Think For Yourself

[FPSHOT]

This is an awesome song from the Rubber album. I played it a couple of times lately and wanted to write some things down on it.

George is very ‘direct’ in his approach… like he just steps up to the one this song is about and says, with his frowned eyebrows…“hey you…I got a word, or two, to say about the things that you do”

“and you better listen” ta..tatata (fuzz bass)

a soft version of the later “Wah Wah” and a pretty good follow up on “Don’t Bother Me”. Not another boy loves girl song…nah a bit different.

The start of the song, the strong bass and the drums really get things going like “okay..I’m ready for it, let’s do it”

The fuzz bass is awesome in this song and from the first moment, the fantastic triple harmony vocals are so upfront and I think for 1965 were far ahead on other bands. It also makes the clear message about “To say about the things that you do” even stronger and you can even imagine 3 boys on a school yard combining their forces and coming up to a large bad boy from 2 grades up to tell him in a threesome what they think of him…

Has anybody ever really listened to Ringo’s contribution here, unlike on many songs he is not just beating the drum kit in the usual beat.

And, don’t you miss a guitar solo on this song, or is that compensated by the continuous fuzz bass playing through the song?

George sings this with his low voice..which he was still doing at the time, even though in the backing vocals he already took care of some falcetto parts. Probably a trousers issue. Later he sang at a higher voice most of the time and probably that is a reason why he never performed this song Live in his live performances after 1970.

It also shows a bit about him still being the shy one in 1965, or at least giving the public the idea he was… because if anyone of the four was far from shy and quiet in real, it was definitely George.

This song’s lyrics are mysterious to me. Are they addressed to a girl? It does not have to be, I would more say against a lad, or a grown-up, or like George says in I Me Mine, maybe against politics in general, even though I doubt that. I think in I Me Mine, George is the one being political hehehe, saying he doesn’t remember LOL

“I left you far behind, The ruins of the life that you have in mind, And though you still can't see, I know you're mind's made up, you're gonna cause more misery”

I wonder if the person in question caused more mistery.

Also, it has the early start of our spiritual George, when he sings

“You're telling all those lies about the good things that we can have if we close our eyes” which might have suited on the White Album years later in Sexy Sady LOL

and

“Try thinking more if just for your own sake” to which we might add “Try to realise it's all within yourself no-one else can make you change”

or

“The future still looks good And you've got time to rectify all the things that you should”

On the other hand, less spiritual is his direct approach saying … “sod off” !!!…. in Harrisonic 1965 English transformed to

Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you

Very much George...

Any reactions to this song?

[Siobhan]

This song to me signals the transition of George from novice songwriter, trying to compete with Lennon and McCartney, to when George really came of age as a songwriter.

I agree, he comes accross as being very direct, which as we know is typical of George and is something I admire in him. He was not afraid to speak his mind, and was certainly far from quiet.

The absence of a solo is not something that has ever really bothered me, I think the rest of the song makes up for that. Never really noticed Ringo's drumming particularly, I will have to have a closer listen for that.

As for who the song is about, I've never been to sure about that either. I've never really thought about it being addressed to a lover, more to someone George had issues with at the time. I've always presumed it was about a real person rather than fictional, that wasn't really George's style.

[bobdude]

Any song with the word "opaque" in it is O.K. with me!

[beatlebangs1964]

A masterfully crafted, brilliant song that has inspired many people.

I'm hooked on the 1965 gem, Rubber Soul and this song in particular.
I love it!

[beatlelover45223]

On this one, I think George may be talking to himself, part of the song anyway.... Love the song, but then Rubber Soul is my personal favorite....

[Lynner]

A masterfully crafted, brilliant song that has inspired many people.



Did not realize that this song had been an inspriation to others. Do you mean fans? Other singers? ??? I'm curious.

I've always liked the bass in this song and the vocals. Does anyone know why George changed his voice later to the higher range? I like the "growling" effect on this number.
I think this song is about whomever he had issues with at the time. "Do whatever ever you want - I'm not making the decisions for you."

