About the song
Released in 1969 as part of Abbey Road, “Something” stands as one of George Harrison’s greatest contributions to The Beatles’ legendary catalog. It was the first Harrison-penned track to be released as an A-side single by the band — paired with “Come Together” — and quickly earned both critical and commercial success. Frank Sinatra famously called it “the greatest love song of the past 50 years,” a sentiment many still echo today.
Composed during a period of personal and creative growth for Harrison, “Something” marked his emergence as a songwriting equal alongside Lennon and McCartney. Its elegance, honesty, and understated power helped define a new emotional tone in The Beatles’ later work.
The sound and style:
“Something” blends orchestral pop, rock, and a subtle dose of soul, creating a lush and timeless sound. It’s a sonic departure from the band’s earlier, more experimental psychedelia — favoring melodic simplicity and emotional resonance.
Musical features:
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A smooth, flowing melody with Harrison’s gentle vocal at the center
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String arrangements (by George Martin) that elevate the romantic atmosphere
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A distinctive lead guitar solo, also by Harrison, filled with expressive bends and pauses
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McCartney’s fluid bass line, often praised for its melodic richness
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An overall restrained but powerful production
It’s soft, elegant, and emotionally transparent — a love song that breathes.
Lyrical themes and atmosphere:
“Something in the way she moves / Attracts me like no other lover”
The lyrics are minimalist, yet deeply evocative. Harrison paints love not as a dramatic spectacle, but as something quietly compelling and unknowable. There’s awe, reverence, and vulnerability in how he describes his muse — never fully understanding her, yet fully captivated.
Themes:
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Romantic mystery and devotion
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The spiritual and transformative power of love
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A subtle tension between certainty and uncertainty
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Emotional surrender, without melodrama
Unlike many love songs, “Something” resists clichés. It’s not grandiose — it’s real.
Legacy and impact:
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Became one of The Beatles’ most-covered songs, with renditions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, James Brown, and more
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Charted globally and remains a wedding and love song staple
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Highlighted George Harrison’s songwriting genius, shifting public perception of him from “the quiet Beatle” to a creative force
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Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame
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Ranked among Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”
“Something” helped define the emotional maturity of The Beatles’ later years — introspective, honest, and artfully restrained.
Final thoughts:
“Something” is not just a standout track on Abbey Road — it’s a landmark in love song history. Harrison’s quiet sincerity, paired with The Beatles’ masterful arrangement, creates a mood that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
It doesn’t scream its feelings. It whispers them, with the kind of gentle conviction that lingers long after the last note fades. In a band filled with giants, George Harrison’s “Something” proved that sometimes, the softest voice says the most profound things.
Video
Lyrics
“Something”
(Abbey Road version)Something in the way she moves
Attracts me like no other lover
Something in the way she woos meI don’t want to leave her now
You know I believe and howSomewhere in her smile she knows
That I don’t need no other lover
Something in her style that shows meDon’t want to leave her now
You know I believe and howYou’re asking me will my love grow
I don’t know, I don’t know
You stick around, now it may show
I don’t know, I don’t knowSomething in the way she knows
And all I have to do is think of her
Something in the things she shows meI don’t want to leave her now
You know I believe and how