George Harrison I Really Want to Know You
See a Problem?
Thanks for telling united states about the trouble.
Friend Reviews
Reader Q&A
Be the kickoff to enquire a question nearly I, Me, Mine
Community Reviews
Derek Taylor'due south editorials are delightf
I've read this book countless times. It isn't a typical autobiography. Anyone who wants the intimate details of George's personal relations, some scuttlebutt on Paul McCartney, or other types of talocrural joint deep nit picking won't find information technology here. Instead, "I, Me, Mine" is like a fireside chat with a classy, fascinating, witty, and dignified friend. We read about George's history and interests, brief mentions of his enormous cast of friends, and details on each song.Derek Taylor'due south editorials are delightful. It'southward easy to honey Derek right alongside George. I wish the pair had lived much, much longer, to enjoy more wry humor and garden strolls, and also (selfishly) an updated copy of the book.
God bless George. He is 1 of a kind.
...more than
If y'all open up this book expecting an autobiography, yous are in for certain disappointment. If yous, on the other hand, expect to get a little closer to Harrison, empathize him at piddling better and learn more near his views of life, other people and death while he also lift
This is not an autobiography by George Harrison. I repeat: This is *non* an autobiography past George Harrison. Information technology fifty-fifty says on the back of the volume, that "I Me Mine is the closest nosotros will come to George Harrison'south autobiography".If y'all open this book expecting an autobiography, you are in for certain thwarting. If y'all, on the other mitt, expect to get a little closer to Harrison, understand him at little ameliorate and learn more about his views of life, other people and expiry while he likewise lifts a lilliputian on the lit roofing the secrets of how ane of the earth's greatest songwriters ever handles his craft; and so you lot are in for a treat.
The first part of the book is Harrison in chat with his friend Derek Taylor ("an English journalist, writer and publicist, all-time known for his work every bit press officeholder for The Beatles"), after Taylor has briefly introduced himself and how he got to know Harrison and the other Beatles.
The major part of the volume (and for me the pièce de résistance) is a lot of Harrison'south lyrics - all introduced (some more briefly than others) past the man himself. Some of these songs accept been played probably everwhere thousands of times and information technology's interesting to hear how they came about and what they hateful to him.
Some of the highlights from the book (for me) are not amongst the lyrics, though, only some quotes by Harrison from the first office of the book:
"Friends are all souls that we've known in other lives. We're fatigued to each other. That'due south how I experience virtually friends. Fifty-fifty if I have simply known them for a mean solar day, it doesn't thing. I'yard not going to await till I have known them two years, because anyway we have met somewhere before, you know. [...] Those people who yous know much more easily or more quickly are people whom you've already known in other lives."
"The Beatles were doomed. Your own space, man, it's so important. That'due south why we were doomed because we didn't accept any. It's like monkeys in a zoo. They die."
And his answer when asked the question if the (ex-)Beatles are a bit removed from reality:
"Reality is a concept. Everybody has their own reality (if they are lucky). Most people's reality is an illusion that 'I am this body'. I am non George. I am not really George [karma name simply]. I am this living thing that goes on, always has been, e'er will be, but at this time I happen to be in 'this' body. The trunk has inverse; was a baby, was a young man, volition shortly be an old human being, and I'll be dead. The physical trunk volition laissez passer but this bit in the center, that's the merely reality. All the rest is the illusion, so to say that somebody thinks that we, the ex-Beatles, are removed from reality is their personal concept. Information technology does non have any truth to it merely considering somebody thinks it. They are the concepts which become layer upon layer of illusion. Why live in the darkness all your life. Why, if you are unhappy, if you are a miserable time, why not just await at information technology. Why are y'all in the darkness? Look for the light. The light is inside. That is the big message."
What a guy.
...more
Beatle George was a mere 36 when this was "written". As autobiography, this being the only attempt at the grade by any of the fabs, it'due south terribly disappointing. The first section is comprised of 'anecdotes', some of them interesting, recalled by George in taped conversations with Derek Taylor, the Beatles' publicist and apologist. Then in that location is a lengthy section of pictures, followed by an fifty-fifty lengthier collection of reproductions of scribbled-on sheets of paper, generally hotel letterhead, torn s
Beatle George was a mere 36 when this was "written". Every bit autobiography, this being the only attempt at the form past any of the fabs, it'south terribly disappointing. The first section is comprised of 'anecdotes', some of them interesting, recalled by George in taped conversations with Derek Taylor, the Beatles' publicist and apologist. And so in that location is a lengthy section of pictures, followed by an fifty-fifty lengthier collection of reproductions of scribbled-on sheets of newspaper, mostly hotel letterhead, torn spiral notebook pages, record company stationery, and napkins. These contain nascent and completed vocal lyrics and notes, and the occasional doodle. To these George adds comments about how each vocal came about, again, some more interesting than others, usually in a paragraph or less. This lengthy department contains commentary on many of George'south lesser works, and there are enough of those in his solo career. George is famously known as 'the quiet one' and became terribly fame-averse and fiercely private after the Beatlemania catamenia. So I guess information technology'due south natural he came up with a patently unrevealing autobiography. And a really lazy chore of information technology, also.
