab!)
Exclamation of resignation and nostalgia
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab!)
Reiterating that the Beatles era is long gone
(Fab!) Like this pullover you sent me
Looking at a piece of clothing and recalling memories associated with it
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot. Gear!)
Exclamation of excitement and nostalgia
And you really got a hold on me
Acknowledging the impact that someone has had on their life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: George Harrison, Jeff Lynne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@otaciliofilho7947
Back then long time ago when grass was green
Woke up in a daze
Arrived like strangers in the night
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot doo)
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab!)
Back when income tax was all we had
Caressers fleeced you in the morning light
Casualties at dawn
And we did it all
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot doo)
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab)
In my world you are my only love
And while you're in this world
The fuzz gonna come and claim you
But you mo better wise
When the buzz gonna come and take you away
Take you away. Take you away
The microscopes that magnified the tears
Studied warts and all
Still the life flowed on and on
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot, Gear!)
Long time ago when we was fab (Fab)
But it's all over now, baby blue
(Oo! doot, doot doot. Fab!)
Long time ago when we was fab
(Fab!) Like this pullover you sent me
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot. Gear!)
And you really got a hold on me
(Fab! Doot, doot, doot, Gear!)
@monkeysalad4444
All my favorite parts:
0:48 Ringo looking at the camera and nodding
0:57 Sgt Pepper
1:11 One of his extra hands vandalized the wall, so another handcuffs it to the guitar
2:00 The walrus is there and Ringo does a little dance with his elbow while drumming
2:07 Paul McCartney
2:17 I love that animation on the wall
2:23 Paul Simon carrying fruit
2:33 Just this : )
2:42 Elton John!
2:43 George also picks Elton's pocket
2:54 He taps the piano as it goes by
2:48 - 3:06 Ringo carrying both ends of the piano
3:27 Idk why but that part is just satisfying to watch
And of course, everything from 0:00 to 3:57
Edit: I made this comment a year ago and now like once a week someone tells me I forgot Jeff Lynne. Thanks, I got it lol
@leokimvideo
George always wrote deep songs.
@PedroPetracco
As deep as Paulie's are shallow. Lol. Love them all!
@vanshayrapetyan1752
George 1976 yeh.
@TheNovaTV
"I was so young when I was born" - George Harrison
@Dave-cy3fz
This was cowritten by jeff lynne and george harrison
@YoureMadCryAboutIt
It’s really not that deep.
@MarcusStaAnaBurSelF
I love how Ringo is always there to help out with the other lads while they go along with their solo careers. From John's tracks, to Paul's film, to George's music video and live concerts. He's always so chill with the other lads.
@johnnyenglish9622
Glad he was alive for Now and Then single too as we lost George in 2001.
@paulkerrigan9857
Seems like a good bloke.
@mikethebloodthirsty
Drummers tend to be the most chilled in bands.... in order of appearance I'd say the most annoying people in bands from my experience are: 1.singers, 2.keyboard players, 3.guitarists, 4.bass players then 5.drummers. Of course there are exeptions....