George Harrison – All Those Years Ago

I remember this George Harrison song well in 1981. This song was tribute to John Lennon, who was shot and killed the year before. The song had a bouncy melody and it was originally wrote for Ringo. After Lennon was murdered George re-wrote the lyrics to show is feelings for John.

Ringo did end up playing on the track with Paul and Linda McCartney, and Denny Laine from McCartney’s band Wings. Long time Beatle producer George Martin produced this for Harrison. Geoff Emerick, one of The Beatles sound engineers, also had a hand in this tune.

This appeared on the album Somewhere In England. I bought the single and then the album. The album peaked at #11 in the Billboard Album Charts, #13 in the UK, and #14 in Canada. The song peaked at #2 in the Billboard Album Charts, #13 in the UK, and #3 in Canada in 1981.

Al Kooper: “George was in the kitchen, white as a sheet, real shook up. We all had breakfast. He took calls from Paul and Yoko, which actually seemed to help his spirit, and then we went into the studio and started the day’s work. Ray and I kept George’s wine glass full all day…”

All Those Years Ago

I’m shouting all about love
While they treated you like a dog
When you were the one who had made it so clear
All those years ago

I’m talking all about how to give
They don’t act with much honesty
But you point the way to the truth when you say
All you need is love

Living with good and bad
I always looked up to you
Now we’re left cold and sad
By someone the devil’s best friend
Someone who offended all

We’re living in a bad dream
They’ve forgotten all about mankind
And you were the one they backed up to the wall
All those years ago
You were the one who imagined it all
All those years ago

All those years ago
All those years ago

Deep in the darkest night
I send out a prayer to you
Now in the world of light
Where the spirit free of lies
And all else that we despised

They’ve forgotten all about God
He’s the only reason we exist
Yet you were the one that they said was so weird
All those years ago
You said it all though not many had ears
All those years ago
You had control of our smiles and our tears
All those years ago

All those years ago

All those years ago

All those years ago

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

26 thoughts on “George Harrison – All Those Years Ago”

  4. Uptempo yet sad, it was a strange mix that worked for me, and it said it all. I bought the single and it would be, i thought, the closest thing to an actual new Beatles single again. Not quite, as it turned out….

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    1. Yes I thought the same thing also about a Beatles single at the time. I really like Paul’s song Here Today also…two very good songs about John.

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    1. I was 14 when George’s song was released and when I heard Ringo and Paul was on it….it was made that much more special at the time.
      I also like Paul’s “Here Today”

      I do love that Ringo song….Eric Clapton said that Ringo was the only one of them to be so open like that with his emotions.

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  12. Max, you know in some ways, my ignorance about music is an embarrassment yet in other ways it is a blessing. This song is case in point. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know this song was about John. I’m blessed because it brings these two closer together in my mind. Thank you for highlighting this song today and teaching me something new about my favorite Beatle and his cohort.

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    1. The reason I knew is because at the time…it was promoted as an almost a Beatles recording….well at least Ringo and Paul were on it also. I’m glad George invited them to be a part of it. He was really honest and open in this song.

      Paul has one also called “Here Today” and it’s good also. They all….as George said looked up to John…
      We all have to learn sometime. Glad I could help. I can’t believe I never posted it before. It’s a favorite of mine by him.

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