...more than
In a review of another work I made it clear that of the four Beatles, George is undoubtedly my favorite. Mayhap John and Paul were superior songwriters in terms of quality and overall output, but George wrote some of my favorite Beatles songs: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Here Comes the Sun," "I Me Mine," "For Yous Blueish," "Within You lot, Without You," "Something," "Y'all Like Me As well Much," "If I Needed Someone," "Savoy Truffle," "Love You To," "The Inner Light," "Merely a Northern Song," "Former Brown Shoe." This output was keen enough that I can forgive him for the amusing, but slightly self-indulgent commentary that is "Piggies" (though I did notice it amusing while reading this volume to find that George'due south mother contributed the line, "What they need'south a damn skilful whacking!"). And post-Beatles the music of both George and John have given me endless hours of enjoyment.
But not only is it that I appreciate George's music – and particularly his guitar playing power – but George's spiritual journey has always been very interesting to me. He and John, every bit he explains in this book, dabbled in psychedelic drugs together (a couple of year before Paul and some time earlier Ringo), which both expanded their consciousness and drew them closer together. Still, whereas for George these experiences led him on a search for the universal and divine, John was more the skeptic. George felt he had constitute Something on his spiritual journey, whereas John tried to find something – anything – but found nothing. To John the cloth world was all in that location was – manifested in love-ins, creating social change, Yoko, Sean – simply to George in that location was more – a universal consciousness, immense potential in every individual, countless quantities of creative inspiration.
More than this I think I'm drawn to George considering he seemed the to the lowest degree egocentric of the Beatles – "the serenity 1" or the thoughtful one – and in this respect really the anti-McCartney. For George, being human, possessed that trivial something nosotros call an "ego," only he was in constant battle trying to suppress it or overcome it (many times without success), and in this sense George seemed to be very honest – almost to a mistake and often to the bespeak of embarrassment. If he liked someone he'd write a song for them or just but tell them. When it came to subjects similar love and religion, he shared his feelings on the matters honestly and often very simply, knowing that others may find his views puerile, but exposing himself and his weaknesses withal.
Plus, George'south quirky sense of sense of humor (he was later on all good friends with Eric Idle of Monty Python and produced Monty Python'south Life of Brian), which shines throughout this work (in lines similar: "BLUE JAY WAY was [written] at a time when I'd rented a firm in Los Angeles on – Blue Jay Mode, and I'd arrived at that place from England. I was waiting around for Derek and Joan Taylor who were then living in L.A. . . . The mood [of the song is] slightly Indian. Derek Taylor is slightly Welsh"), has always had a sort of magnetism for me because I, as well, accept a bit of an unusual sense of humour and, also like George, I am non beyond doing things like writing a piece on some obscure subject that might appeal simply to a scattering of other people if information technology is of personal interest. Equally George explains, it wasn't beyond him to create songs that might be classified as "piece[due south] of personal indulgence . . . things nobody else knows or cares about, except perchance two people." Why waste time just trying to please others?
Now all that said, about the book itself. I suppose if I had to rate information technology I would assign it three.5 stars: ii.5 stars to the very uninformative autobiographical section, which was short and choppy and 4.v to the 2d role, song lyrics plus commentary. That showtime section was co-written by George and Beatles publicist Derek Taylor and at about 70 pages information technology was scant on detail and covered very little of George'southward life, more similar a very coincidental chat with 1 who is hands distracted – the sections written by Derek Taylor were italicized and made up near half of the lxx pages. Published when George was merely 37 – twenty-i years before his untimely departure from this material world – and with George largely dismissing his years as a Beatle, at that place was non much ground to embrace and many things a reader might want to know more near – his human relationship with Eric Clapton, the years with Pattie Boyd, his marriage to Olivia, musical or other influences, etc. – were inappreciably mentioned let alone discussed in whatsoever detail. This first office was, to say the least, disappointing. And the photos included at the cease of this section were fun to see, but poorly labeled – ane has to flip to a caption section at the end of the book for image details. And throughout the whole book there were a few typos, which was a bummer considering that the work has been republished since 1980, my copy existence a 2012 edition.
