While My Guitar Gently Weeps

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is a song written and sung by George Harrison. It was included on The Beatles album, also known as The White Album. This song has appeared on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs List at #135, and #7 on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Greatest Guitar Songs.

Creation
Harrison has said that the inspiration for this song came from reading I Ching, and this inspired him to do a song about how everything is relative. The way he chose the name was by opening a random book, and seeing that the first words were "Gently Weeps," so he decided to give that to the song.

The song was originally to be performed on acoustic guitar, as shown on a demo made at George's house in Esher, in May 1968. When he initially took the song into the studio, the song was also done on acoustic, with a light harmonium backing (Anthology 3). Stung by his bandmates' apathy to the song, he decided to "re-make" the song, in a very heavy fashion.

Harrison invited close friend Eric Clapton to play the lead guitar on the track, as he thought this would make the other Beatles act sweetly, as one always does when company calls.

Reaction from other Beatles
The reaction from the other Beatles was less than enthusiastic. They showed little or no interest in this song. They did agree to perform it in an acoustic version, and then in an electric version.

Credits

 * George Harrison - Lead vocal, acoustic guitar and organ
 * Paul McCartney - Backing vocal, bass guitar and piano
 * John Lennon - Electric guitar
 * Ringo Starr - Drums and tambourine
 * Eric Clapton (uncredited on album) - Lead guitar solo (using George's Gibson Les Paul, not his typical Fender Stratocaster)