“Here Comes the Sun” is the Beatles’ most streamed song on Spotify with over 1.1 billion plays. “Here Comes the Sun” was a song written by George Harrison, a member of The Beatles, and shows a spiritual outlook of life. The song is the leading track of the second side of the Beatles’ album “Abbey Road” released on September 26th, 1969. Harrison wrote the song in response to the dark mood surrounding the Beatles at the time as the band was nearing its break up. The overall theme or message of “Here Comes the Sun” revolves around 3 aspects. Harrison uses a happy tone to show his message along with figurative language, prominently metaphors and repetition. Through the use of lyrical and musical tone, metaphors, and repetition,  George Harrison effectively portrays a theme of hope in the Beatles song “Here comes the Sun”.

     The Beatles use multiple metaphors throughout “Here Comes the Sun” to portray the theme of hope. Throughout the entire song Harrison says “Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo” ( The Beatles 0:15-0:18). The phrase “Here comes the sun” is comparing the light of the sun to things getting better or “brighter” in life. This helps tie together the central theme of hope throughout the song as it is portraying things looking as if they are getting better. Another example of a metaphor the Beatles use is “Little darlin’, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter” (The Beatles 0:28-0:34). This line could mean that prior to this, times have been sad and lonely for a long time as sadness can be characterized as cold and lonely. Harrison speaking on hard prior times before the “sun” comes helps to tie together the theme of hope as it shows how everyone goes through difficult times and that things eventually get better. A final example of a metaphor that The Beatles use to portray the theme of hope is when George Harrison says “Little darlin’, I feel that ice is slowly melting” (The Beatles 2:12-2:18). Ice melting could mean that things are getting better as the ice could represent difficult or sad sentiments and the melting is the “sun”, which is things getting better, “melting” away or overshadowing the sadness and making things “warmer” or happier. The Beatles use all of these examples of metaphors to better represent the theme of hope throughout “Here Comes the Sun”.

     Another way the Beatles portray a theme of hope in “Here Comes the Sun” is using multiple examples of repetition throughout. An example of this is when Harrison says the main chorus of the song multiple times throughout the song, “Here comes the sun…” (The Beatles 0:15-0:18). Harrison uses the line 10 times throughout the song, likely to emphasize the idea of “sunshine” or brighter times coming, giving hope. Another example of repetition is when Harrison says “Little darlin’...” (The Beatles 0:28-0:29) before many of the lines throughout the song. Harrison uses the phrase 6 times throughout the song, likely to show he’s comforting someone in telling them things will be better. This helps tie in the theme as it shows him trying to comfort someone and give them hope. A final example of George Harrison using repetition to create a theme of hope is when he says “It’s alright” (The Beatles 0:22-0:24) throughout the song. Harrison says the phrase 6 times throughout the song, most likely to represent reassuring someone. This helps tie into the theme of hope as it is showing Harrison reassuring someone or people that everything will be okay since the “sun” is coming, meaning things are getting better and improving. George Harrison uses these examples of repetition in the Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” to bring together and emphasize the theme of hope.

     The final way the Beatles portray a theme of hope is by using many instances of a lyrical and musical tone of happiness throughout the song “Here Comes the Sun.” In the chorus of the song Harrison says “Here comes the sun…” (The Beatles 0:15-0:17). This can be interpreted as a sign of hope as the sun can be seen as happiness. Therefore, saying that the sun is coming can bring a sense of hope that happiness is coming or things are getting better. Another instance of the Beatles using a lyrical tone of happiness is when Harrison sings “doo-doo-doo-doo”(The Beatles 0:17-0:18). When we hum or sing small tunes, it’s when we are happily doing something. I believe Harrison added it in to show happiness and optimism for things getting better. Throughout the song Harrison also says “...and I say/ It’s alright” (The Beatles 0:21-0:24). This can show a sense of reassurance as they may be trying to assure someone that things will get better soon. Harrison says “Little darlin’, the smile’s returning to their faces”(The Beatles 0:59-1:06) throughout the song. This shows a happy tone as it shows everyone is becoming happy as things are getting better. The background beat of the song also shows a happy theme with the calming acoustic guitar such as in the opening from 0:00 to 0:15, occasional handclaps and violin, the drums, bass, and the light background vocals. All of these aspects bring together a calm, happy beat to go along with the lyrics. Also, Harrison sings in a calming, happy voice to further put together the calm and happy tone, pushing the theme of hope. The Beatles used these examples to create a calm, happy tone that better helps to portray the theme of hope.

     In conclusion, the theme of hope in the Beatles’ song “Here Comes the Sun” written by George Harrison is emphasized using 3 elements. These elements being Harrison’s use of a calm, happy tone, his use of metaphors, and his use of repetition throughout the song. All of these help bring together the message of hope in their respective ways. They all also come together to create an elegant and calm musical masterpiece which is still listened to by many people, 54 years after Abbey Road’s release.