George Harrison — the quietly spiritual guitarist of The Beatles — may be best known for classics like Something and Here Comes the Sun, but there was one song by his own band that he publicly described as the most beautiful he’d ever heard.
That song is “In My Life,” a standout track from the Beatles’ 1965 album Rubber Soul. Penned primarily by John Lennon, with lyrical contributions from Paul McCartney, the song stands apart in the Beatles catalogue for its poignant reflection on memory, love and the passage of time.
“In My Life” begins with one of the band’s most graceful melodies and unfolds as a gentle meditation on life’s cherished moments — both joyful and bittersweet. The lyrics name no specifics, but the sentiment is universal:
“There are places I remember / All my life though some have changed…”
The track’s dreamy arrangement — including the iconic baroque-style piano solo (actually played on piano but sped up to mimic a harpsichord) — complements Lennon’s introspective words, creating a timeless emotional resonance. It’s that blend of simplicity and depth that many musicians, including Harrison, found profoundly moving.
According to interviews and recollections from those who knew him, Harrison once said that “In My Life” was the most beautiful song he had ever heard. This was high praise — coming from a man who himself wrote some of the most beloved ballads in the Beatles’ later catalogue.
What makes Harrison’s admiration significant is his own musical sensibility. Long fascinated by spirituality, introspection and emotional subtlety, Harrison valued music that spoke to deeper truths rather than just surface-level hooks. “In My Life” fit that criteria perfectly.
The song’s legacy has only grown with time. Many critics and fans regard it as one of the Beatles’ greatest achievements, a song that pushes beyond the love-song format into a more reflective, almost philosophical space. It has been covered by countless artists across genres, further cementing its status as a modern classic.
For Lennon, “In My Life” was a personal statement — a look back at his own experiences and relationships — but Harrison’s praise reveals how the song resonated across the band. In that moment of shared admiration, listeners catch a glimpse of the deep musical bond that made the Beatles’ work so enduring.