As disappointing as I found the get-go role of the work, though, I institute the 2nd office, containing lyrics and commentary to many of George's best-known songs, fascinating and very informative. Here are a few of my favorite tidbits:
- "Don't Bother Me," George's showtime vocal was written simply equally "an do to meet if [he] could write a song"
- "See Yourself" is about Paul'south experiences with LSD and the fact that he admitted it to the printing
- "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" came nigh because George – and then highly influenced by the I Ching and the notion that all things are relative to something else – opened a volume at random while visiting his parents' business firm and saw the words "Gently weeps" and decided to make a song based on those first words he read upon opening the volume, believing the words (and thus the song) would be relative to that particular moment in time
- Eric Clapton's sugariness molar was the inspiration for "Savoy Truffle" and the different sweets listed in the song were actual names of candies in a box of "Adept News" chocolates that George had lying on his table
- "Here Comes the Sun" was written while walking around the garden at Clapton'southward home
- The Cream song "Bluecoat" was co-written with Clapton and got its title because Clapton couldn't read George'due south handwriting – mistaking the part of the song labeled "Bridge" as "Badge"
- George's favorite encompass of "Something": the James Brown version (he'south besides fond of Smokey Robinson'due south cover; he would later write the song "Pure Smokey" about his adoration of the iconic songwriter/Miracles front man)
- "What is Life" was originally written for Billy Preston
- "I'd Accept You Anytime" was written while in Woodstock, where he'd been invited past The Band – and where Bob Dylan (who contributed some lyrics to the song) was besides staying at the time
- "The Art of Dying," to which there is a lengthy ii-page note, is most sure laws of Karma (very interesting to read about)
- "All Things Must Laissez passer" was influenced past Robbie Robertson and The Band
- Like John Lennon's "How Do You Sleep," George's "Run of the Factory" can also exist read as a criticism of McCartney (every bit tin a few other songs)
- "Wah Wah" came from the "headache" that was Allow It Be and the breakup of the Beatles, when 4 very big egos clashed (this hard menstruum as well being the inspiration for "I Me Mine")
- "Backside That Locked Door" is almost Bob Dylan and was jotted downwards on a record sleeve
- "Deep Blue" dealt with the passing of George's mother and with human mortality in full general
- "You" was originally written for Ronnie Spector, just afterwards an unsuccessful become it was abandoned for several years
- "Canvass Away Raymond" – recorded for Ringo's Ringo album (Ringo joined past George and most of The Band) – was inspired by Donovan and Irish gaelic folk music
- "So Distressing" is musically and lyrically i of George'southward favorites, only is a pitiful reminder to him – the vocal well-nigh his dissever with Pattie Boyd
- The Miss O'Dell in Miss O'Dell is a real person: Chris O'Dell, a friend who worked at Apple tree
- Sir Frank Crisp was again a real person, and it was his firm that George bought following his success with the Beatles; the words to "Ding Dong" came from a etching on a wall of the estate from Lord Tennyson: "Yesterday—today—was tomorrow/Tomorrow—today—will exist yesterday"; "The Respond's At the Finish" besides came from something Sir Frank had painted on the walls of the estate
- "Far East Human" was a collaboration with Ronnie Forest; the title came from the wording on Wood's t-shirt
- "Love I": written for Paramhansa Yogananda
- "Learning How to Love You": written for Herb Alpert
- "Crackerbox Palace" was inspired by a story told to George by George Greif (mentioned in the lyrics of the song) about the comedian Lord Buckley
- "This Song" was substantially "calorie-free one-act relief" written amongst the "He's So Fine"/"My Sweet Lord" lawsuit
- Nature and his experiences in Hawaii inspired most of the songs on the George Harrison album
- "Blow Away" was inspired by George's desire to write a vocal for the Formula One racers with whom George had get chums
Existence a fan of George's music, I profoundly enjoyed reading the lyrics to songs that I had heard so many times but never really paid plenty attending to catch all of what he was saying. And, more this, I was fascinated in learning nigh the things that influenced George'south musical output: friends, acquaintances, experiences, philosophies.
