The Beatles' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' Ranked Among 'Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time'

While My Guitar Gently Weeps is frequently cited among The Beatles' most iconic tracks, particularly from the latter half of their career, but the track actually has uncredited contributions from a close friend and professional contemporary.

Written by George Harrison in 1968, following the band's turbulent trip to India to study transcendental meditation, While My Guitar Gently Weeps was among the first Beatles' tracks to prove that Lennon and McCartney weren't the only master songwriters in the band.

Harrison's track was partially inspired by the band's lack of harmony during their Indian retreat, which almost led to the premature breakup of the Beatles. Harrison felt personally shunned by his bandmates and wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps as a comment on their fractured relationship, discussing "the love there that's sleeping".

As biographer Mark Lewisohn recounts in his book The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962–1970, the other Beatles were initially cold on Harrison's track and didn't want to include it on their upcoming project, which would end up being the White Album.

Harrison had written several songs at this point in his career, including fan-favorites like "Within You Without You" and "Taxman", but Lennon and McCartney were still seen as the men in charge when it came to songwriting. Harrison's contributions were typically restricted to one or two tracks per album, and he'd already contributed plenty to the White Album.

With his bandmates rejecting the track, Harrison took it to his close friend Eric Clapton, who overdubbed a lead guitar and contributed the iconic guitar solo that's become so recognizable.

Clapton and Harrison had already collaborated several times in an unofficial capacity, and would continue to do so throughout their careers, but this was Clapton's first (and only) official appearance on a Beatles track.

Lennon and McCartney ultimately came around on While My Guitar Gently Weeps and developed a fresh arrangement for the song that was later recorded and included on the White Album, with a more guitar-driven, soft-rock style than the acoustic demos Harrison had provided. Clapton's contributions were also kept, despite guest spots like this not being common practice in the '60s.

In the years since its release, While My Guitar Gently Weeps has become a fan-favorite Beatles track-and perhaps the shining jewel of the White Album. Clapton's contributions were never formally recognized with a credit, though it has since been confirmed by multiple first-hand sources that it's his expert guitar playing that can be heard throughout the song.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps was ranked No. 7 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest guitar solos ever performed, and No. 135 on their ranking of the greatest songs ever written. It remains one of the Beatles' greatest accomplishments, and the beginning of a legendary partnership between Harrison and Clapton.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 3:22 AM.