Within you Without you

[within you]

I am new to these forums. My favorite song is Within you Without you. I need more information on this song. Its very hard to find information on this song because it not very popular. HELP

[Miss O'Dell]

Paraphrasing from A Hard days write...

WYWY was written as a recollected conversation discussing western individualism and ideas of ego versus Eastern philosophy. George composed the song after a dinner party at his home with Klaus Voormann. Klaus had a pedal harmonium which the song was written around.

And from I Me Mine George says:

"WYWY was written after I got into meditation. We had entered into All you need is love consciousness after the lsd period. The song was written at Klaus Voormann's house in hampstead, London, one night after dinner. I was playing a pedal harmonium in the house, when the song came to me. The tune came first, then the first sentance... we were talking... i finnished the words later.

This was during the sgt pepper period and after I had been taking sitar lessons with Ravi Shankur for some time, so I was getting a bit better in the instrument. i was continually playing Indian music lessons, the melodies of which are called sargems, which are the bases of the different ragas. Thats why around this time I couldn't help writing tunes like this which were basd upon unusual scales.

The best part of it for me is the instrumental solo in the middle which is in five/four time - the first of the strange rhythem cycles that I caught on to one-two-three; one-two-one-two-three"

[IMeMine1969]

Looks like Miss O'Dell has you pretty much covered on info here!

Just wanted to say hello graemlins/wave2.gif *Also, I love "Within You Without You" too! graemlins/images/icons/grin.gif

[FPSHOT]

George also said about it

"There are so many people who don't understand the sentiments of this song. They can't see outside themselves, they're too self-important and can't see how small we are.
Within you, without you was just my way of trying to make a Western pop song, using some of those instruments and some of those sounds"

I believe the lyrics are from George's experience with Eastern philosophy, like about the love which is in us all - see my review on Love Comes To Everyone - but till it's manifested or even before that, being experienced/felt, it's just waiting there till we ourselves open that door to let it out, or in, if you want. "try to realise it" George says.

The part "Try to realise it's all within yourself
no-one else can make you change" may have to do with a Yoganada quote, which is

"Change your thoughts if you wish to change your circumstances. Since you alone are responsible for your thoughts, only you can change them. . You will want to change them when you realize that each thought creates according to its own nature. Remember that the law works at all times and that you are always demonstrating according to the kind of thoughts you habitually entertain. Therefore, start now to think only those thoughts that will bring you health and happiness."

Lyrics:
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 realise 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.

Instruments & additional info.:
Recording commenced in studio two at Abbey Road on March 22 1967.
Album version mixed from take two. Writer: George. Lead vocal:
George. Producer: George Martin. Recording engineer: Geoff Emerick.
Second engineer: Richard Lush.

[within you]

thanks a lot

[luvsthebeatles]

Here (http://www.geocities.com/~beatleboy1/dba08sgt.html) is a good place to see what George and John said about Within You Without You. Dunno how much info it'll give you though.
Welcome to Beatlelinks! graemlins/jumping.gif graemlins/wave2.gif

[edubeltran]

to add some info to this topic, stephen stills, from stills,nash,crosby & young got so impressed by the song that he put a huge stone in his garden, and he engraved the lyrics on it

[edubeltran]

to add some info to this topic, stephen stills, from stills,nash,crosby & young got so impressed by the song that he put a huge stone in his garden, and he engraved the lyrics on it

[within you]

Thanks a lot for that site it has really helped. It is still my all time favorite

[within you]

That is very cool about the crosby stills and nash thing, i didnt no that

[AriesGirl78]

Welcome to Beatlelinks!

I, too, love "Within You, Without You". It is a beautiful song. images/icons/smile.gif

[anurag]

Welcome to Beatlelinks !
I too find Within you,without you to be a wonderful song.I think it is one of the most exotic Beatles tracks ever.It is the most Indian sounding as well.