Home · Songs · The Beatles · Love You To
From album
Revolver
The Beatles · 1966
Details
TonalidadC
Compás4/4
Tempo123 BPM
Duración2:59
ÁlbumRevolver
Año1966
ISRCGBAYE0601496
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The story behind
When George Harrison began to explore Indian music, something changed in The Beatles' sound. After his sitar appeared in "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" in 1965, with "Love You To" he took it a step further. This song, released on the album Revolver in 1966, is the first to fully immerse itself in the sounds of classical Indian music. To record it, Harrison did not have the usual participation of his bandmates. Instead, he worked with tabla percussionist Anil Bhagwat and other musicians from the Asian Music Circle in London. The structure of the piece is based on the notes of the Indian mode that resembles the Western Dorian, and its vocal form evokes the khyal tradition. The direct inspiration for Harrison came from Ravi Shankar, the sitar master, who would later become his tutor.
The composition of "Love You To" occurred in early 1966, during an unusually quiet period for The Beatles, who were not finding a suitable film project. George Harrison took advantage of this time to deepen his interest in Indian music and the sitar. During this stage, he took sitar lessons at the Asian Music Circle in London and attended recitals. He also had the opportunity to see Ravi Shankar live. The song's lyrics, in addition to being a dedication to his wife, Pattie Boyd, explore philosophical concepts influenced by his experimentation with LSD. In the context of its release, "Love You To" was presented as one of the first examples of how The Beatles began to reflect ideas akin to the nascent counterculture. The title itself is a nod to their first major hit, "Love Me Do".
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