Within You Without You

The Beatles

About Within You Without You

"Within You Without You" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Written by lead guitarist George Harrison, it was Harrison's second composition in the Indian classical style, after "Love You To", and was inspired by his stay in India in late 1966 with his mentor and sitar teacher, Ravi Shankar. Recorded in London without the other Beatles, the song features Indian instrumentation such as sitar, dilruba and tabla, and was performed by Harrison and members of the Asian Music Circle. The recording marked a significant departure from the Beatles' previous work; musically, it evokes the Indian devotional tradition, while the overtly spiritual quality of the lyrics reflects Harrison's absorption in Hindu philosophy and the teachings of the Vedas. The song was Harrison's only composition on Sgt. Pepper, although his endorsement of Indian culture was further reflected in the inclusion of yogis such as Paramahansa Yogananda among the crowd depicted on the album cover. With the worldwide success of the album, "Within You Without You" presented Indian classical music to a new audience in the West and contributed to the genre's peak in international popularity. It also influenced the philosophical direction of many of Harrison's peers during an era of utopian idealism marked by the Summer of Love. The song has traditionally received a varied response from music critics, some of whom find it lacklustre and pretentious, while others admire its musical authenticity and consider the message to be the most meaningful on Sgt. Pepper. Writing for Rolling Stone, David Fricke described the track as being "at once beautiful and severe, a magnetic sermon about materialism and communal responsibility in the middle of a record devoted to gentle Technicolor anarchy". For the Beatles' 2006 remix album Love, the song was mixed with the John Lennon-written "Tomorrow Never Knows", creating what some reviewers consider to be that project's most successful mashup. Sonic Youth, Rainer Ptacek, Oasis, Patti Smith, Cheap Trick and the Flaming Lips are among the artists who have covered "Within You Without You". 


Year:
1967
5:04
404 
#15

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We were talking
About the space between us all
And the people
Who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion
Never glimpse the truth
Then it's far too late when they pass away

We were talking
About the love we all could share 
When we find it
To try our best to hold it there, with our love, with our love
We could save the world, if they only knew

Try to realize it's all within yourself, no-one else can make you change
And to see you're really only very small
And life flows on within you and without you

We were talking
About the love that's gone so cold
And the people
Who gain the world and lose their soul
They don't know, they can't see
Are you one of them?

When you've seen beyond yourself then you may find peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come when you see we're all one
And life flows on within you and without you

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The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. Their best-known lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, they later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. In the early 1960s, their enormous popularity first emerged as "Beatlemania", but as their songwriting grew in sophistication, they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era's sociocultural revolutions. more »

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Written by: GEORGE HARRISON

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Cover Version
The song "Within You Without You" was originally written by George Harrison of The Beatles for their landmark album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”. It was later covered by American singer-songwriter, Patti Smith.
Fusion of Traditions
The song is known for its fusion of traditional Indian music and Western pop.
Patti's Version
Patti Smith's interpretation, which was released in 2007 on her "Twelve" album, offers a different flavour of the original, maintaining the psychedelic touch while adding her distinctive punk poet style.
Inspired by Indian Philosophy
The song was heavily influenced by Indian philosophy, specifically the concept of the material world VS the spiritual world, which Harrison was exploring during the mid-1960s.
Instruments Used
Unusual to Western pop at the time, "Within You Without You" was performed with a mix of Indian instruments, including tabla, tambura, dilruba and sitar, and western instruments like violins and cellos.
Unique Lyrics
The song's lyrics reflect the human condition, addressing concepts such as illusion, reality, and the passage of time. These themes are woven throughout the song, encapsulating its spiritual vision.
Reception of Patti's Cover
Critics praised Patti's cover, appreciating its fusion of rock and Eastern rhythms.
Trademark Spiritual Song
It became known as George Harrison's trademark spiritual song, giving listeners a taste of the band member's spiritual and philosophical inclinations.
Absence of The Beatles' Members
"Within You Without You" is unique amongst Beatles' songs as it was recorded by Harrison alone with a group of Indian musicians; the rest of the Beatles were not involved.
Not a Popular Hit
Despite its profound and deep meaning, "Within You Without You" did not gain much commercial success compared to other Beatles songs due to its experimental and non-pop nature.
Dislike by John Lennon
The song was not much appreciated by band member John Lennon at the time, who later admitted that he didn't give Harrison's Indian music a serious listen.
Harrison's Favourite
"Within You Without You" was reported to be one of George Harrison's favourite songs from the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.

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