Sun King

When you dive into Sun King, you encounter a piece that feels like a dream, a kind of sonic journey unfolding with an enveloping atmosphere. What first grabs your attention is that sense of an invented language, a mix of words that sound familiar yet combine in a unique way, creating an almost hypnotic effect. It’s as if the voices of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison intertwine in a three-part harmony, weaving lyrics that, according to accounts, sprang from jokes and loose words that sounded good together, including a Liverpool expression like “chicka ferdy.” The song cuts off abruptly, making way for the next track, but before that, you can hear the sound of a cricket—something that also appears at the end of You Never Give Me Your Money.

The genesis of Sun King dates back to 1969, when The Beatles began recording it alongside Mean Mr. Mustard as a single piece. The original title was going to be Here Comes the Sun King, but it was shortened to avoid confusion with Here Comes the Sun, which already existed. George Harrison noted that the inspiration for the guitar sound came from Fleetwood Mac’s Albatross. The goal was to capture that atmosphere, though the final result had its own identity. The basic recording featured Lennon on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, McCartney on bass, Harrison on guitar, and Ringo Starr on drums. The next day, they added layers of vocals, piano, and organ—the latter played by George Martin. The song, which runs 2:26, is part of the album Abbey Road, released in 1969, and can be found on side B as part of a medley of linked tracks.