Written by:Â Harrison
Recorded: 7, 8, 9 October 1968
Producer:Â George Martin
Engineer:Â Ken Scott
Released: 22 November 1968 (UK), 25 November 1968 (US)
Available on:
The Beatles (White Album)
Personnel
George Harrison: vocals, acoustic guitars
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, Hammond organ, bass
Ringo Starr: drums
Chris Thomas: piano
About The Song
At the heart of the White Album, “Long, Long, Long” served as a serene interlude between the energetic “Helter Skelter” and the politically-charged “Revolution 1.”
Though it may seem like a tribute to a beloved, “Long, Long, Long” was actually penned by George Harrison to express his joy in finding God.
In his autobiography, Harrison briefly discussed the song, revealing that its music had been influenced by the final track on Bob Dylan’s “Blonde On Blonde” album.
In “Long, Long, Long,” the “you” signifies God. Harrison couldn’t recall much about the song except for the chords, which he believed were inspired by “Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands” – the progression from D to E minor, A, and D. Those three chords and their transitions held a special significance to him.
George Harrison’s handwritten lyrics for “Long Long Long”
This wistful and hymn-like tribute to God stood out as one of the White Album’s most understated recordings. It’s a tranquil waltz, briefly interrupted during the middle section as Harrison mourns the “many tears I was wasting” before his spiritual awakening.
In the studio, the song began its journey under the working title “It’s Been A Long Long Long Time” on October 7, 1968. The Beatles, minus John Lennon, dedicated themselves to the song, going through an impressive 67 takes of the rhythm track. George Harrison handled the vocals and acoustic guitar, Paul McCartney played a modified Hammond organ, and Ringo Starr manned the drums.
The unique ending of “Long, Long, Long” turned out to be a serendipitous accident, as George Martin’s assistant, Chris Thomas, recalled later on.
Near the song’s conclusion, a bottle of Blue Nun wine unexpectedly rattled on top of a Leslie speaker cabinet, triggered by a specific note from Paul. Recognizing its brilliance, they set up the microphones and recreated the effect. This serendipity was in line with The Beatles’ knack for embracing accidents.
Ringo Starr contributed some frenzied drumming, and Harrison’s ghostly howl added to the song’s overall impact. “Long, Long, Long” concluded with a powerful G minor eleventh chord played on Harrison’s Gibson J-200, delivering one of the most poignant and compelling endings in the Beatles’ discography.
The following day, they continued recording, adding additional acoustic guitar and lead vocal parts by Harrison, along with a bass track by McCartney. The song was finalized on October 9, 1968, with backing vocals from McCartney and a piano part by Chris Thomas.