I suppose if one asked me which Beatle I would most liked to have met I would have to say George, considering to me he is a kindred spirit, and I believe in a style Рnot dissimilar George or someone like Andr̩ Breton or Jack KerouacРthat we may exist drawn to sure things and people for a reason. Breton postulated that certain objects find u.s.a.. And George that (cartoon on the ideas of Paramhansa Yogananda) the people nosotros get to know most rapidly are people nosotros've known in other lives; that souls are attracted to one another and sometimes these may cantankerous generations. Sir Frank Crisp (who died 24 years earlier George was built-in) influenced Рstraight or indirectly Рseveral songs that George wrote and he (George) feels he was magnetically drawn in some way to have lived in Sir Frank's erstwhile estate. Whether or not any of this is true I don't know Рand no 1 tin know this with any certainty. Just in line with this I exercise feel that we may be attracted to those people or things that are at a given time meant for usa. Reading this book by George was in some means like visiting hidden corners of my own mind and in other ways like spending fourth dimension with a dear friend, someone I've known all my life. And so, seeing George as a friend on this road of life, despite his flaws as a storyteller or writer, despite his egocentric impulses that contradicted and then often his life philosophy, I feel that I should take his lyrics in "The Respond'south At the End" and apply them hither, overlooking his faults and focusing instead on his strong virtues of grapheme and his strength as an creative person (and information technology's for this reason that I requite this work 4 stars instead of three):
Scan non a friend with a microscopic glass
You know his faults at present permit his foibles pass
Life is ane long enigma my friend
So read on, read on, the answer's at the end
And don't be so hard on the ones that you love
Information technology'due south the ones that yous love, we think so little of
Don't exist so hard on the ones that you need
It'southward the ones that you need, we think so piffling of
The spoken communication of flowers excels the flowers of speech
But what's often in your heart is the hardest thing to reach. . . . .
You know my faults at present let my foibles pass
Life is one long enigma my friends
Alive on, live on the, the answer's at the end.
And and so Permit it Curl.
...more
I establish a used first edition hardcover at a reasonable price ($17) and really enjoyed the modest decorative flourishes in it. After ane vocal he wrote at Olivia'southward request, there is a tiny eye later on the lyrics. In that location are some either pen and ink or woodcut illustrations in the offset office, showing places from Geo's babyhood that are marvelous. I take no thought if the paperback edition has these touches but they are part of the charm of the book.
From the moment I held the book I fell in love with information technology. It's like having a flake of Geo with me. Highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of the inimitable George Harrison.
...more
I was besides looking forward to reading all nearly George'due south songs. That too was disappointing every bit for the majority of them all George had to say was where or he was when he wrote the vocal and when information technology was, or what chord or instrument he used. It seemed to be more nearly the music cease of it and not and then much about the significant of the lyrics or what inspired a song. There were a few in which George did delve into the meaning behind a song, simply not for the most function.
This book could have been then much amend..............
...more
Anyone who knows anything nearly George "the quiet Beatle that never shut up" is that he wasn't ane to talk nigh himself besides much so of course this was bound to exist hilarious, straight to the betoken, and more about the music than him.
Whatever this book is, I loved I was a flake humble nigh reading this because of the reviews I saw on Goodreads, but in my clamorous quest to soak up as much data about the Beatles (and my favorite Beatle) every bit possible, information technology was obvious I had to read this.
Anyone who knows annihilation about George "the quiet Beatle that never close up" is that he wasn't 1 to talk nearly himself too much so of course this was jump to be hilarious, direct to the betoken, and more about the music than him.
Whatsoever this book is, I loved it. It's always great to discover new songs when I think I've covered all the "good" ane'south then this was crawly.
Now if I could just follow through with my Here Comes the Sun tattoo and so I think my obsession would be complete... ...more
Anyway, the other day I lift this book off the library shelf to read. But half a dozen chapters of recorded George, talking almost his childhood, Liverpool, Beatles, his soul and racing cars.
The volume contains a photo section, mainly pics I've not seen before, and a section on his song lyrics, with some explanations of This is a truthful story. Last calendar month I bought myself a copy of George Harrison's Concert for Bangla Desh, coz I had never bought this on c.d. + it was a Unicef donation, which was absurd.
Anyway, the other twenty-four hours I lift this volume off the library shelf to read. Only half a dozen chapters of recorded George, talking about his childhood, Liverpool, Beatles, his soul and racing cars.
The book contains a photo section, mainly pics I've non seen earlier, and a section on his song lyrics, with some explanations of how they were equanimous.
Information technology's only when I'thou into the volume that I observe information technology's the 25th of February. Happy birthday George! ...more than
But other than that, he lived a very giving life, one that let him bask the casualties of everything.
