Listed by Popularity.
Below is a ranked list of every Beatles song credited (as writer) to George Harrison during the band’s career (1963–1970).
Ranking Methodology
The songs are ordered from most to least popular, based on a combination of critical acclaim, fan rankings, historical chart performance, and modern streaming numbers. Each entry includes the song’s release year, the original album or single, and its songwriter credits. Here is the list.
1) Here Comes the Sun
Universally beloved for its optimism and melody, this Abbey Road classic has become the Beatles’ most-streamed song by far, with over 730 million Spotify streams. Critics have lauded its gentle folk-pop arrangement, and it has helped cement Harrison’s reputation as a songwriter on par with Lennon-McCartney. It remains a staple of pop culture and a fan favorite across generations.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Abbey Road | George Harrison |
2) Something
Often considered one of the Beatles’ greatest love songs, “Something” earned immediate critical acclaim – Abbey Road’s producer George Martin and even John Lennon praised it as the album’s best track. Released as a double A-side single, it became Harrison’s first #1 hit in the US. Frank Sinatra famously called “Something” “the greatest love song of the past 50 years”, reflecting its standing as a pop standard.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Abbey Road (also released as a single) | George Harrison |
3) While My Guitar Gently Weeps
A dramatic rock ballad from the White Album, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is widely hailed as Harrison’s masterpiece with the Beatles. Featuring an iconic lead guitar cameo by Eric Clapton, the song earned a spot in Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Beatles songs and is a fixture on fan “best of” lists. Its soulful lyrics and weeping guitar solo have made it one of the band’s most celebrated tracks, showcasing Harrison’s depth as a songwriter.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The Beatles (White Album) | George Harrison |
4) Taxman
The opening track of Revolver, “Taxman” showed Harrison’s sharp wit and rocked-up songwriting. A scathing commentary on Britain’s high tax rates in the 1960s, it impressed critics with its funky bassline and biting lyrics – Gold Radio praises it as “sharp, witty, [and] musically incredible”. Though not released as a single, “Taxman” has long been a fan favorite and a staple of classic rock radio, underlining Harrison’s ability to carry an album opener on one of the Beatles’ most acclaimed albums.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Revolver | George Harrison |
5) If I Needed Someone
A jangly guitar pop gem from Rubber Soul, this song was influenced by the Byrds and Bob Dylan. “If I Needed Someone” stands out as Harrison’s most successful early-career composition – it was even covered by the Hollies in 1965 and became his first songwriter credit to reach the charts (the Hollies’ version hit #20 in the UK). Fans often rank this among the best Beatles deep cuts for its chiming 12-string guitar sound and melodic harmony, which helped pave the way for the folk-rock movement.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Rubber Soul | George Harrison |
6) Within You Without You
Harrison’s most adventurous foray into Indian classical music, this track – the sole Harrison song on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – earned respect from critics and music historians for its innovation. Featuring only Harrison and Indian musicians (no other Beatles perform on it), “Within You Without You” fused Eastern instrumentation (sitar, dilruba, tabla) with philosophical lyrics. While divisive among fans at release, it’s now often praised for its spiritual depth and has been called an underrated masterpiece in the Beatles’ catalog, highlighting Harrison’s boundary-pushing vision.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band | George Harrison |
7) It’s All Too Much
A euphoric slice of psychedelia recorded during the Sgt. Pepper era and released on Yellow Submarine, “It’s All Too Much” has since gained a cult following. Its “wall of…heady noise” – droning organ, feedback, brass – makes it perhaps “the Beatles’ most truly psychedelic moment,” according to one retrospective review. Though not a charting single, its exuberant energy and surreal lyrics have earned it appreciation from fans of the Beatles’ experimental side, boosting its reputation over time as a late-’60s hidden gem.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Yellow Submarine (film soundtrack) | George Harrison |
8) For You Blue
This cheerful twelve-bar blues from Let It Be became a surprise chart success in the US. Paired as the B-side to “The Long and Winding Road,” it was listed alongside that song when the single hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 – giving Harrison another shared #1 hit. “For You Blue” is often lauded by fans for its lighthearted, rootsy charm (featuring John Lennon on lap steel guitar). While some critics call it an inconsequential ditty, others appreciate it as a fun showcase of the Beatles “getting back” to their blues roots, and it remains a sentimental favorite for many.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Let It Be (also B-side of “The Long and Winding Road”) | George Harrison |
