Oh, I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can do.
My gift is my song and this one’s for you.

One of the best benefits of being a musician must be the ability to write a song for someone you are courting. What better title to make the song than “Your Song”?

When I was really young, I imagined that Elton John must have been a superstar when he wrote this. Who would have the gall to write a song and “give” it to someone else unless you are great already? (Obviously, a lot of people, but I was really young). Anyways it turns out, this was one of Elton’s first songs.

The production of “Your Song” goes unnoticed. In a way that is good. If you were to ask the average Elton fan what instruments were on “Your Song”, they’d say “piano”. However, there are so many instruments sprinkled in that you don’t notice til you really pay attention.

There is a nylon string acoustic guitar, a harp, bass, strings, a flute. Interestingly no drums. As far as lyrics, they are average. We see an early Taupin finding his voice. He would demonstrate he is an amazing lyricist in other songs, later.

Your Song Lyrics

It’s a little bit funny, this feelin’ inside
I’m not one of those who can easily hide
I don’t have much money, but boy, if I did
I’d buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelin’ show
Oh, I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one’s for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well, a few of the verses, well, they’ve got me quite cross
But the sun’s been quite kind while I wrote this song
It’s for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgettin’, but these things I do
You see, I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world.

written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

You’re asking me will my love grow/
Well I don’t know, I don’t know.

“Something” was the song where George Harrison showed that he was on the same level as McCartney and Lennon in The Beatles. Well, in the same league. He wrote a great love song and shows off some of his finest guitar work. Ringo also makes a big contribution on this song. The drums play a large part and they sound solid.

George’s singing voice sounds superb. It sounds sort of like Lennon’s but less distinctive—and that is nice for a change. The verses are solid (Frank Sinatra said this is the best love song ever written) but the bridge really is spectacular. It is a very different vibe from the verse and Ringo’s drums play a key part here.

Harrison’s guitar work is all over “Something”. The most obvious place to look is the solo. It is extremely smooth. That’s an understatement if ever there was one. The guitar fills during the verses are more nuanced. It is not that they deserve more attention, but her we see that Harrison is growing as a songwriter by using the power of production to layer sounds to create the sound he has in his head. I also really like the bass part on this song. It is fairly unique and does a lot to create the depth of sound that the song needs.

For more Beatles.

Something Lyrics & Meaning

Something in the way she moves-
Attracts me like no other lover.
Something in the way she woos me…

I don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.

Somewhere in her smile she knows
That I don’t need no other lover.
Something in her style that shows me.

Don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.

You’re asking me will my love grow,
I don’t know, I don’t know.
You stick around, now it may show.
I don’t know, I don’t know.

Something in the way she knows-
And all I have to do is think of her.
Something in the things she shows me…

I don’t want to leave her now,
You know I believe and how.

written by George Harrison