It was written by George Harrison, the band's lead guitarist. The song serves as a comment on the disharmony within the Beatles following their return from studying Transcendental Meditation in India in early 1968. This lack of camaraderie was reflected in the band's initial apathy towards the composition, which Harrison countered by inviting his friend and occasional collaborator, Eric Clapton, to contribute to the recording. Clapton overdubbed a lead guitar part, although he was not formally credited for his contribution.

Lyrics

I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping

While my guitar gently weeps

I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping

Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know why nobody told you

How to unfold your love

I don't know how someone controlled you

They bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it's turning

While my guitar gently weeps

With every mistake we must surely be learning

Still my guitar gently weeps

Well...

I don't know how you were diverted

You were perverted too

I don't know how you were inverted

No one alerted you

I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping

[LOVE version:] I look from the wings at the play you are staging.

While my guitar gently weeps

Look at you all

[LOVE version:] As I'm sitting here doing nothing but aging

Still my guitar gently weeps

Oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, ooh