“Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles is a radiant and universally beloved anthem of pure, unadulterated hope and renewal. Written by George Harrison during one of the most stressful periods of the English band’s career, the song is a simple yet profound expression of relief and optimism.
It masterfully uses the natural, life-affirming arrival of the sun after a long and difficult winter as a powerful metaphor for the inevitable return of happiness, clarity, and joy after a period of darkness and struggle. In this article, we explore the meaning of this song, breaking down its metaphors and emotions.
Introduction to the Song
Released on September 26, 1969, as the opening track of Side Two of The Beatles’ legendary final recorded album, Abbey Road, “Here Comes the Sun” is one of the most cherished and enduring songs in the band’s entire catalogue. It stands as a masterpiece of George Harrison’s songwriting, a moment of brilliant, shimmering light that provides a beautiful contrast to some of the album’s more complex or heavier themes. The song’s bright, acoustic-driven melody and its simple, heartfelt message have made it a timeless symbol of optimism.
The story behind the song’s creation is as beautiful and inspiring as the track itself, born from a spontaneous moment of escape and relief from the crushing pressures of the band’s business affairs. Its recording was also notable, showcasing Harrison’s growing interest in new musical technologies like the Moog synthesizer and featuring a beautiful orchestral arrangement by producer George Martin.
“Here Comes the Sun” is a song that has only grown in popularity and significance over the decades. Its universal message of hope has made it a global anthem for new beginnings, a source of comfort in dark times, and a powerful reminder of the simple, profound joy of a new day dawning.
Central Theme & Message
The central theme of “Here Comes the Sun” is the cyclical nature of life and the inevitable emergence of hope and joy after a period of prolonged darkness and struggle. The song is a pure and simple celebration of renewal, capturing the profound feeling of relief that comes with the end of a difficult time. It is a musical embodiment of the classic proverb, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”
The song’s primary message is one of unwavering optimism and gentle reassurance. The narrator, speaking from a place of newfound relief, assures the listener that everything is going to be “all right.” The song argues that suffering, like a long, cold winter, is a temporary season. It may feel endless while it is happening, but it will eventually pass and give way to the warmth and light of the sun. This is a powerful message of resilience, encouraging listeners to hold on through their struggles with the faith that a brighter day is coming.
Furthermore, the song delivers a message about the healing power of nature and simplicity. The profound joy described in the song is not derived from wealth, success, or complex solutions, but from the simple, natural event of the sun rising on a beautiful day. It is a reminder to find and cherish the small, beautiful moments of relief in life, as they are often the most powerful and restorative forces we have.
Verse-by-Verse Meaning
The Chorus
The chorus of the song is a simple, direct, and joyfully declarative announcement. The narrator heralds the arrival of the sun, a moment of profound and welcome change. The repetition of this phrase, combined with the iconic, cheerful vocal riff that accompanies it, creates a feeling of pure, unadulterated happiness. It is not a complex statement, but a simple observation of a beautiful event, which is the source of its immense power.
Following this announcement, the narrator offers an immediate and deeply comforting response to this arrival: a simple declaration that everything is now “all right.” This is the emotional core of the song. The presence of the sun—the symbol of hope and renewal—is so powerful that it instantly alleviates all previous worries and anxieties. It is a statement of profound relief, a letting go of the burdens that have been carried for so long. The chorus serves as a simple and beautiful equation: with the return of light comes the return of peace.
Verse 1
The song’s first verse begins with a tender and intimate address to a “little darling.” This choice of words immediately creates a feeling of warmth and personal connection, making the song feel like a gentle, reassuring message being whispered from one person to another. It invites the listener into a space of shared experience, as if the narrator is comforting a loved one who has been through the same struggles as him.
He then describes the period they have just endured as a “long, cold, lonely winter.” This is the song’s central and most poignant metaphor, representing a time of deep emotional hardship, sadness, and isolation. The use of all three adjectives emphasizes the severity and multifaceted nature of this dark period. The narrator further amplifies this feeling by stating that it feels like “years” since there has been any warmth or light, a powerful expression of how suffering can seem to stretch on endlessly, distorting one’s sense of time.
Verse 2
In the second verse, the narrator expands his focus from his internal feelings to the external world, observing the tangible effects that the sun’s arrival is having on the people around him. He describes the smiles that are returning to the faces of others. This is a crucial and beautiful detail, as it shows that the newfound happiness is not just a private, solitary experience, but a shared, communal one. The relief is contagious, spreading throughout the world and lifting the spirits of everyone.
