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)
Signs
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the light there is dimmer
And chances are slimmer
Of findin' your way
You find that you stay out
Of trouble and danger
'Cause everything's stranger
Than it used to be
But I couldn't be happy without you
And I swear all my thoughts are about you
The most beautiful world in the world
Well the light can be bright there
And everything's right there
The end of the night there might be a big band
Or a heavenly chior--Or it might be the fire
But no matter what happens
I bet it's OK
You're a scary old place out there world
But I couldn't be happy without you
And I swear all my thoughts are about you
The most beautiful world in the world
Your mountains when you're mad
Your rivers when your sad
And those deep blue seas
I love you for your snow
Your deserts down below
I love the way you wear your trees
The most beautiful world in the world
And though there are times when I doubt you
I just couldn't stay here without you
So when you get older
And over your shoulder
You look back to see if it's real
Tell her she's beautiful
Roll the world over
And give her a kiss and a feel
So long, folks!
Goodbye, Harry.
See you next album, Richard.
GOODBYE!
The lyrics to Harry Nilsson's song, What's Your Sign, explore the complexity and duality of the world, acknowledging that it can be both scary and beautiful at the same time. It speaks to the idea that as we grow older, we become more aware of the dangers and uncertainties of life, but that doesn't diminish our love for the world. Instead, the song suggests that it is our connection to the world that makes everything worthwhile, and that even in the face of adversity, we can find happiness and beauty if we look for it.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for its message, conveying a sense of foreboding and uncertainty as the singer describes the increasing darkness and difficulty of finding one's way. This creates a contrast with the later lines that describe the beauty of the world, emphasizing the complexity of our emotions and our ability to hold conflicting ideas together. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his love for the world, even as he acknowledges its flaws and imperfections, demonstrating a deep appreciation for the world's complexity and diversity.
Overall, the lyrics to What's Your Sign suggest that life is a journey full of ups and downs, but that it is ultimately our connection to the world that gives our lives meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
You come to the end
As you approach the end of your journey or life
And the light there is dimmer
Things become less clear and more obscure
And chances are slimmer
The possibilities and opportunities become less likely
Of findin' your way
To discover a path or direction
You find that you stay out
You avoid or refrain from getting into
Of trouble and danger
Problems or situations of difficulty and risk
'Cause everything's stranger
Because everything seems unfamiliar or odd
Than it used to be
Compared to how things were before
You're a scary old place out there world
The world can be intimidating and dangerous
But I couldn't be happy without you
Despite its challenges, life is still worth living and enjoying
And I swear all my thoughts are about you
The world is all-consuming and constantly on the mind
The most beautiful world in the world
Despite its flaws, the world is still a beautiful and wonderful place
Well the light can be bright there
There are moments of clarity and illumination
And everything's right there
Things can be perfect and in order
The end of the night there might be a big band
There may be lively and exciting events
Or a heavenly chior--Or it might be the fire
Or there may be peaceful or destructive moments
But no matter what happens
Regardless of the situation
I bet it's OK
It will all work out in the end
Your mountains when you're mad
The world's rugged terrain can appear daunting when angry
Your rivers when your sad
The world's natural waterways can mirror feelings of grief
And those deep blue seas
The world's vast oceans are a source of beauty and awe
I love you for your snow
The world's snowfall is a beautiful sight to behold
Your deserts down below
The world's barren wastelands are a unique and fascinating sight
I love the way you wear your trees
The world's forests and their foliage are truly beautiful
And though there are times when I doubt you
Even when there are reasons to be uncertain of the world
I just couldn't stay here without you
Life is still worth living, in spite of its difficulties
So when you get older
As you mature and grow older
And over your shoulder
As you look back over your life
You look back to see if it's real
To make sure that your life has been genuine and true
Tell her she's beautiful
To appreciate and acknowledge the beauty of life
Roll the world over
To embrace and cherish the world
And give her a kiss and a feel
To show love and affection for the world
So long, folks!
Goodbye, everyone!
Goodbye, Harry.
Farewell to Harry Nilsson
See you next album, Richard.
Looking forward to Richard's next album
GOODBYE!
A final farewell
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: HARRY NILSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind