Blue Jay Way

George Harrison

By John T. Marck

This song was written by Harrison in August 1967, while on a visit to California with his wife Patti and friends Alex Mardas and Neil Aspinall. Upon arriving in Los Angeles on August 1, they were taken to the home of Robert Fitzpatrick, a music business lawyer, who was away on vacation in Hawaii. His cottage had been rented for Harrison and was located on Blue Jay Way high in the Hollywood Hills above Sunset Boulevard. They were expecting a man for dinner, their friend Derek Taylor, who formerly was The Beatles press officer. Harrison, concerned and somewhat irritated that Taylor was quite late in arriving, used this time for writing this song. In Taylor's defense, Blue Jay Way was difficult to find, as one could be close, yet still separated by a ravine. This song, which began as a short, rather simple ditty, was transformed later in the studio for the film. Harrison's vocals were altered to sound as if they were ghostly, and backwards tape, droning organs and a cello were added to achieve the desired effect. The Beatles attempted to attain again that Eastern atmosphere, and with studio magic, did so, without using any Indian instruments.

There's a fog upon L.A., and my friends have lost their way

We'll be over soon they said, now they've lost themselves instead

Please don't be long, please don't you be very long, please don't be long Or I may be asleep

Well it only goes to show, and I told them where to go

Ask a policeman on the street, there's so many there to meet

Please don't be long, please don't you be very long, please don't be long Or I may be asleep

Now it's past my bed I know, and I'd really like to go

Soon will be the break of day, sitting here in Blue Jay Way

Please don't be long, please don't you be very long, please don't be long Or I may be asleep

Please don't be long, please don't you be very long, please don't be long Please don't be long,

please don't you be very long, please don't be long Please don't be long, please don't you be very long,

please don't be long Don't be long,

Don't be long, Don't be long, Don't be long, Don't be long Don't be long,

Don't be long

NOTE: All lyrics contained herein are ©Copyright Northern Songs. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. The lyrics contained herein are for the sole use of educational reference for the readers of this article. All other uses are in violation of international copyright laws. This use for educational reference, falls under the "fair use" sections of U.S. copyright law. Copyright © 2000-2022 by John T. Marck. All Rights Reserved. This article and their accompanying pictures, photographs, and line art, may not be resold, reprinted, or redistributed for compensation of any kind without prior written permission from the author, or the registered copyright holders. Except as otherwise stated above, all information contained in this article, EXCEPT song titles, lyrics, and photographs © 2002-2006 John T. Marck.