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)
Open Your Window
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
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Think about letting the rest of the world go fly a kite
Taking it easy, is easy as pie
And holding your hand is such a natural high
I sent flowers, we spent hours
We spent hours, I sent flowers
Think of the money we'd save on rent
Living is easy, as easy as pie
And holding your hand is such a natural high
The lyrics to Harry Nilsson's song "Open Your Window" speaks to the idea of simplifying one's life and finding joy in the ordinary things around us. The song encourages the listener to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of daily life and to appreciate the beauty of the world from a different perspective.
In the first verse, Nilsson encourages the listener to open their window and take a deep breath, indicating the importance of taking a break and being present in the moment. He suggests letting the rest of the world go fly a kite, a metaphor for releasing our worries and troubles. The chorus emphasizes the idea that taking it easy is as easy as pie, and that holding someone's hand can be a natural high.
The second verse proposes the idea of living a simpler life, perhaps even living in a tent, and saving money on rent. Nilsson stresses that happiness can be found in the simplest things, without the need for material possessions. The refrain "We spent hours, I sent flowers" speaks to the importance of time spent together and small gestures of love that can mean so much.
Overall, "Open Your Window" is a call to embrace the present moment, to slow down, and find joy in the simple things in life. It is a beautiful reminder to appreciate the people and experiences that bring happiness and meaning to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Open your window and take a deep sigh
Take a moment to appreciate the present moment and take a deep breath in order to relax.
Think about letting the rest of the world go fly a kite
Consider the idea of not worrying about the problems and chaos of the world, and instead focusing on your own happiness and peace of mind.
Taking it easy, is easy as pie
Relaxing and taking it easy is as simple as making and enjoying a pie - it doesn't have to be complicated.
And holding your hand is such a natural high
Being close to someone you love can bring immense joy and euphoria, without the need for any substances or external factors.
I sent flowers, we spent hours
I took the time and effort to show my affection through a thoughtful gesture, and we spent quality time together.
We could be happy alone in a tent
We don't need luxurious or extravagant things to be happy - even a simple tent can provide us with happiness if we have each other's companionship.
Think of the money we'd save on rent
By living simply and reducing our expenses, we could have more financial freedom and less stress in our lives.
Living is easy, as easy as pie
Life doesn't have to be overly complicated - it can be easy and enjoyable if we adopt a simple and positive mindset.
And holding your hand is such a natural high
Repeating the idea that being close to a loved one can bring immense joy and happiness.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY NILSSON, HARRY EDWARD NILSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind