I had a life changing mushroom experience awhile back and I found that Within You Without You summed it up perfectly. No self, interconnectedness, appreciation of life yet no fear of death. Truly felt like “we could save the world, if they only knew”. This song described my spiritual experience beautifully.
Beautiful song. George found so much in India! He seemed to be the most enlightened of the group. I really appreciate how he used Indian instruments in much of his music, after his first trip to India. I don't think anyone else was doing that in popular music then and this is another great example of how the Beatles were innovators! Thanks for showing the instruments. I have never seen them before.
Within You Without You’ - a transcendent sonic journey. With its enchanting Indian tones and introspective lyrics, this iconic Beatles song transports the listener into a realm of reflection and transcendence. An unforgettable psychedelic musical experience. 🎶
YES. I think this is my fav song on Sgt. Pepper other than A Day In The Life for reasons I don't know if I could put into words. I love George's outlook on life.
It was a song I had always skipped over years ago. However, I really listened to it, under the "right circumstances" and now love it. The music and lyrics are beautiful. Considering George was only 24 years old when he wrote/recorded this song, it is an impressive composition. The new Pepper remixes benefit Within You, Without You a lot. George's sitar now has an even more exotic sound to it.
It's all with in yourself no one else can make you change, you are very small life goes on within you and without you (in other words they're basically telling us to wake up and live)
Such a beautiful song, I didn't like the song much until I heard it on the record. It sounds so different to me when it's heard on vinyl and it really connects with me more. And then the new remix really cemented this song as one of my favorites. George is and will always be my favorite Beatle because of his great songs, but also because of his spirituality and overall positivity that he shows through his songs that could seem quite dark or negative such as "Art of Dying" or the song written as how George was taking his immanent fate "Stuck Inside A Cloud"
After listening to "For the Benefit of Mr Kite," ending on the carnival-like run of notes, there's a pause as you flip the record. Then you hear the drone of the pedal tone of "Within You, Without You," which suddenly transports you to another continent and another frame of mind. It was such an excellent transition, with that forced interval that you don't get on a CD. Brilliant album. Within You, Without You was a song that I always looked forward to when listening to Sgt. Pepper's, a favorite among favorites. (Then you fade out and go into... When I'm Sixty-four? Brilliant!)
“When I’m 64” has always been a mood killer for me on that album, specially coming from “Benefit of Mr. Kite” and “Within you Without You”... I just don’t get how “When I’m 64” fits into that album/sequence
I loved that when you went to side two on the vinyl, this was the first song up, and it felt like you were transported to a different world. It makes you wonder if maybe it was a manufacturer's mistake, but then you hear George and it's like "whooooooooa". Music was great back in the day
this song was directed at john and paul always argueing to get what they want, if they only knew is john and paul (georges words not mine from his book) also listen to I ME MINE, again about john and paul and i think john and paul sang harmony on the chorus
Awesome video, HollyHobs! I came across this while looking for a good version of "Within You Without You" to play for college students taking an Intro to Social Movements of the 1960s. I really hope there's time to squeeze this great little video in, along with the song itself. Thank you so much for the time and love you put into making it! :)
Thank you Mr Hollyhobs for yet another fantastic episode!!! Easily the best song from Sgt. Peppers lonely Hearts Club Band, by far. But where's the Let It Beard gone?
The title/phrase was actual heard by a female friend of George over the BBC. She called George right away and shared that with him...”Life flows on, within you ....and without you” was the quote.
I've seen the Sgt. Pepper documentary that came out last year, and on it is Jenny Boyd (younger sister of Pattie Boyd). She says that she read a book and in it she found a line that said "Life goes on within you, without you." She said that she really liked that part and called George, telling him about what she'd read. And that's how the song came to be (apparently).
Going back to watch earlier videos from before I found your channel. 0:54 - OMG! This time lapse shot of Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur is to die for. Dear Lord, I freaking love this country so much.
"Within You Without You" was a song that I wrote based upon a piece of music of Ravi [Shankar]'s that he'd recorded for All-India Radio. It was a very long piece - maybe thirty or forty minutes ... I wrote a mini version of it, using sounds similar to those I'd discovered on his piece. - George Harrison discussing the composition in 2000 According to Bhagaad Gita 5.29, which George was a student of, "peace and love" is only possible by understanding that Lord Krishna is the supreme enjoyer of all our sacrifices, He is the supreme controller of all planets and the supreme friend of every living entity.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST INTERVIEW/MINI-DOCUMENTARYS MADE ABOUT GEORGE HARRISON AND HIS JOURNEY TO LEARN ABOUT HINDUISM AND THE SONG "WITHIN YOU, WITH OUT YOU"; A SONG I'VE BEEN A FAN OF SINCE ABOUT 1979, WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT. THANK YOU FRIEND!, NAMASTA!!!
There was a massive cultural exchange between Britain and the sub continent. It was not all racism and conquest. From revival of Buddhism to translation of Vedic scripts. Plus opium, gunja. Prior to the Mutiny great respect was shown.
That which is flows on with in your and without you. And it flows through all things. It manifest all things. It is not a thing. Yet it informs all things. And all THINGS pass away.
Ravi Shankar also gave George the book Autobiography Of A Yogi by Yogananda, which George used to give to his friends. When they asked which people George wanted to put on the Sgt.Pepper album cover, he chose the pictures of Yogananda and his whole line of gurus.( A significant event in the book is eluded to in the line from "W.M.G.G.Weeps" about the floor needing sweeping.) The very first line contains so much. "The space between us all" - If we are seen as Spirit, then the space between us all is the physical universe. For an excellent guitar instrumental version of this song, see Jimmy Herring.
I always loved Georges' sitar heavy stuff. Inner Light and this song were honestly some of my favorite Beatles songs. I heard Ravi was actually a pretty shitty guy and hypocrite. Can't remember what that was about though, I looked into it years ago. You should do one of these about Revolution 9 sometime! Or Martha My Dear ;)
You must be thinking about Maharishi. He actually inspired John to right sexy Sadie cause he’d “made a fool of everyone”. But yeah George remained very close with Ravi Shankar throughout his life. Also the inner light features the sarod and shenhai, not sitar
I'm glad George brought to light the Indian influence in his music. The Beatles were musical innovators and that's why people still enjoy the music they made so many years ago.
This song did not belong on Sergeant Pepper. It had absolutely nothing to do with any of the other songs. Either in style or theme. But they had to give George his one song per album. They should’ve put Penny Lane on Sergeant Pepper and George’s song on magical mystery tour. Or Of course, George could’ve written something that was more suited to Sergeant Pepper.
Well , I agree with you even though I love the song The song wasnt suited for splhcb at all Penny lane and strawberry fields forever were much suited and even goerge Martin agrees on it But within you without you doesnt even suit with magical mystery your I guess it would have worked with white album
Great perspective.That love,that peace and love is within us all to live,give and experience.I really like your explanation HollYHobs.And of course I really dig the song as well,it's a timeless masterpiece.
After all these decades, I've always wondered who arranged/composed/orchestrated the middle section of this tune. The instrumental part between the verses. It has to have been George Martin, though I've never heard him discuss it in any depth.
DEAR MR. HOLLYBOBS: I KNOW THAT "ACROSS THE UNIVERSE", "THE INNER LIGHT" AND "WITHIN AND WITHOUT YOU" ARE THE BEATLES´ SONGS THAT INCLUDE INDIAN INSPIRED MUSIC. ARE THERE ANY MORE SONGS THAT I AM MISSING? DID JOHN, PAUL OR RINGO DECIDE TO COMPOSE THEIR NEW COMPOSITIONS INCLUDING INDIAN INSPIRED MUSIC? THANKS FOR YOUR MUSICAL ANALYSIS OF GEORGE AND RHAVI SHANKAR´S FABULOUS CREATIONS....GREETINGS FROM MEXICO CITY!!
Hmmm, I remember hearing it day after the record came out. Iconic masterpiece of music. Only one small flaw though, the reference to "we are all one" hints on Mayavadi impersonalism. Later he went on to chant Hare Krsna, the epitome of personalism.
This is one of the greatest Beatles song, and George's best. I say this despite NOT being a George fan. I find him, unlike Lennon , who was always honest to the point of embarrassment, to be quiet, false, moralistic and manipulative. Writing about 'Living in the Material World' (yeah) I bought the LP at the time, it finished my interest in George, but I had already tired of 'My Sweet Bored' and consider only a couple of McCartney LP's any good ('Band on the Run' and his first) and also Johns first two ('Plastic Ono Band' and 'Imagine') as actually good. John was not perfect but he never moralized or fined his band members for smoking the same weed he had smoked earlier. George lived the Rock Lifestyle, mansion, Rolls while talking about materialism: John put his life on the line for peace and had enemies like Nixon!
George was soul searching and came to the time he almost understood it all. We are one with you and without you is the clue to his belief. I know life is but a test to find God and love him.George was almost ready to make that big jump his own way.If he had been lucky enough to have loved himself and understood that talking , asking and prayers will be answered and God will be with you and you will know it. He went around and around because he made it so hard just to ask God to prove he is God. I did by chance ask on the thought of my fathers death. He answered me loud and clear with no doubt with no fear just love
Can anyone explain why the song goes completely off track in a short while? The teen taal on tabla is not in synch with the song . This thing is bugging me for years and years..
Great, great track. . . lyrics and tune together, on one kind of chord all the way through (or two)> this is a good track - kids: If they only KNEEEWWWWW oooh ooh!
Great explanation, however I feel rather than speaking to himself, that George was speaking to all who listen and think... It's a song that grows on most listeners who grow and mature.... P.S did you know that the English Concertina, was inspired by the Indian Harmonium...
i kinda think of john paul and george as 3 hippies but are hippies to different things also i gotta ask if you willl make a video on your thoughts about the paul mccartney is dead rumor
justin, give it another listen. remember it was 1967...1967!! imagine radiohead being played in 1940. everything about this song was revolutionary. as you get older don't forget to pay attention to the revolutionists. many times they are before their time and the only ones telling the truth. LISTEN
It's incorrect to say that George didn't find himself through religion. That's precisely what he did. The modern phobia against religion warps facts to suit itself.