06/19/2026
Friday's SONG LYRIC of the WEEK:
"Tell me, who am I without you, by my side"
- George Harrison, What Is Life
Listen here: https://youtu.be/8eEQ4J6Lnrs?si=Ev3TOu0ClUAMv5Ke
Harrison was shopping his songs around to other artists, who were more than willing to take advantage of his unsung writing gifts. For example, “Badge,” a hit for Cream, was written in part by Harrison. Meanwhile, “What Is Life,” as Harrison explained in his autobiography I Me Mine, was originally intended for Billy Preston, who famously helped The Beatles on Let It Be:
“‘What Is Life’ was written for Billy Preston in 1969. I wrote it very quickly, 15 minutes or half an hour maybe, on my way to Olympic Studios, London, when I was producing one of his albums. … At the session it seemed too difficult to go in there and say, ‘Hey I wrote this catchy pop song’ while Billy was playing his funky stuff. I did it myself later on All Things Must Pass.”
That proved to be a wise move.
https://www.newsbreak.com/american-songwriter-1587609/3542184348922-the-story-and-meaning-behind-what-is-life-the-classic-that-george-harrison-nearly-gave-away
Full lyrics:
What I feel, I can't say
But my love is there for you anytime of day
But if it's not love that you need
Then I'll try my best to make everything succeed
Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
What I know, I can do
If I give my love now to everyone like you
But if it's not love that you need
Then I'll try my best to make ev'rything succeed
Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
What I feel, I can't say
But my love is there for you any time of day
But if it's not love that you need
Then I'll try my best to make everything succeed
Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
Oh tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
What is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
[fade:]
Oh tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me who am I without you by my side
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/georgeharrison/whatislife.html