I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping…

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” comes from Harrison’s collaboration with Eric Clapton that also produced Badge for Cream. By the time of The Beatles’ White Album, Harrison was proving that he was able to match Lennon and McCartney in terms of quality of songwriting—though he was not nearly as prolific as the duo.

The Beatles took a famous trip to India in which Harrison had a spiritual awakening of sorts. This song stems from that time. The song is about the love and potential that is within us that is often unrealized due to outside forces in the world.

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has many interesting aspects. One is the verse, bridge, verse, bridge structure. The guitar playing is another stand out. The guitar work on this song was performed by Clapton. The record is heavily produced and it is one of The Beatles more hard rock songs that they ever recorded. Notice all the overdubs in the background of weird vocals. Also, that whining organ-like sound I think is an effect created in the studio from playing guitars backwards. Very experimental.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps Lyrics

I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don’t know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don’t know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it’s turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

Well…

I don’t know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don’t know how you were inverted
No one alerted you

written by George Harrison