I exercise wish like many people before me that the book contained more lengthy pages of pictures and the actual pages he wrote the volume in. Merely it gives information technology a unique touch, that George himself could supply words for it, only that it also had his impact the book. Being that it was about his life, information technology is but the way information technology very well could of been intended to be. ...more
If yous aren't well-versed on Beatles lore, you might be disappointed. I am, therefore I'm not. I wouldn't mind owning a copy of this book for the lyrics solitary.
Not your typical memoir, "I, Me, Mine" is comprised of some anecdotes and and so, for 3/4 of the book, lyrics (handwritten and printed) and cursory descriptions of Harrison'south songs.If you aren't well-versed on Beatles lore, you might be disappointed. I am, therefore I'm not. I wouldn't listen owning a copy of this book for the lyrics lone.
...more
I feel somewhat guilty about that, only I rated his solo work and his more than unasuming personality.
I have been a fan of the Beatles for a while now, and getting to learn more than almost my favorite Beatle, George Harrison, was not bad. Not only did I get to larn near his life from the start of the Beatlemania all the way to his beloved for gardening, I got to acquire his thought processes and all the stories behind well-nigh of the songs he wrote and co-wrote. Some of the stories behind his songs
"I look at the globe and I notice it'southward turning… with every mistake nosotros must surely be learning." -George HarrisonI have been a fan of the Beatles for a while now, and getting to learn more about my favorite Beatle, George Harrison, was great. Not only did I become to learn most his life from the start of the Beatlemania all the way to his love for gardening, I got to learn his thought processes and all the stories behind about of the songs he wrote and co-wrote. Some of the stories backside his songs surprised me, because they turned out to be way different from what I would have thought. His music changed from pop to more of his own way, which was interesting to see how his genres changed throughout the years.
When I first began to read the volume, I thought it was going to exist a lot longer. Only as it turns out, it was very short (77 pages). The introduction was by Olivia Harrison, which was written beautifully. Then, information technology's what I would assume to be his autobiography. I plant it confusing because it didn't really explain if information technology was George Harrison or Darek Taylor talking. Next, at that place are fifty black and white pages, with photos spanning all the way from his very early childhood to him nearing the end of his life. It was fun seeing how his style changes. Merely, I was kinda sad there were no notes to the photos, considering sometimes I was left dislocated about the context or who the person/people were with him. Lastly, information technology goes through a bulk of his songs, with his reasoning behind them. It and so shows photos of his handwritten notes. On the folio after that, it shows the lyrics in a cleaner way, if y'all tin't understand his writing.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn most George Harrison's life and his reasoning behind his writing. If you are wanting to read something close to his autobiography, I would choose another book. The reason being this was very brusque, and most just talking about Derek's conversations with George. But, I learned the meanings behind some of his songs, which other biographies lacked. It had many peachy photos, and I enjoyed flipping through them. To quote Darek Taylor, "I have had to find i word to say what this human is. "Brave" comes near, only information technology has also close a human relationship with suffering and I have therefore ended that, pirate as he is, he deserves the discussion "assuming" for be is, in truth, quite the boldest man I take ever met."
...more
Im very much a realist, and I base most of my behavior on empirical evidence - George is all near spirituality and I only cant really relate to that.
But I similar the story for 'Behind that closed door' :')
If you lot similar the Beatles, this books for you.
nuff said.
I bought this book about 12 years ago and information technology just sat in the "to be read" pile until finally picking it up and reading it. After the first section, it was kind of boring and I found myself wishing I had waited another 12 years!
Strictly for the Harrison/Beatlemaniac who can't go enough of them!
...more 
The other half is filled with concise commentaries on his songs, alongside prints of handwritten lyrics. You lot don't demand to know all the songs to enjoy his anecdotes. A flake of religious philosophizing throughout as George was famously Hindu. Overall a real treat for Beatles fans.
...more
Related Articles
this time I happen to exist in 'this' body. The body has inverse; was a infant, was a young man, will
soon be an old man, and I'll be dead. The
physical body will laissez passer simply this bit in the heart,
that's the only reality. All the residue is the illusion,
and then to say that somebody thinks nosotros are, the ex-
Beatles are removed from reality in their personal concept. It does not have any truth to information technology just because somebody thinks it. They are the concepts which become layer upon layer of illusion. Why alive in the darkness all your life? Why, if you are unhappy, if yous are having a miserable fourth dimension, why non just look at it. Why are you lot in the darkness? Look for the light. The light is within. That is the big bulletin"
Welcome dorsum. But a moment while we sign y'all in to your Goodreads account.
Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35521.I_Me_Mine
0 Response to "George Harrison I Really Want to Know You"
Post a Comment