While the world outside Abbey Road Studios carried on unaware, a quiet revolution in melody was unfolding inside Studio Two. On this day, George Harrison stepped forward with a new song—one that would become a timeless anthem of hope and renewal.

With John Lennon recovering from a car accident in Scotland, it was just George, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr in the studio. The absence of Lennon gave Harrison space to lead the session, introducing his composition “Here Comes the Sun” to his bandmates. The song, written during a reflective walk through Eric Clapton’s garden, was Harrison’s response to the pressures of fame and the dreariness of business meetings. It was, quite literally, a breath of fresh air.

The session began with George teaching the song’s intricate rhythm and structure to Paul and Ringo. Over the course of the day, the trio recorded 13 takes of the backing track, with George on acoustic guitar and guide vocals, Paul on bass, and Ringo on drums. The atmosphere was lighthearted—at one point, George jokingly called a take “12 and a half” to avoid the unlucky number 13.

The track’s unusual time signature—7/8 in parts—challenged even seasoned drummer Ringo Starr, who later recalled having to feel the rhythm rather than count it. But the result was magic: a song that shimmered with optimism, anchored by Harrison’s gentle guitar and buoyed by the camaraderie of three musicians who knew they were capturing something special.

“Here Comes the Sun” would go on to become one of the most beloved tracks on Abbey Road, and a defining moment in Harrison’s evolution as a songwriter. On this day in 1969, the clouds parted—musically and metaphorically—and George Harrison let the light in.