This observation of collective joy reinforces the universal nature of the song’s theme. The “long, cold, lonely winter” was not just a personal struggle for the narrator; it was a hardship that affected everyone. Now, with the return of the sun, there is a collective release, a shared moment of relief and happiness. The verse once again concludes by emphasizing how long this joy has been absent, reminding the listener of the depth of the darkness that has finally passed.
The Bridge
The bridge of the song is a moment of pure, unadulterated, and almost meditative celebration. Structurally and lyrically, it is the simplest section of the song, consisting only of the repeated, joyful heralding of the sun’s arrival. This repetition functions as a blissful, hypnotic chant, building a sense of glorious and overwhelming anticipation. It is the musical equivalent of watching the dawn break, as the light gradually and unstoppably fills the sky.
Musically, this section is deceptively complex, featuring unusual and shifting time signatures that add a subtle layer of excitement and sophistication to the simple chant. This underlying musical complexity, a hallmark of George Harrison’s growing interest in Indian classical music, prevents the repetition from ever feeling monotonous. Instead, it creates a feeling of joyful, bubbling energy, a pure and ecstatic expression of the moment that hope finally and fully returns.
Verse 3
The third verse introduces a new and beautiful metaphor to describe the process of healing. The narrator describes a feeling of the ice slowly melting. This is a perfect and powerful symbol for the gradual thawing of emotional defenses and the slow release from a state of being emotionally “frozen” or numb. It suggests that healing is not an instantaneous event, but a gentle and steady process of softening and returning to life.
He then concludes his description of the past by noting how long it has been since things have felt “clear.” This speaks to the mental and emotional fog that often accompanies periods of depression or intense stress. The return of the sun is not just a return of warmth, but a return of mental clarity, an ability to see the world and oneself without the obscuring filter of sadness. It is the final piece of the healing puzzle, a return to a state of clear-eyed and hopeful perspective.
Emotional Tone & Mood
The emotional tone of “Here Comes the Sun” is overwhelmingly joyful, optimistic, warm, and deeply sincere. It is a song that radiates a pure and gentle happiness from its very first note to its last. The tone is completely free of cynicism, irony, or complexity; it is a straightforward and wholehearted celebration of a beautiful moment. George Harrison’s lead vocal is soft, gentle, and filled with a palpable sense of relief and wonder, making the listener feel as though they are experiencing the dawn of a new, hopeful day right alongside him.
The mood of the song is one of bright, radiant relief and serene bliss. The sparkling, capoed acoustic guitar riff that serves as the song’s main instrumental hook immediately establishes a feeling of light and warmth. The beautiful and subtle orchestral arrangement, with its swelling strings and woodwinds, adds a layer of majesty and grace, while the innovative use of the Moog synthesizer adds an ethereal, otherworldly shimmer. The overall mood is the sonic equivalent of the first warm day of spring after a long, harsh winter—a feeling of profound peace, gentle joy, and the promise of better things to come.
Artist’s Perspective / Backstory
The story behind the creation of “Here Comes the Sun” is one of the most famous and uplifting in The Beatles’ history, a perfect example of art being born from a moment of pure, spontaneous relief. The song was written by George Harrison in the early spring of 1969, during a period of immense personal and professional stress. The Beatles’ business empire, Apple Corps, was in a state of chaos, and Harrison found himself bogged down in endless, draining, and often contentious business meetings.
Feeling completely overwhelmed and creatively stifled by the corporate drudgery, Harrison decided one sunny day to simply play truant. He skipped a meeting at Apple and instead drove out to the country home of his close friend, the legendary guitarist Eric Clapton. As he was walking around the garden with one of Clapton’s acoustic guitars, feeling the warmth of the first real spring sun on his face after a long, cold English winter, the song came to him. The lyrics and melody emerged almost fully formed, a direct and immediate expression of his profound feeling of relief and freedom from the “long, cold, lonely winter” of the band’s business struggles.
In this context, the song is a deeply personal metaphor. The “winter” was the infighting, the lawsuits, and the joyless bureaucracy of the late-stage Beatles. The “sun” was the literal sun of that beautiful spring day, but it was also a symbol of his escape, his friendship with Clapton, his connection to nature, and the simple, profound joy of making music for its own sake. The song represented the dawning of his own creative confidence, as it, along with “Something,” marked the moment he was finally recognized as a songwriter on par with the legendary duo of Lennon and McCartney.
