The Beatles’ White Album is a treasure trove of iconic songs, and among them, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” stands out, not just for its poignant melody and Eric Clapton’s searing guitar solo, but also for its intriguing origin story. George Harrison, the song’s writer, believed in a world where coincidence held no place, where every event was interconnected and imbued with meaning. This philosophy led him to an unconventional method of songwriting, one that involved opening the I Ching, or Book of Changes, and letting chance dictate his lyrical direction. The phrase he stumbled upon? “Gently weeps.” This simple, evocative phrase became the cornerstone of one of The Beatles’ most enduring ballads.
To truly understand the genesis of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” we need to delve into Harrison’s mindset and the circumstances surrounding the song’s creation. It was a period when The Beatles were exploring new spiritual avenues, particularly influenced by their time in India. This exploration extended to Eastern philosophies and practices, including the ancient Chinese divination system, the I Ching.
According to The Beatles Anthology, Harrison himself explained his process:
I wrote ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ at my mother’s house in Warrington… I was thinking about the Chinese I Ching, ‘The Book of Changes’. In the West we think of coincidence as being something that just happens… But the Eastern concept is that whatever happens is all meant to be, and that there’s no such thing as coincidence — every little item that’s going down has a purpose.
‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ was a simply study based on that theory. I decided to write a song based on the first thing I saw upon opening any book — as it would be relative to that moment, at that time. I picked up a book at random, opened it, saw ‘gently weeps’, then laid the book down again and started the song.
This account reveals Harrison’s intention to tap into the perceived meaning of chance. He wasn’t searching for specific inspiration; instead, he aimed to let the universe guide his creative process. The I Ching, or perhaps another book as some interpretations suggest, served as the randomizing agent. By opening it blindly and letting his eyes fall upon a phrase, Harrison sought to uncover a message meant specifically for him at that moment.
Decoding the “Gently Weeps” in the I Ching
The question then arises: could the phrase “gently weeps” actually be found within the pages of the I Ching? While Harrison’s recollection doesn’t specify which book he opened, many sources point towards the I Ching as the likely candidate, given his interest in the philosophy behind it.
Ian MacDonald, in his comprehensive book Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties, notes that Harrison “found the phrase ‘gently weeps’ by chance in a book,” footnoting this with a reference to The Beatles Anthology. While MacDonald doesn’t pinpoint the I Ching directly, the context strongly suggests it.
To investigate further, we can explore a common English translation of the I Ching. A concordance of a popular edition reveals that the word “weep” does appear in a couple of hexagrams: hexagram 3 (Sprouting) and hexagram 61 (Centering Conforming).
In Hexagram 3, the phrase is “weeping blood, coursing thus.” This seems unlikely to be the source, as “blood” is a far cry from “gently.”
However, Hexagram 61 presents a more intriguing possibility. Within its lines, we find the phrase “maybe weeping, maybe singing.” Could this be the origin? It’s plausible that in a different translation, or perhaps in Harrison’s interpretation, “maybe weeping” could have resonated as “gently weeping.”
The Wilhelm/Baynes translation of the I Ching is a widely respected version, and it was even used by author Philip K. Dick, who incorporated the I Ching into his novel The Man in the High Castle. It’s conceivable that Harrison, immersed in Eastern thought and seeking inspiration through chance, consulted a similar translation and encountered a phrasing akin to “gently weeps” within Hexagram 61, or a similar passage.
Hexagram 61: Inner Truth and Gentle Emotion
Hexagram 61, often titled “Inner Truth” or “Inner Sincerity,” deals with themes of profound inner feelings and the power of subtle influence. The imagery associated with it often involves gentle persuasion and the quiet strength of inner conviction. In this context, “maybe weeping, maybe singing” suggests a nuanced emotional landscape, one that isn’t overtly dramatic but carries a deep undercurrent of feeling.
If Harrison indeed encountered a phrase close to “gently weeps” in relation to Hexagram 61, it aligns beautifully with the song’s melancholic yet tender tone. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” isn’t a song of rage or despair, but rather a gentle lament, a quiet observation of the world’s sorrows. The “weeping” is not violent or loud, but “gentle,” much like the subtle yet profound emotions evoked by Hexagram 61.
A Song Born of Chance and Introspection
While we may never definitively know the exact words Harrison saw in the I Ching or whichever book he consulted, the story itself offers a fascinating glimpse into his creative process. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” wasn’t born from a deliberate lyrical concept, but from a willingness to embrace chance and find meaning in the unexpected.
This serendipitous beginning, rooted in Harrison’s spiritual beliefs and his openness to unconventional methods, gave rise to a song that continues to resonate deeply with listeners. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the most profound creations emerge from the most unexpected sources, guided by a gentle whisper of chance and a willingness to listen to the universe’s subtle cues. The beauty of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” lies not only in its musical brilliance but also in its origin story, a story that reminds us of the magic that can happen when we open ourselves to the unknown and allow inspiration to find us in the most unexpected of places.
