I was born a year after George Harrison, the Beatle. In the 1960’s, fans of the Beatles often asked each other “Who is your favourite Beatle?” My favourite Beatle was George – years before he went to India. George died from cancer just 10 years ago on November 29, 2001. Here is a poem to George. Facebook friends will recognise the inspiration for the lines.
While our Guitar Gently Weeps
Life flows on without you,
we know the space between us
we didn’t want you to leave us
now our guitar gently weeps.
You had to leave us now,
it was not our wish somehow,
in this long, cold, lonely winter,
it seems like years since you’ve been here.
Something in the way life moves
touches us like no other wonder
something in the way life grooves
we don’t want to leave it now,
you know we believe somehow.
Here comes your son,
and we say he’s alright,
we didn’t want you to leave him now,
it was not our wish somehow.
We glimpse the truth; you’re not so far away,
we talk about the love we all could share
while our peace of mind is waiting there
as life flows on without you.
Try to realise it’s all without yourself,
no one else can make us change,
we see we are all so very small,
and life flows on within and without you.
Oh sweet George
we really loved to see you,
we really loved to hear you,
it take so long, dear George, for you
to write but we will sing your song.
Here comes your son
and he’s alright.
while our guitar gently weeps
as life flows on within you
and without you.
(George Harrison. 25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001)