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)
Everybody’s Talkin’
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't hear a word they're sayin'
Only the echoes of my mind
People stoppin', starin'
I can't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin'
Goin' where the weather suits my clothes
Bankin' off of the Northeast winds
Sailin' on summer breeze
And skippin' over the ocean like a stone
Wah, wah
Wah
I'm going where the sun keeps shinin'
Through the pourin' rain
Goin' where the weather suits my clothes
Bankin' off of the Northeast winds
Sailin' on summer breeze
And skippin' over the ocean like a stone
Everybody's talkin' at me
Can't hear a word they're sayin'
Only the echoes of my mind
I won't let you leave my love behind
No, I won't let you leave-wah
I won't let you leave my love behind
The opening lines of the song describe the singer's feeling of detachment from the world around him. He's in his own head, lost in his own thoughts to the point where he can't even hear the people around him. Everyone is talking, but it's just noise in the background, and he's not really paying attention to any of it. The echoes of his own mind dominate his senses.
The second verse describes the singer's desire to escape from his current situation, and the harsh realities of life. He is seeking a place where he can experience some kind of peace and happiness, a place where he can align himself with the natural world. The lyrics express a powerful sense of wanderlust and longing for a simpler, more authentic existence. The singer is yearning for a place where he can be himself and find happiness.
The repetitive chorus, "I won't let you leave my love behind," seems to be an appeal to someone who is important to the singer, but it's unclear who that person is or what their relationship is to him. Overall, Harry Nilsson's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world-weary and disconnected person who is searching for a sense of belonging and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's talkin' at me
People are talking to me all the time
I don't hear a word they're sayin'
I am not listening to them and not interested in what they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
I am only hearing my own thoughts
People stoppin', starin'
People are looking at me with curiosity
I can't see their faces
I am not interested in seeing them or connecting with them
Only the shadows of their eyes
I can only vaguely see their eyes
I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin'
I am traveling to a place with constant sunshine
Through the pourin' rain
Even when it rains, I'll still find sunshine
Goin' where the weather suits my clothes
I am going to a place where I can wear whatever I like
Bankin' off of the Northeast winds
I am using prevailing winds to help me travel
Sailin' on summer breeze
I am enjoying the freedom of sailing with the wind
And skippin' over the ocean like a stone
I am traveling swiftly and easily over the ocean
Wah, wah
Nonsense syllables used to express happiness
I won't let you leave my love behind
I am not letting go of my love for someone
No, I won't let you leave-wah
I will do anything to hold on to this love
I won't let you leave my love behind
Repeating the previous line with the same meaning
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Fred Neil
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@catherinebrimant8581
" Everybody's talking at me
I don't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
People stopping, staring
I can't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
Everybody's talking at me
Can't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
I won't let you leave my love behind
No, I won't let you leave
I won't let you leave my love behind ".
@Laritalia26
Everybody's talking at me
I don't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
People stopping, staring
I can't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
Everybody's talking at me
Can't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
I won't let you leave my love behind
No, I won't let you leave
I won't let you leave my love behind
@michaeltowle2607
I walked endlessly with this song echoing in my head. I was content. No one could deter my path.
I sought the shining sun and the pounding surf. I found them.
They were bright, clear and pure.
I bathed in their glory.
They enveloped me and we became one.
I am with you, always, just above.
Lift your eyes.
I gaze down and reach to you with love.
Don't falter, I am here for you.
@ABritInThePhilippines
One of my all time favourite songs, and i loved the film too, but this also reminds me of a clip from my favourite comedy show "Only Fools and Horses" and the episode "The Jolly Boys Outing"...
@thewalkingman777
Watching it right now !
@maxter4685
Best episode of only fools and horses !!!
@hwoodward884
Maxter 46 Couldn’t agree more
@joeritchie7286
I lost my dolphin
@carrroad13
Joe Ritchie 😂😂😂😂
@sarahallen3733
Iv just sat holding my nans hand in hospital watching her pass away. And this song was playing on smooth radio, for sure everyone was talking at her and she couldn’t hear a word , it chuckled me as tears rolled down my face. Love and miss her millions but this song definitely hits differently now 😍
@philipnorris6542
Love you, Sarah, although we've never met; keep on keeping on, and there is always something to live for.
@lizstraub6621
She won’t let you leave your love behind… she’s taking it with her and wrapping it around you until you meet again. Believe it. ❤️
@donnademko6352
Actually...
That's quite Beautiful.
Sorry about Your Nan.
❤️