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)
Without You
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
No, I can't forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrows
And now it's only fair that I should let you know
What you should know
I can't live, if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give any more
Can't live, if living is without you
I can't give, I can't give any more
Well, I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
Can't live, if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
I can't live, if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
(Living is without you)
The song discusses the pain and sadness of losing someone and the difficulty of moving on without them. The singer is filled with regret and can't forget the moment their lover left them. The line "You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows" illustrates that the person they lost was trying to hide their pain, yet it was still evident in their eyes. The second verse talks about how the singer had their lover but let them go, making it their fault for the heartbreak. The repeated line "I can't live, if living is without you" emphasizes the magnitude of the heartbreak and how the singer feels as though they cannot move on without their lover.
Furthermore, the lyrics suggest that love is not easy and can end in heartbreak. The line "But I guess that's just the way the story goes" implies that the ending was inevitable, no matter what was said or done to try to prevent it. The song is about grief, loss, and the struggle of letting go of someone you once cared about deeply.
Overall, "Without You" is a heartbreaking ballad that portrays the raw, emotional pain of losing someone close.
Line by Line Meaning
No, I can't forget this evening
This evening is unforgettable to me
Or your face as you were leaving
Your face haunts me as you depart
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
This sad tale has played out before
You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Your smile is hiding inner suffering
Yes, it shows
The sorrow is visible
No, I can't forget tomorrow
Tomorrow looms large in my mind
When I think of all my sorrows
I am burdened with my heartache
Well, I had you there but then I let you go
I once had you, but I lost you due to my actions
And now it's only fair that I should let you know
It is right for me to confess to you now
What you should know
What you need to hear from me
I can't live, if living is without you
My life would lack meaning without you in it
I can't live, I can't give any more
I am unable to continue living or giving without you
Can't live, if living is without you
My existence would be pointless without you
I can't give, I can't give any more
I am emotionally drained and unable to give anymore
Well, I can't forget this evening
This memory is forever burned in my mind
Or your face as you were leaving
Your last glance as you left stays with me
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
This is just another story of heartbreak
You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Your façade of happiness can't hide your sadness
Yes, it shows
The pain is evident
Can't live, if living is without you
My very existence is dependent on you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
I am at my limit and unable to continue
I can't live, if living is without you
I need you in my life to survive
I can't live, I can't give anymore
I have nothing left to offer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter William Ham, Thomas Evans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vipr1142
Not for me.
My two first exes cheated on me and I haven't been in love since.
This was 12 years ago.
I've "tried" to fall in love again but I just cant. I just feel nothing anymore.
I think it is because I repeated everyday for years that "I should not care", "humans are like animals, cheating is in our nature".
And it's a double edged sword.
At one point, I feel free from any emotional pain.
But at the same time, I want to have children, a wife.
But its too long time. I think I'll have to be alone.
Think about this, dont cheat. Be a better person and give the other one dignity and leave before you jump in bed with others.
It's not hard. It's only your ego and that you are afraid the new one will ditch you.
If you ever think about fooling around with someone else, leave your current partner because if you are attracted to someone else, then your love for your current love, is not love.
So save your own time too
@crism3lo
No, I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
[Verse 2]
No, I can't forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrow
When I had you there but then I let you go
And now it's only fair that I should let you know
What you should know
[Chorus]
I can't live if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
I can't live if living is without you
I can't give, I can't give anymore
[Verse 1]
Well, I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
[Chorus]
Can't live if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
I can't live if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
@oldskoolmusicforever0724
I'M A NEARLY 60 YEAR OLD BLACK MAN AND THIS IS STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS.AND NO NEED TO THINK I'M YELLING AT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE READING THIS.I JUST PREFER TO TYPE IN BIG LETTERS.IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE FROM ME TO YOU.
@PaddyO1958
You be you Old Skool.
@ucheuchema1081
Well, let me say We can tug on Nilsson. I LOVE the Point myself. P.S. I had no idea he did this song. Nilsson gave us so much.
@raeanderson4638
I'm 80 and love this song. I had a lot of fun romance when this was popular!
@PauloCezardaPaz
This song is really top although so sad...
@user-ep1sw6od3u
@@PaddyO1958 he be OLD SKOOL AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE indeed.
@barrysmith8193
I’m a Vietnam combat veteran. This song is very personal for me. I lost so many very close comrades. It happens all so fast. We never got to say goodbye to them nor was allowed time to grieve. I stand and salute my brothers in arms that have taken their place in history. Some day I’ll be joining them again.
@juliachernobieff6943
Thank you Barry.
@moodyscorpio11
Thank you for your service, and sorry for the loss of your brother in arms <3
@binkytheeimperfectunprofes6770
Thank you for your service & sorry for all your losses, cuts deep I am sure!!!