When We Was Fab

George Harrison's 'When We Was Fab' is a reflective and nostalgic song that harks back to the days of The Beatles, when Harrison, along with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr, experienced the height of their fame. The song's title itself, 'Fab,' is a nod to the 'Fab Four,' a nickname that became synonymous with The Beatles. The lyrics reminisce about a time that was both exciting and challenging, marked by the simplicity of youth ('when grass was green') and the complexities of sudden fame ('back when income tax was all we had').

The song also touches on the fleeting nature of fame and the inevitability of change. Phrases like 'The fuzz gonna come and claim you' and 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue' suggest the end of an era and the loss of innocence that comes with the passage of time. The 'microscopes that magnified the tears' could symbolize the intense scrutiny The Beatles faced, with their personal lives being examined just as much as their music. Despite the pressures, the song conveys a sense of pride and fondness for those times ('you are my world you are my only love').

'When We Was Fab' is not just a personal reflection for Harrison, but also a cultural commentary on the 1960s and the Beatlemania phenomenon. It captures the essence of a transformative period in music history, while also expressing the universal human experience of looking back on one's youth with a mix of sentimentality and wisdom. The song serves as a time capsule, preserving the emotions and experiences of a bygone era.