9) I Me Mine
Famously the last new song the Beatles ever recorded (in January 1970) before their breakup, “I Me Mine” is a waltzing critique of ego and selfishness. Featured in the Let It Be film, its creation without John Lennon (who had left the group) was telling – Harrison’s lyric “flowed from a suitably scathing attack on ego” amid the band’s disintegration. Though not released as a single, I Me Mine earned posthumous attention by titling Harrison’s 1980 autobiography. Fans appreciate its soulful organ and guitar work, and its historical significance gives it a high profile among Harrison’s Beatles output.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Let It Be | George Harrison |
10) Long, Long, Long
A delicate, haunting ballad tucked near the end of the White Album, “Long, Long, Long” was long overlooked by casual listeners. In recent years, however, it has “experienced a surge in popularity” as critics and fans reevaluate it as one of Harrison’s finest Beatles moments. The song’s subtle dynamics and spiritual subtext (it doubles as a love song and a hymn to God) have led some writers to call it Harrison’s most underrated Beatles composition. Its quiet power and emotive vocals continue to win over new generations of Beatles fans.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The Beatles (White Album) | George Harrison |
11) Savoy Truffle
A rollicking rock number from the White Album, “Savoy Truffle” adds levity to Harrison’s catalog. Inspired by Eric Clapton’s penchant for chocolates, its lyrics playfully list confections (and even poke fun at “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”). With blaring saxophones and a gritty guitar riff, the track shows Harrison in a lighter mood. Though never a single, many fans enjoy “Savoy Truffle” for its upbeat groove – it’s often cited as an underrated rocker that proves Harrison could deliver pure rock ’n’ roll alongside his more serious songs.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The Beatles (White Album) | George Harrison |
12) Old Brown Shoe
This punchy, piano-driven song was released as the B-side to “The Ballad of John and Yoko” in 1969. “Old Brown Shoe” is a guitar-heavy, up-tempo track that Harrison wrote on piano, featuring clever wordplay about dualities. It never charted on its own (as the A-side overshadowed it), but hardcore fans appreciate its energetic groove and walking bass line. The Beatles even considered it for the Let It Be album sessions. Over time “Old Brown Shoe” has gained status as a fan-favorite deep cut showcasing Harrison’s rock chops during the late Beatles era.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Single (B-side of “The Ballad of John and Yoko”) | George Harrison |
13) I Want to Tell You
The third Harrison-penned track on Revolver, “I Want to Tell You” signaled how far he’d come as a songwriter by 1966. Its contagious guitar riff and dissonant piano chords accompany lyrics about struggling to express one’s mind – a theme Harrison said was influenced by the mental overload of an LSD experience. While not as famous as “Taxman,” the song’s inclusion on such a landmark album earned it respect. Fans enjoy its off-kilter melody and see it as proof of Harrison’s growing confidence (having three songs on Revolver was unprecedented for him then).
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Revolver | George Harrison |
14) I Need You
Harrison’s second-ever Beatles composition, “I Need You” is a tender love song featured in the film Help! (notably in a scene shot on England’s Salisbury Plain). Its distinctive volume-pedal guitar swells and earnest lyrics to Pattie Boyd (Harrison’s future wife) give it a simple charm. Released on the Help! album, the track wasn’t a single, but it remains well-known due to its exposure in the Beatles’ 1965 movie. Many fans have a soft spot for “I Need You” as an early example of Harrison’s songwriting potential, spotlighting his romantic side.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Help! (also featured in Help! film) | George Harrison |
15) The Inner Light
This song was released in 1968 as the B-side to the “Lady Madonna” single, making it the first Harrison composition to appear on a Beatles single. “The Inner Light” fully embraces Indian instrumentation and a verse from the Tao Te Ching (sung in English), reflecting Harrison’s spiritual interests. Recorded in Bombay with local musicians, its melody and Sanskrit-inspired lyrics give it an ethereal quality. While it reached a wide audience as a B-side, it was not a commercial hit on its own. Nevertheless, fans of Harrison’s spiritual songs often rank “The Inner Light” highly for its beauty and authenticity, and it earned praise for bringing Eastern music to Western pop.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Single (B-side of “Lady Madonna”) | George Harrison |
16) Love You To
The first Beatles song to fully incorporate Hindustani classical instruments, “Love You To” appeared on Revolver in 1966. It features sitar and tabla (performed by Indian musicians from the Asian Music Circle) supporting Harrison’s vocals, marking a groundbreaking East-West fusion in pop music.
