Yoko Screaming In ‘Get Back’ Jam Session Gives “Trolling” Vibes

For George Harrison, a moment of discord during the filming of the documentary “Let It Be” would prove to be the catalyst for one of his most iconic songs, as he turned Yoko Ono’s piercing screams into the poignant lyrics of “Wah-Wah,” a track from his monumental album “All Things Must Pass.”

A Haunting Echo Ignites Creativity From George Harrison

The fascinating genesis of “Wah-Wah” is unveiled in the pages of the book “George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters,” which captures a revealing conversation with the musician from 1977. In this dialogue, George recounts a pivotal incident during the filming of “Let It Be,” where an argument with Paul McCartney led to his exit from the scene.

In his recollection, George mused, “That was the song — when I left during the Let It Be movie, there’s a scene where Paul and I are having an argument … and we’re trying to cover it up.” However, it was the subsequent auditory assault of Yoko Ono’s distinctive screeching that left a lasting impression on him. “Well, that’s where I’d left, and I went home and wrote ‘Wah-Wah.’ It’d given me a wah-wah, like I had such a headache with that whole argument, it was such a headache.”

Navigating the Complex Waters of Let It Be

Delving further into the tumultuous period surrounding “Let It Be,” George shared his perspective on the atmosphere of the time. He described his return to England for Christmas, only to be thrust into the start of the “Let It Be” project on January 1st. Despite his budding enjoyment of being a musician, the dynamics within The Beatles posed challenges.

“Everybody was sort of pigeonholed. It was frustrating,” George reflected, highlighting the sense of confinement he felt within the creative confines of the group. He candidly expressed his discontent with the hierarchy of song selection, where his contributions often took a backseat to the compositions of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. George’s musical gems remained untapped, accumulating in a reservoir of unrecorded material.

Charting the Path of “Wah-Wah” and “All Things Must Pass”

While “Wah-Wah” never graced the charts as a single, its parent album, “All Things Must Pass,” achieved remarkable success. In the United States, the album ascended to the top of the Billboard 200, reigning for seven weeks and maintaining a presence on the chart for 41 weeks in total. The impact of George’s solo venture was equally impressive in the United Kingdom, where “All Things Must Pass” claimed the No. 1 spot and endured on the charts for an impressive 32 weeks.