The Inner Light

Some of the words are inspired by another piece (Juan Mascaró's Lamps of Fire translation), and the lyric deals in the motifs of philosophy and instruction, as it does in 'She Said She Said', 2 years earlier. There is anaphora in the writing. The title never appears in the lyric, and 1968 is the year the Beatles reached for it most. The language is reaching for the poetic (scriptural register, paradox). The writing draws on eastern philosophy and literature.

Written in E♭ major and taken at about 75 BPM, 'The Inner Light' is an Indian classical and raga rock piece. This is one of only 5 Beatles records in that key, the earliest of them 'Girl'. It is furnished with Indian classical instruments, a habit that peaked in 1967. Also, it does without a bass guitar and drums, which almost nothing else of theirs does. This record is strophic, the same tune each time with new words, as sixteen of their songs are, such as 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy' and 'Matchbox'. The outro departs from the rest of the song (three new imperative lines, distinct from verses/choruses). By accident or design, the chords run Fm → E♭ → A♭ → E♭ → A♭ → E♭, a progression it shares with one other Beatles song, 'I'm Only Sleeping'. As a matter of detail, it is the only Beatles song to feature tar shehnai.

The basic track was recorded at EMI's Bombay studio with Indian session players. Harrison overdubbed his lead vocal at Abbey Road, joined by Lennon and McCartney on the final outro line. It is the only Beatles record cut at HMV Studios, Bombay, and the Beatles used double tracked vocal on it, most common in their 1964 songs. It was the first of the 37 songs they began recording in 1968, and the 147th of their career.

Harrison wrote this one and sang it, and it was recorded without all four. The record has a bansuri (bamboo flute). The oboe on this one is a shehnai (Indian double reed), as it does in 'For No One', 2 years earlier.

The song was released as the B-side of Lady Madonna, and it charted independently at #96 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was the 2nd of the 34 records the Beatles released in 1968, and the 144th in their whole run.