Lyrically, it mixes a love song vibe with countercultural commentary (“make love all day long…”). At the time, it was a bold experimental track – more appreciated by critics in hindsight than by pop audiences. Although “Love You To” is less known than later Indian-inspired Beatles songs, it’s credited with ushering non-Western music into rock, and is admired for its innovation and hypnotic drone.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Revolver | George Harrison |
17) Think For Yourself
A mid-tempo track on Rubber Soul, “Think For Yourself” sports a fuzz-tone bass and unusually pointed lyrics that could be interpreted as either a Dylan-esque jab at an ex-lover or a general “think independently” message. This song showed Harrison’s songwriting maturity catching up during the pivotal 1965 era.
It wasn’t a single and remains relatively overshadowed by Rubber Soul’s Lennon-McCartney hits, but many fans appreciate its cynical edge. Gold Radio noted that it proved George “could do the bouncy, beaty pop” just as well as his bandmates – while also sneaking in a bit of bite.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Rubber Soul | George Harrison |
18) Don’t Bother Me
This was Harrison’s very first song, written as an “exercise” to see if he could craft a tune. Appearing on 1963’s With The Beatles, it’s a moody, minor-key number that fits the album’s early Merseybeat style. Harrison himself later dismissed it (“not a particularly good song” in his opinion), but its importance lies in proving he could write, it gave him the confidence to continue.
Critics and fans acknowledge “Don’t Bother Me” isn’t a Beatles classic, yet it gets credit for kick-starting Harrison’s songwriting journey. Its cool, dismissive refrain and Latin percussion have a certain early-’60s charm, marking George’s humble debut as a composer.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | With The Beatles | George Harrison |
19) Piggies
A baroque-inspired social satire from the White Album, “Piggies” features harpsichord and string arrangements that underscore its sarcastic take on class and consumerism. While the song’s Animal Farm-esque “pig” metaphor is witty, “Piggies” suffered bad press when Charles Manson misinterpreted it in 1969, unfairly tainting its reputation.
Many listeners rank it lower in the Beatles canon, and even Harrison had mixed feelings about its dark humor. Still, some fans enjoy its peculiarity and dark comedy. In retrospect, Piggies stands as an example of Harrison’s acerbic side, though it’s “one of the most maligned” Beatles tracks in part due to its grim associations.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The Beatles (White Album) | George Harrison |
20) Blue Jay Way
Written during a foggy night in Los Angeles, “Blue Jay Way” is a spooky, drone-driven track from the Magical Mystery Tour EP/album (1967). It showcases Harrison’s experimental leanings: swirling backward tapes, a droning Hammond organ, and layered vocal effects create a trance-like atmosphere.
Though intriguing in its psychedelia, “Blue Jay Way” is often regarded as a lesser-known Beatles song, it wasn’t a single and came out with the somewhat underwhelming Magical Mystery Tour film. Critics have pointed out its clever studio trickery, but it’s generally a niche favorite for fans who appreciate the Beatles’ more atmospheric and avant-garde forays.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Magical Mystery Tour (EP/film soundtrack) | George Harrison |
21) Only a Northern Song
Originally intended for Sgt. Pepper, this sarcastic number was shelved and later released on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack in 1969. “Only a Northern Song” finds Harrison wryly poking fun at the Beatles’ music publishing (Northern Songs Ltd.) and his own role in the business.
He sings that it doesn’t matter what notes he plays because the song is only a “Northern Song,” a meta-commentary on feeling underappreciated as a writer. With its dissonant horns and trippy sound collage, the track often puzzles listeners. It’s “all-too often dismissed” as a throwaway, but some appreciate its humor and psychedelic weirdness. Still, compared to the Beatles’ polished classics, this song remains an obscure curiosity in their catalog.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Yellow Submarine (film soundtrack) | George Harrison |
22) You Like Me Too Much
One of two Harrison contributions on Help! (1965), this song is a simple piano-led pop tune. With affectionate-but-lightweight lyrics (“Though you’ve gone away, this morning you’ll be back again”), it’s generally seen as a minor entry. Harrison himself called it a bit “throwaway,” and it’s often ranked last in fan polls of his Beatles songs (one recent ranking indeed placed it at the bottom).