[old_moon_shining]

“and you better listen” ta..tatata (fuzz bass)...........And, don’t you miss a guitar solo on this song, or is that compensated by the continuous fuzz bass playing through the song?



So thanks FPSHOT, now I know what that very integeral sound is.

Can we imagine Rubber Soul without this track? Would not be the same album would it?!

This is one of his earliest efforts to overcome the Lennon McCartney avalanche. I must think he would have some strong memories of this occasion. So in 'I Me Mine' he says he 'forgets' who it is about. I would think re-reading the lyrics would jog his memory! So FPSHOT does have a really good point.

...but if you read the lyrics thinking of the 'government' they certainly do fit.....and was George really all that 'politically correct' about saying what he thought? Not often I think. If he had an issue with someone he was not usually coy about saying so. So we are left with the enigma of George, ...again.

[Rellevart]

Missed this topic earlier. I looooooove this song. From the perspective of a bass player, it is one of the most fun songs to play (though I haven't learned the fuzz part yet!). I love the harmonies on the verses and the lyrics are great too. And come on, you have to like a song that uses words like "opaque" and "rectify" (Word Geek alert!). :wink1:

[sourmilkpinky]

Are you calling George a geek? :laugh5:

[Rellevart]

Are you calling George a geek? :laugh5:

No, I'm calling ME a geek. I know better than to rile up the George girls. :wink1:

[sourmilkpinky]

LOL :laugh5:

[FPSHOT]

I think Siobhan makes a good point by adding the word ‘competition’ to this conversation.

Imagine this, it is 1965, George is 21, 22 years of age, and he is writing letters to his Mom about India, about incarnations. 21... 22 years old.

And he is writing things we can call poetry, or lyrics, where now, 2005, we still do not really get a grip on. I can get a grip on “She Loves You” any time of day, however by the time George wrote this “Think For Yourself”, he had a word or two, to tell about the things going on in the world, and he was creating what we now know as the Harrison book of amazing song lyrics, which all individual, say often so much more than only the words which are in the song. It leads us, it shows us the way, it makes us think…

There are only few who can do that to me…and George is one.

Is Rubber Soul such a good album if you would take George’s songs out? I don’t think so..He is there… his contribution to the album is rock steady. It’s there and solid.

Is it about the government? I am doubting that…even though our cynical friend sure had his eyes on Downing Street and “The City”. He watched his finances.. to be able to buy new plants for his Friar Park.

The bass structure and the entire song seem so strong, like it was George saying “I am going to show you something…dudes”… and the low voice does make him sound ‘strong’ .. don’t you think? It would sound different with a 1970’s Barry Gibb touch?

[Rellevart]

It would sound different with a 1970’s Barry Gibb touch?

God forbid! That would be horrible! A song like this needs kind of a low, tough-sounding vocal, I think.

Do you think the person/entity who George is addressing this song to is an individual or a collective/group? To me, it sounds very personal, like he's ticked off at a particular person and wants to express his dismay with that individual, not that he's railing against the government or some other institution, but that may just be my interpretation.

[FPSHOT]

I believe it is individual, also via

"I left you far behind, the ruins of the life that you have in mind
And though you still can't see, I know you're mind's made up
you're gonna cause more misery"

That sounds quite individual?

"You're telling all those lies about the good things that we can have if we close our eyes" that also sounds rather individual...it could have been on the White Album about what John sang in Sexy Sadie...kidding.... but I often wonder what this is about. It sounds like a nasty experience...

[sourmilkpinky]

hey Miss O'Dell....was there perhaps a real Grace???? ;)

[FPSHOT]

Huh?

[sourmilkpinky]

Miss O'Dell will understand.....just put me on ignore for that one,lol

[FPSHOT]

probably the only one out there...

[Zimmerman The Gnome]

Think For Yourself is George's first good song for me. His previous efforts didn't quite do it for me.

