George Harrison · 1981 · Behind the Songs
“All Those Years Ago” is George Harrison’s tribute to John Lennon, and it is one of the most moving songs of his solo career.
“All Those Years Ago” is George Harrison’s tribute to John Lennon, and it is one of the most moving songs of his solo career. Released in 1981 on the album Somewhere in England, it was originally written with different lyrics, but after Lennon’s death in December 1980, Harrison revised it as a tribute to his former bandmate. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr contributed to the recording, making it a reunion in spirit as well as in sound.
The song is not a dirge. It is bright and melodic, with a chorus that celebrates Lennon’s life and influence rather than dwelling only on loss. Harrison sings about the years they shared, the music they made, and the way Lennon’s voice and ideas continued to matter. The tribute works because it is specific without being private: listeners who never knew Lennon can still feel the affection and respect in Harrison’s performance.
It became a hit in the United States, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it remains a touchstone for fans of both artists. “All Those Years Ago” shows Harrison at his most generous — a songwriter honoring a friend, not with grandeur, but with a clear, tuneful memory, and with the understanding that some friendships, even after they end, continue to shape who we are.