That said, “You Like Me Too Much” has a bouncy, charming quality and showed that George could craft the upbeat pop formula of the era. While it’s undoubtedly overshadowed by the Lennon-McCartney hits on Help!, it remains a pleasant, if modest, early effort from the quiet Beatle.
| Year | Album/Release | Writers |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Help! | George Harrison |
Each of these songs highlights a different facet of George Harrison’s development as a songwriter. From chart-topping classics like “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun” to experimental deep cuts like “Within You Without You”, Harrison’s Beatles compositions have grown in stature over time. This ranking reflects not only their initial impact – hit singles and critical reviews – but also how modern audiences and critics continue to celebrate Harrison’s legacy within The Beatles.
Sources – Harrison’s popularity and critical standing are evidenced by chart records, retrospective reviews and fan polls, and commentary from Beatles historians, as cited above. Each song’s entry includes specific references supporting its placement in this list.
Fun Facts About George Harrison as a Beatles Songwriter
- George Harrison wrote over 20 Beatles songs – but only started contributing regularly midway through their career. While Lennon and McCartney dominated the early years, Harrison emerged with standout tracks like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Something,” and “Here Comes the Sun” – all now considered among the Beatles’ best.
Source: Rolling Stone – George Harrison’s 25 Greatest Beatles Songs - “Something” was called the greatest love song of the past 50 years – by none other than Frank Sinatra. And though it’s a love ballad, Harrison actually said it was originally inspired by James Taylor’s “Something in the Way She Moves.”
Source: Far Out Magazine – The Origin of “Something” - George’s “Only a Northern Song” was a jab at the Beatles’ music publishing company. Frustrated with how royalties were handled, he sarcastically wrote that it didn’t matter what notes he played because he wasn’t benefiting either way.
Source: Beatles Bible – “Only a Northern Song” - He helped introduce Indian music to rock and roll. With songs like “Love You To” and “Within You Without You,” George incorporated sitar, tabla, and the influence of Ravi Shankar and the Asian Music Circle into Western pop culture – helping shape psychedelic music.
Source: NPR – How George Harrison Brought Indian Music to the Beatles - His spiritual lyrics were inspired by the Tao Te Ching and Hindu philosophy. “The Inner Light,” a B-side to “Lady Madonna,” was a direct adaptation of a verse from the Tao Te Ching, sung over traditional Indian instrumentation.
Source: Beatles Bible – “The Inner Light” - Eric Clapton played lead guitar on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” The song was recorded at Eric Clapton’s house, and George invited him to the studio to help ease band tensions – a rare moment of guest collaboration during the Beatles’ career.
Source: Ultimate Classic Rock – The Story Behind “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” - Despite being called the “Quiet Beatle,” Harrison had a sharp wit. His lyrics often carried biting satire, like in “Piggies,” or deep spiritual reflection, like in “Long, Long, Long.” He simply preferred to let the music do the talking.
Source: Biography.com – George Harrison - George was the first Beatle to release a solo album. Before the band officially split, he recorded Wonderwall Music in 1968 – a mostly instrumental soundtrack that previewed his post-Beatles solo career.
Source: Rolling Stone – George Harrison’s Solo Career Began Before the Beatles Ended - His contributions were sometimes overlooked – even by the band. Paul McCartney once admitted they “hadn’t given him a full hearing,” especially in the early albums when several songs by George were never finished or recorded.
Source: The Guardian – George Harrison: The Underrated Beatle - “Norwegian Wood” was the first pop song to use sitar – but George didn’t write it. Still, it was his suggestion to include the instrument, opening the door for Indian instruments to appear more prominently in later Beatles tracks.
Source: BBC – George Harrison and the Sitar
Check Back for Updates to These Beatles Songs by George Harrison
There you have it. Check back for updates to this list about every song George Harrison wrote. I might even update the list of the best songs as time goes on and I get more feedback. Let me know how you feel about it.