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)
Freckles
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He always used to get the blame
For every broken window pane
And how they'd yank him
They'd always spank him
In school, he'd tease the girls
He always used to pull their curls
It was a shame
And when the teacher found a tack on her chair
Though a hundred children were there
Everybody said, "Freckles"
He always got the blame
Freckles was his name
He always used to get the blame
For every broken window pane
In school, he'd tease the girls
He always used to pull their curls
The way that boy would carry on
It was a shame
And when the cat had kittens up in the hay
One was black and seven were gray
Everybody said, "Freckles"
He always got the blame
And though his marks were lower
Then the kids much slower
His marks were perfect
With the old bean blower
Freckles was his name
He always used to get the blame
For every broken window pane
In school, he'd tease the girls
He always used to pull their curls
The way that boy would carry on
It was a shame
The song "Freckles" by Harry Nilsson tells the story of a young boy named Freckles who is constantly getting into trouble and being blamed for things that he didn't do. The lyrics emphasize how unfair it is that he always gets the blame, even when he is innocent. The opening lines introduce the character of Freckles and his reputation for being blamed for broken window panes. The following lines detail the mistreatment he receives from those around him, such as being spanked by authority figures.
The second verse goes on to describe his behavior towards girls at school, teasing and pulling their hair. Despite this, the lyrics suggest that it is a shame that everyone blames him for everything. Even when there is clear evidence that he is not to blame, such as when the teacher finds a tack on her chair and everyone points the finger at Freckles. The final verse paints a picture of how Freckles' unique qualities and abilities are overlooked and unrecognized, as he is only known for being the troublemaker who gets the blame.
Overall, the song "Freckles" is a commentary on the unfairness and injustice that can be present in society, particularly towards those who are seen as different or misbehaved. By focusing on the character of Freckles, who is judged and mistreated despite his innocence and talents, the lyrics convey a sense of sympathy and empathy towards those who experience similar treatment.
Line by Line Meaning
Freckles was his name
This line introduces the titular character who is repeatedly blamed for things he did not do.
He always used to get the blame
The singer emphasizes how frequently Freckles unfairly received blame.
For every broken window pane
Freckles is blamed even for accidents or things that were not his fault.
And how they'd yank him
Freckles was physically punished even if he didn't deserve it.
They'd always spank him
The artist reiterates how Freckles was subjected to corporal punishment.
In school, he'd tease the girls
Freckles engaged in mischievous behavior towards girls in his class.
He always used to pull their curls
The specific way in which Freckles teased the girls is described.
The way that boy would carry on
The artist comments on the general behavior of Freckles that caused him to be blamed.
It was a shame
The artist laments the treatment that Freckles received and suggests his behavior was not that bad.
And when the teacher found a tack on her chair
A specific incident in which someone played a harmful prank is used to illustrate the theme of scapegoating.
Though a hundred children were there
Despite the presence of many potential suspects, Freckles is still blamed.
Everybody said, "Freckles"
The repetition of Freckles' name reinforces how frequently he was accused.
He always got the blame
The final line reiterates the central theme of Freckles being a scapegoat.
And though his marks were lower
The singer notes that Freckles did not receive academic recognition, even if he was not as bad as his reputation suggested.
Then the kids much slower
The implied comparison to other students highlights how Freckles was judged unfairly.
His marks were perfect
Despite the unfair treatment he received, Freckles still managed to excel academically.
With the old bean blower
The specific method of how Freckles achieved academic success is described, suggesting that he worked harder than others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOWARD E JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind