The Quiet Beatle Speaks Up: 4 Times George Harrison Turned Rants Into Songs
George Harrison might have had the moniker of the “Quiet Beatle,” but that doesn’t mean he didn’t speak up whenever he felt it was necessary, including turning rants into songs. Although Harrison’s songwriting contributions to the Beatles paled in comparison to John Lennon and Paul McCartney (much to Harrison’s chagrin), a handful of Harrison rants did make their way into the Fab Four catalogue.
Other emotional songs, many of which were directed at his former bandmates and business associates, came later in Harrison’s solo career, unhindered by commandeering co-workers.
“Taxman”
George Harrison might not have had as many songwriting credits to his Beatles legacy as John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but their 1966 album Revolver opened with one of his more fiery songs: “Taxman.” As Harrison recalled in Anthology, “I had discovered I was paying a huge amount of money to the taxman. You are so happy that you’ve finally started earning money. Then you find out about tax. In those days, we paid 19 shillings and sixpence out of every pound, and with supertax and surtax and tax-tax, it was ridiculous.”
Source: americansongwriter.com/Melanie Davis
