George Harrison – When We Was Fab

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  My Interpretation:Back then long time ago when grass was green
  (When they were young...also drug reference)
  
  woke up in a daze
  Arrived like strangers in the night
  
  (They were famous before they knew what hit them - also a drug reference. Also how they traveled as a touring band. )
  
  Fab - long time ago when we was fab
  
  (Fab, sort for fabulous, also the Fab Four)
  
  Fab - back when income tax was all we had.
  (All they had was enough to pay the tax on what they earned...Taxman reference)
  
  Caresses fleeced you in the morning light
  (reference to prostitutes in Germany. Also how the people and the press fawned over them. Also how they took advantage of others.)
  
  Casualties at dawn; and we did it all.
  (The girls in the rooms. Also how wrecked they'd be the next day and how they partied like rock stars.)
  
  Fab - long time ago when we was fab.
  
  Fab - you're my world
  you are my only love.
  And while you're in this world
  the fuzz gonna come and claim you
  
  (Being a Beatle was his life. Also a reference to the drugs busts.)
  
  But you mo better wise
  
  when the buzz gonna come and take you away
  (They knew they'd eventually beat the rap because they were Beatles.)
  
  Take you away
  take you away.
  
  The microscopes that magnified the tears studied warts and all
  
  Still the life flowed on and on.
  (Everyone picked apart every lyric in every song, as well as their personal lives)
  
  Fab - gear - long time ago when we was fab
  (Gear was an exclamation meaning Fantastic, or Cool. Also anything that was cool. A new amp or guitar, clothes, shoes etc... Also a drug reference.
  
  Fab - but it's all over now
  (The breakup of The Beatles)
  
  Baby Blue
  
  
  Fab - long time ago when we was fab
  
  Fab - like this pullover you sent to me
  (A pullover is a sweater)
  
  Fab - gear -
  And you've really got a hold on me
  (He misses it. Also a song title)
  
  Fab - gear - long time ago when we was fab.

  Flag tzer0on September 30, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:"Caresses fleeced you in the morning light, casualties at dawn" is clearly a reference to the crash that killed McCartney and Rita in November '66. Paul stopped to pick someone up (lovely Rita) she noticed who he was when he started driving, lost control and started grabbing him and hugging him, Paul lost control of the car and hit a lamp post. If you don't believe any of this then listen to 'Revolution 9' - it's all in there.
  
  'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' is all about George struggling to cope without Paul and, thereafter, on each album (Beatles and solo) he included some reference to Paul being dead.
  
  Of course, he's not dead, but the Beatles definitely built up the myth quite deliberately. McCartney keeps it going to this day - his last solo album was full of messages about his own death.

  Flagged Bazalinhioon August 17, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:The song's title refers to the Beatles at their prime, when they were dubbed "The Fab Four" by the press and their every move scrutinized and "magnified." I believe George was the first to write so fondly of the Beatle's time together after their breakup. The "fuzz" was a 60's nickname for the police (in reference to their mustaches) and reminds the listener of the many drug-related mixups the Beatles had. "When grass was green" was a simpler time, before the word "grass" came to refer to Pot. "The buzz" taking them away could be another reference to their drug use, specifically acid(LSD,) and/or it could possibly refer to the deep droning sounds of the sitar, which George fell in love with during their time in India; a transforming experience personally and in their music.

  Flag slave2theBeaton June 24, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I feel that he dearly misses that time in his life. The friends and the world that loved him and the beatles so much that it seemed impossible to ever feel like he does now. Now it seems that he's lonely and sad. R.I.P. George, you ARE loved and truly missed.

  Flag skywarn1on June 01, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:What a wonderfully catchy song! It's the most "Beatles sounding" song on the Cloud 9 album and plays as a nice piece to trigger nostalgia in the Boomer or post-war fan.

  Flag RandomPersonYouAreReadingon July 31, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:"Fab - back when income tax was all we had" - Taxman off Revolver

  Flag aussiedanon January 20, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:My interpretation:
  
  "Back then long time ago when grass was green" = Before there were many problems in the world, in a more innocent time.
  
  "Caresses fleeced you in the morning light" = The Beatles would wake up with girls they had slept with the night before.
  
  "Casualties at dawn" = They would goof off during the day, but come nightfall when it was show time, they took no prisoners and performed like no others.
  
  "The fuzz gonna come and claim you" = The world believed that they owned The Fab Four and could treat them however they wanted.
  
  "When the buzz gonna come and take you away" = Living as a good person so God can admit you into Heaven.
  
  "The microscopes that magnified the tears" = The press and paparazzi made their problems worse by constantly reporting on them.
  
  "Studied warts and all" = Some people focused only on bad things.
  
  "Still the life flows on and on" = They overcame their adversities.
  
  "But it's all over now, Baby Blue" = Obviously a reference to a song by Bob Dylan (whom George idolized), simply saying their time as The Fab Four was over.
  
  "And you've really got a hold me" = Another song reference and that a part of his life belongs to The Beatles.
  
  These are just my general thoughts, I could be wrong but this is how I have come to think of this great song.

  Flag RoryCoasteron October 11, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:Magicnudiesuit~~edit the song at the end>>
  '..And You've Really Got A Hold -ON- Me.."

  Flag davesdayon July 24, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:(Why doesn't this song have more comments??)
  
  "Fab - like this pullover you sent to me"
  
  This part could have some meaning to do with how everything comes and goes in phases... That this pullover someone sent to him might be stylish now but not necessarily in the future.
  
  However, I found it interesting in another way because it reminded me of this quote: "The Beatles exist apart from my Self. I am not really Beatle George. Beatle George is like a suit or shirt that I once wore on occasion and until the end of my life people may see that shirt and mistake it for me."

  Flag vaguehobbiton November 04, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:The Beatles did a cover of You've Really Got a Hold on Me. there is use of flanging and stringed instrument fills and a sitar at the end. It's all very reminscent of The Beatles. And the obvious Fab Four refrence.

  Flag ggaaooon June 24, 2005   Link

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