Born in Brooklyn, Nilsson moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to escape his family's poor financial situation. While working as a computer programmer at a bank, he grew interested in musical composition and close-harmony singing and was successful in having some of his songs recorded by various artists, such as the Monkees. In 1967, he debuted on RCA Victor with the LP Pandemonium Shadow Show, followed by a variety of releases that included a collaboration with Randy Newman (Nilsson Sings Newman, 1970) and the original children's story The Point! (1971).
He created the first remix album, Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, in 1971, and recorded the first mashup song ("You Can't Do That") in 1967. His most commercially successful album, Nilsson Schmilsson (1971), produced the international top 10 singles "Without You" and "Coconut". His other top 10 hit, "Everybody's Talkin'" (1968), was featured prominently in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. A version of Nilsson's "One," released by Three Dog Night in 1969, also reached the U.S. top 10.
During a 1968 press conference, The Beatles were asked what their favorite American group was and answered "Nilsson." Sometimes called "the American Beatle," he soon formed close friendships with John Lennon and Ringo Starr, joining them in the Hollywood Vampires drinking club. He and Lennon produced one collaborative album, Pussy Cats (1974). After 1977, Nilsson left RCA, and his record output diminished. In response to Lennon's 1980 murder, he took a hiatus from the music industry to campaign for gun control. For the rest of his life, he recorded only sporadically. In 1994, Nilsson died of a heart attack while in the midst of recording what became his last album, Losst and Founnd (2019).
The craft of Nilsson's songs and the defiant attitude he projected remain touchstones for later generations of indie rock musicians. Nilsson was voted No. 62 in Rolling Stone's 2015 list of the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time," where he was described as "a pioneer of the Los Angeles studio sound" and "a crucial bridge" between 1960s psychedelia and the 1970s singer-songwriter era. The RIAA certified Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson (1972) as gold records, indicating over 500,000 units sold each. He earned two Grammy Awards (for "Everybody's Talkin'" and "Without You").
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilsson
Discography
Spotlight on Nilsson (1966)
Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967)
Aerial Ballet (1968)
Skidoo (1968) (soundtrack)
Harry (1969)
Nilsson Sings Newman (1970)
The Point! (1970) (studio album and soundtrack)
Nilsson Schmilsson (1971)
Son of Schmilsson (1972)
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)
Son of Dracula (1974) (soundtrack)
Pussy Cats (1974)
Duit on Mon Dei (1975)
Sandman (1976)
...That's the Way It Is (1976)
Knnillssonn (1977)
Flash Harry (1980)
Popeye (1980) (soundtrack)
Losst and Founnd (2019)
Bath
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm going home to take my bath but I'll be back again
Yeah, I'm leaving here this morning with a smile upon my face
I'm beginning to think there's hope for the human race
I'm leaving here this morning but I don't know where I've been
There's a lot of talk about the place but I'll be back again
Yeah, I'm leaving here this morning with my eyes upon wide
Do, I could do, I could do, I could do,
I could do, I could do, I could do, wa-ha
My eyes are getting heavy and my knees a little weak
My mouth so dry it hurts my throat when I begin to speak
Yeah, but I'm leaving here this morning with a smile upon my face
I'm beginning to think there's hope for the human race
Do, I could do, I could do, I could do,
I could do, I could do, I could do, wa-haaaa
The lyrics to Harry Nilsson's song "Bath" are open to interpretation, as the meaning behind them is ambiguous. In the first few lines, the singer describes leaving somewhere without remembering where they've been. They mention going home to take a bath before returning again. This could suggest that they are in a transitional moment, perhaps trying to process their emotions or thoughts before returning to their regular routine.
The singer goes on to express positivity and hope for the human race. They seem to be observing the world around them with a newfound sense of optimism, which is reflected in the repeated refrain, "I could do, I could do, I could do, wa-ha." The bridge of the song describes physical discomfort, with the singer's eyes getting heavy and their mouth dry, but they still leave with a smile on their face and a hopeful outlook.
Overall, "Bath" is a simple but evocative song that captures a moment of personal reflection and optimism. Its upbeat tone and catchy refrain make it a memorable addition to Nilsson's body of work.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm leaving here this morning but I don't know where I've been
Even though I'm leaving, I feel lost and unsure of where I am coming from.
I'm going home to take my bath but I'll be back again
I'm headed home to freshen up, but I'll come back soon enough.
Yeah, I'm leaving here this morning with a smile upon my face
Despite my uncertainty, I am happy to be leaving.
I'm beginning to think there's hope for the human race
Perhaps things are looking up for humanity.
There's a lot of talk about the place but I'll be back again
People have a lot to say about this place, but I will return nonetheless.
Yeah, I'm leaving here this morning with my eyes upon wide
As I depart, my eyes are open wide with curiosity.
And I'm awfully glad you let me come inside
I am grateful for the opportunity to have come here in the first place.
My eyes are getting heavy and my knees a little weak
I am beginning to feel tired and my legs are losing strength.
My mouth so dry it hurts my throat when I begin to speak
My mouth is parched and it hurts me to talk.
Do, I could do, I could do, I could do,
I could do, I could do, I could do, wa-ha
I am considering my options and weighing what I could do next.
Do, I could do, I could do, I could do,
I could do, I could do, I could do, wa-haaaa
Continuing to weigh my options and contemplate my future actions.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY NILSSON, HARRY EDWARD NILSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind