(From the Indiana years)

“I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping 

While my guitar gently weeps…

I don’t know why nobody told you how to unfold your love 

I don’t know how someone controlled you 

They bought and sold you… 

Look at you all… 

Still my guitar gently weeps…”

I had this song playing in my head this morning.  Harrison was my favorite Beatle, probably because we play the same instrument.  I like the imagery of the guitar weeping; it expresses compassion rather than a judgmental tone in the lyrics.   

An older Harrison had a certain quality of brokenness and mellowness to older musicians.  Even a sense of peace.  I think Cobain, Morrison, Hendrix, Joplin, Bonham checked out too early.  There is nothing quite like playing in front of others.  Just like Bob Seger’s lines “Every ounce of energy, you try to give away… As the sweat pours out your body like the music that you play…  Later in the evening, as you lie awake in bed… With the echoes of the amplifiers ringing in your head…  You smoke the days last cigarette…  Remembering what she said…”