Real-Life Events or Facts Related to the Song
The recording of “Here Comes the Sun” is notable for several key historical facts and innovative musical choices that contribute to its legendary status.
The Recording Session and John Lennon’s Absence The main recording for the song took place at EMI (Abbey Road) Studios in July and August of 1969. Significantly, John Lennon is not featured on the track in any capacity. At the time the basic track was being laid down, Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono were recovering from a serious car accident they had been in while on holiday in Scotland. This makes “Here Comes the Sun” one of the very few Beatles songs to be recorded without the participation of all four members.
The Innovative Use of the Moog Synthesizer George Harrison was one of the earliest and most enthusiastic adopters of the Moog synthesizer in popular music. He had become fascinated with the instrument and brought his own large, modular Moog into the studio for the Abbey Road sessions. On “Here Comes the Sun,” the synthesizer is used brilliantly and subtly. Its warm, rising, and shimmering sound can be heard most prominently during the bridge and the song’s final moments, where it adds a beautiful, ethereal texture that perfectly mimics the feeling of dawning light and rising warmth.
The Complex Musicality While the song has a beautifully simple and accessible feel, it contains moments of surprising musical sophistication. The bridge section, with its joyful, repeated chant, is built on a series of complex and shifting time signatures, alternating between bars of 11/8, 4/4, and 7/8. This intricate rhythmic structure, likely a result of Harrison’s deep interest in the complex rhythms of Indian classical music, adds a wonderful, tumbling, and exciting feeling to the bridge that prevents it from ever feeling static.
Timeless Popularity and Streaming Dominance “Here Comes the Sun” has remained one of The Beatles’ most popular and beloved songs for over half a century. Its timeless message of hope has made it a staple in films, television shows, commercials, and at significant life events like weddings and graduations. In a testament to its enduring appeal, in 2019, on the 50th anniversary of Abbey Road‘s release, “Here Comes the Sun” officially became The Beatles’ most-streamed song on the platform Spotify, proving that its radiant message of optimism continues to connect deeply with new generations of listeners.
Metaphors & Symbolism
“Here Comes the Sun” is a masterclass in using simple, natural imagery to create powerful and universal symbols.
The Sun The sun is the song’s central and most powerful symbol. It represents the universal and life-affirming forces of hope, happiness, renewal, warmth, and clarity. It is the divine or natural power that signals the end of a dark period and the promise of a new beginning. Its arrival is a moment of pure, unadulterated joy and relief, a symbol for all the good things that life has to offer.
The Long, Cold, Lonely Winter This is a direct and poignant metaphor for a period of deep suffering, be it personal depression, collective grief, or intense struggle. The “winter” symbolizes a time of darkness, isolation, emotional coldness, and a feeling of being trapped in a state of despair. The description of it as being “long” and “lonely” emphasizes the profound and isolating nature of this difficult time.
Melting Ice The image of ice slowly melting is a beautiful and gentle symbol for the process of healing and emotional thawing. It represents the gradual release from a state of being emotionally “frozen,” numb, or guarded. This metaphor suggests that healing is not always a sudden event, but often a slow, steady, and natural process of softening and returning to a state of emotional fluidity.
Returning Smiles The image of smiles returning to people’s faces is a powerful symbol of shared, communal joy. It transforms the experience of relief from a purely internal feeling into an external, observable phenomenon. It symbolizes the contagious nature of happiness and the collective release that is felt when a period of shared hardship finally comes to an end.
FAQs
Question 1: What is the true story behind how George Harrison wrote “Here Comes the Sun”? Answer 1: He wrote the song in early 1969 while playing truant from a stressful Beatles business meeting at Apple Corps. He went to his friend Eric Clapton’s country house, and while sitting in the garden on the first sunny day of spring, he felt a profound sense of relief that inspired the entire song.
Question 2: What does the “long, cold, lonely winter” in the song represent? Answer 2: This is a direct metaphor for the dark and difficult period George Harrison was experiencing at the time, which was filled with the stress of The Beatles’ business problems, financial arguments, and the general sense of the band’s impending breakup.
