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| What this band needs is a Japanese Buddhist. Hey, John, will you still be dating after marriage? |
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| Ram Dass, Beatles fan in the 1960s |
What's wrong with ego, George?
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| Ultimately, there is no ego to cling to, Ziggy |
The song originated from the Beatles' January 1969 rehearsals at Twickenham Film Studios, when they were considering making a return to live performance.
Written at a time of acrimony within the group, the lyrics lament humankind's propensity for self-centeredness and serve as a comment on the discord that led to Harrison temporarily leaving the Beatles.
The musical arrangement alternates between waltz-time verses and choruses played in the hard rock style. The song reflects Harrison's absorption in post-Vedic Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and their denouncement of the ego, after the Buddha's massive influence on Brahmanism (which became Hinduism) in favor of universal or "cosmic" consciousness.
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| We waltz, get high, and have love ins... |
When Harrison presented "I Me Mine" to the Beatles at Twickenham, John Lennon showed little interest and instead waltzed with Yoko Ono while the other Beatles rehearsed the song. Footage of the dismissive couple dancing was included in the Let It Be documentary film.
In January 1970, by which point Lennon (and unwelcome Ono) had privately left the group, the three remaining members of the Beatles formally recorded the song without Lennon's involvement at EMI Studios in London for the Let It Be album.
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| Lennon and Ono use wealth to spread peace |
When preparing the album for release, producer Phil Spector extended the track by repeating the chorus and second verse, in addition to adding orchestration and a female choir.
Among music critics, several writers have identified "I Me Mine" as a powerful final performance by the Beatles and an apt statement from Harrison.
The song has been referenced by some religious scholars in their commentary on the pitfalls of egoism.
Harrison titled his 1980 autobiography I, Me, Mine after the track. The original recording, lasting just 1:34, appeared on the Beatles' 1996 outtakes compilation Anthology 3, introduced by a mock announcement from Harrison referring to Lennon's departure. More
