While My Guitar Gently Weeps Analysis

It is easy to hate rock stars. They’re either not musical enough, too musical, too eccentric, not eccentric enough, whiny, egotistical or too depressed. Really we just like to hate rock stars because they are rich and famous and usually brilliant and we are not. Probably the most hated and also loved band in rock history, The Beatles, are certainly not exempt from any of the above superlatives. However, most of us who appreciate great music choose to ignore this and focus on the genius music that all four of the “fab four” produced during their illustrious careers. Mingling among the greatest of all Beatles songs, “While my Guitar Gently Weeps,” expresses the thoughts of, “The Quiet Beatle.” Judging by the lyrics of this epic lament, George was not exactly happy about his nickname.
For most of the existence of the Beatles George was allowed only one song per record and he was not allowed to do any solo recording on the side. By 1968 when the Beatles began recording for, “The White album,” George had had quite enough of this.
The second verse of the song clearly illustrates George’s frustration with the band and his lack of creative control.

"I don't know why nobody told you
how to unfold you love
I don't know how someone controlled you
they bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps"

While many people have criticized the Beatles for lack of musicality, “While my Guitar Gently Weeps” is one song amongst their musical catalogue, which indubitably remains exempt from this criticism. The song begins with a pulsing piano; guitar, drum and bass vamp in a minor. The verse structure reads as a double period with a minor i to V/iii to IV to V progression. The last section of the verse however starts in the same form but cadences in A Major, which is consequently the key of the bridge, which follows.
The bridge is in A major, however it still remains true to the minor feel of the song. Progressing from I to iii to vi to iii to ii to V. This progression inhibits the bridge, with a great deal of “word painting.” That is, the music mimics the mood of the words. The bridge begins major while the words sing about love but when the music shifts to minor the words also shift to illustrating the control that is being exerted on the band members by the record company and of course George’s guitar lying in the corner, silently unplayed.
Perhaps another ironic twist to the history of this song is that the incendiary guitar solo that occurs two minutes into the song was not actually recorded by George Harrison at all! As the story goes, after recording the song several times, none of the three other Beatles were pleased with the recording. Frustrated and hurt George called Eric Clapton down to the studio and after one take; they had a completed version of the song.
While this fact seems to annoy many die hard Beatles fans, inciting them to go as far as saying that the Clapton solo is not actually the one heard on “The White Album,” the fact remains that Clapton’s appearance in the studio during this tumultuous time helped ease rapidly escalating tensions within the band. The irony is apparent and even humorous to some. Mostly, however, this song just adds yet another gem to the Beatles vast collection, and yet another story to add to their lore.