[Siobhan]

Imagine this, it is 1965, George is 21, 22 years of age, and he is writing letters to his Mom about India, about incarnations. 21... 22 years old.

And he is writing things we can call poetry, or lyrics, where now, 2005, we still do not really get a grip on. I can get a grip on “She Loves You” any time of day, however by the time George wrote this “Think For Yourself”, he had a word or two, to tell about the things going on in the world, and he was creating what we now know as the Harrison book of amazing song lyrics, which all individual, say often so much more than only the words which are in the song. It leads us, it shows us the way, it makes us think…



It has always amazed me that George was able to compose such poetic, honest, mature and thought provoking lyrics at such a young age. Not just in terms of this song, but so many of his songs from 1965 onwards. The fact that he was only 24 when he wrote Within You Without You just blows me away. It really is amazing.

As for Think for Yourself being about a group of people, I'm not sure. It could be but I have always thought it to be aimed at an individual. I think if it was aimed at the government George would have been more open about it - he wasn't exactly backwards in coming forwards :wink1:

And thanks for the laugh with the Bee Gees comment - I tried to hear it in my head and it was quite alarming! :laugh5:

[beatlebangs1964]

Yeah, this song did inspire other artists as well as listeners. This is a very intense song.



And he is writing things we can call poetry, or lyrics, where now, 2005, we still do not really get a grip on. I can get a grip on “She Loves You” any time of day, however by the time George wrote this “Think For Yourself”, he had a word or two, to tell about the things going on in the world, and he was creating what we now know as the Harrison book of amazing song lyrics, which all individual, say often so much more than only the words which are in the song. It leads us, it shows us the way, it makes us think…

There are only few who can do that to me…and George is one.

Is Rubber Soul such a good album if you would take George’s songs out? I don’t think so..He is there… his contribution to the album is rock steady. It’s there and solid.

Is it about the government? I am doubting that…even though our cynical friend sure had his eyes on Downing Street and “The City”. He watched his finances.. to be able to buy new plants for his Friar Park.

The bass structure and the entire song seem so strong, like it was George saying “I am going to show you something…dudes”… and the low voice does make him sound ‘strong’ .. don’t you think? It would sound different with a 1970’s Barry Gibb touch?

As much as I love "She Loves You," it does not have the same kind of impact on me that "Think For Yourself" does. The Beatles for one thing had matured by 1965; the lyrics and musical arrangement of "Think For Yourself" was at the start of the more "experiemental" period of their creativity; it also, as FPSHOT rightfully says "leads us, shows us the way and makes us think." George at a very early age was writing not only very deep, intense lyrics, but also very deep, profound missives. Clearly a very bright man, George had a real gift not only for expressing himself, but for igniting mental sparks in others. He lived by the credo of "Think For Yourself" and he was truly an indpendent person from all standpoints, viewpoints included.

Rubber Soul would not be nearly as effective or as wonderful a collection without that song...that would be taking out something vital and making do with what is left. Not to misconstrue me; the remaining songs are excellent in their own right, but "Think For Yourself" adds something special and unique to the collection.

The song is very inspirational; I love the lyric "the future still looks good and you've got time to rectify all the things that you should." True, the bass in addition to the entire song is very strong; this is a strong song. I don't think Barry Gibb could have done justice to it. I really don't. George's voice, like everything else about him was intense. George not only showed his mettle and held his musical own, but he did it with such flair and class and added vitality. Yeah, George is one of those rare people who can do it to you...leads you, shows you the way, inspires thought. That is all the more reason I love the song.

[Sally]

I just love that song, his guitar in it is superb too, infact the whole album is great (except for Drive My Car which I am not keen on) and George definately comes into his own on Think For Yourself.

[FPSHOT]

I love the lyric "the future still looks good and you've got time to rectify all the things that you should."

Isn't it amazing that a 21, 22 year old guy/man says this?

The way he says it...It's something we should remember every day.. there is always time to rectify things..

If you recognize that there is something to rectify...

then just do it..before it's too late.. because when it is too late...you will regret it and feel so much pain