Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994), sometimes cred… Read Full Bio ↴Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994), sometimes credited as Nilsson, was an American singer-songwriter who reached the peak of his success in the early 1970s. His work is characterized by pioneering vocal overdub experiments, a return to the Great American Songbook, and fusions of Caribbean sounds. Nilsson was one of the few major pop-rock recording artists to achieve significant commercial success without performing major public concerts or touring regularly.

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)

Nevertheless
Harry Nilsson Lyrics

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I knew the time had to come
When I'd be held under your thumb
I'm like a pawn in your hand
Moved and compelled, at your command
Whether it's for bad or for good
I would never change it if I could

Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong

Maybe I'm weak, maybe I'm strong
But nevertheless I'm in love with you
Maybe I'll win, maybe I'll lose
And maybe I'm in for crying the blues
But nevertheless I'm in love with you

Somehow, I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking
Fine at the start, then left with a heart that is breaking

Maybe I'll live a life of regret,
And maybe I'll give much more than I get
But nevertheless, I'm in love with you

In spite of all I could do
I went ahead falling for you
So if I laugh or I cry
I made my bed, that's where I'll lie

For what happens there's no excuse
I put my own head in the noose

Overall Meaning

In Harry Nilsson's song "Nevertheless," the lyrics describe a person who is completely in love and under the control of their partner. They recognize that they are like a pawn in their partner's hand, moved and compelled at their command. The singer acknowledges that they may be weak or strong, right or wrong, but regardless of the situation, they are in love with their partner. They know that they are taking terrible chances by falling in love with their partner, but they cannot help themselves. They may end up living a life of regret and giving more than they get, but they are still in love.

The song speaks to the idea of being in love with someone else and giving oneself over to that person, no matter the consequences. The line "I'm like a pawn in your hand" describes the power dynamic at play in the relationship where one person holds all the control. The line "Maybe I'll win, maybe I'll lose" speaks to the uncertainty that comes with being in love, showing that the singer is willing to take the risk of losing everything just to be with their partner. The final line, "I put my own head in the noose," shows that the singer recognizes that they have willingly given up control over their life, and they are willing to accept the consequences, no matter the outcome.

Line by Line Meaning

I knew the time had to come
I was aware that a time would arrive

When I'd be held under your thumb
When I would be controlled by you

I'm like a pawn in your hand
You hold me like a pawn in your hand

Moved and compelled, at your command
I am pushed and manipulated with your commands

Whether it's for bad or for good
No matter if it's positive or negative

I would never change it if I could
I would not make any changes even if given the opportunity

Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong
Perhaps I'm correct, perhaps I'm mistaken

Maybe I'm weak, maybe I'm strong
Maybe I'm feeble, maybe I'm potent

But nevertheless I'm in love with you
However, I still love you

Maybe I'll win, maybe I'll lose
Perhaps I'll succeed, perhaps I'll fail

And maybe I'm in for crying the blues
I may end up lamenting

But nevertheless I'm in love with you
But regardless, I still adore you

Somehow, I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking
I'm fully aware of the risks involved, even at first sight

Fine at the start, then left with a heart that is breaking
Relationship seems perfect at first, but then results in a broken heart

Maybe I'll live a life of regret,
Perhaps I'll spend my life filled with regret

And maybe I'll give much more than I get
Perhaps I'll give more in exchange for less

But nevertheless, I'm in love with you
However, my love for you remains intact

In spite of all I could do
Despite all my efforts

I went ahead falling for you
I fell for you, anyway

So if I laugh or I cry
Whether I chuckle or weep

I made my bed, that's where I'll lie
I've made my choice, and I have to deal with the consequences

For what happens there's no excuse
I take full responsibility for my actions

I put my own head in the noose
I've created this problem for myself

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bert Kalmar, Herman Ruby

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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