Question 3: Why isn’t John Lennon on the recording of “Here Comes the Sun”? Answer 3: John Lennon was absent during the main recording sessions for the song in July 1969 because he was in a hospital in Scotland, recovering from injuries he sustained in a car accident.
Question 4: What is a Moog synthesizer and how was it used in the song? Answer 4: The Moog synthesizer was one of the earliest and most famous electronic musical instruments. George Harrison used it on the track to create the warm, shimmering, and rising sounds heard in the bridge and outro, which perfectly mimic the feeling of a dawning sun.
Question 5: Is “Here Comes the Sun” now The Beatles’ most popular song? Answer 5: In the modern streaming era, it has become one of their most popular. In 2019, it was officially named The Beatles’ most-streamed song on Spotify, demonstrating its incredible and timeless appeal to new generations of listeners.
Question 6: What is the significance of the song’s placement on the Abbey Road album? Answer 6: As the opening track of Side Two, its bright, optimistic, and hopeful tone serves as a beautiful moment of light and renewal, providing a perfect contrast to some of the heavier or more complex material on the album.
Question 7: What does the “melting ice” in the third verse symbolize? Answer 7: The melting ice is a metaphor for the gradual process of emotional healing. It represents the thawing of emotional defenses and the slow release from a period of being “frozen” in a state of sadness or despair.
Question 8: Who is the “little darling” the song is addressed to? Answer 8: The “little darling” is not a specific person. It is a general term of endearment used by the narrator to create a feeling of intimacy and warmth, as if he is sharing his newfound hope with a close friend or the listener themselves.
Question 9: Did George Harrison write many songs for The Beatles? Answer 9: While he was not as prolific as John Lennon and Paul McCartney, he wrote a number of incredible songs for the band, especially in their later years. “Here Comes the Sun,” along with “Something” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” are considered some of the finest songs in the entire Beatles catalogue.
Question 10: What is unique about the song’s musical structure? Answer 10: While it sounds simple, the song’s bridge section contains a series of complex and shifting time signatures, which was highly unusual for a pop song at the time and showcased George Harrison’s growing sophistication as a composer.
Question 11: Is the song related to “Here Comes the Sun King” on the same album? Answer 11: No, despite the similar titles, the two songs are completely unrelated in theme and style. “Here Comes the Sun King” is a John Lennon composition and part of the long medley on Side Two of Abbey Road.
Question 12: What is the overall mood of the song? Answer 12: The mood is one of pure, radiant joy and profound relief. The sparkling acoustic guitar and warm melody create an atmosphere that is overwhelmingly optimistic, bright, and comforting.
Question 13: How does this song represent George Harrison’s personal growth? Answer 13: The song, along with “Something,” represents the moment George Harrison fully emerged from the shadows of Lennon and McCartney to be recognized as a world-class songwriter in his own right. It is a testament to his newfound creative confidence.
Question 14: Has the song been used in any famous movies? Answer 14: Yes, its optimistic and heartwarming feel has made it a popular choice for films. It was famously used in the 1998 movie The Parent Trap, among many others.
Question 15: What makes the song’s message so universal? Answer 15: The song’s message is universal because it taps into the fundamental human experience of enduring a difficult time and the profound sense of relief and hope that comes with seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
Question 16: Are there any cellos on the recording? Answer 16: Yes, George Martin wrote and conducted an orchestral arrangement for the song that included four violas, four cellos, a double bass, two piccolos, two flutes, two alto flutes, and two clarinets.
Question 17: How does the song reflect George Harrison’s spirituality? Answer 17: While not explicitly spiritual, the song’s themes of finding light in darkness, renewal, and the healing power of nature are all deeply aligned with the spiritual philosophies, particularly Hinduism, that George Harrison was passionately exploring at the time.
Question 18: What does the smile’s returning to the faces symbolize? Answer 18: It symbolizes that the newfound happiness is a shared, communal experience. The relief is not just an internal feeling for the narrator, but a collective release from hardship that can be seen in the joy of others.
Question 19: Why does the song not have a traditional fade-out? Answer 19: The song ends on a final, beautiful, and resolute acoustic guitar chord, which gives it a sense of finality and peaceful resolution, as if the sun has finally and fully risen.
Question 20: What is the ultimate feeling the song leaves the listener with? Answer 20: The ultimate feeling is one of pure, unadulterated hope. It is a deeply comforting and life-affirming track that leaves the listener with a renewed sense of optimism and a belief in the promise of a new day.