“Norwegian Wood” was released in the nascent years of psychedelic music, and, if not for a fortuitous sitar, this hit from Rubber Soul would not be psychedelic at all. It’s creation would still be interesting, but it wouldn’t be psychedelic. John Lennon was the primary writer for this piece despite the co-writing Lennon/McCartney label. He sites Bob Dylan as a big influence on the song. The verses are Dylan-esque, concentrating on an acoustic guitar driven melody and vocals that follow the rhythm. “Norwegian Wood” is about extramarital flings, and Lennon actually wrote it while on vacation with his wife. “Honey can you play me the new song.” Pretty dumb move on the part of Lennon, though he attempted to be subtle. The song’s creation is all well and good, but for the purpose of this post we must talk about the impact by George Harrison, who is the reason this song has a sitar and is psychedelic.
According to Harrison, he was inspired by Indian musicians on the scene of The Beatles‘ movie Help to start messing around with a sitar. This turned into a more substantial interest when he bought a Ravi Shankar record and purchased a cheap sitar in London. He had it with him during the recording of “Norwegian Wood,” and, you know what they say, the rest is history.
” It was lying around. I hadn’t really figured out what to do with it,” says Harrison in the Beatles Anthology. “When we were working on Norwegian Wood it just needed something, and it was quite spontaneous, from what I remember. I just picked up my sitar, found the notes and just played it. We miked it up and put it on and it just seemed to hit the spot.”
The sitar is very coordinated, and Harrison did not have the mastery to freestyle with the sitar, which would have made the song more experimental and psychedelic. But, it still maintains a hint of that psychedelic quality and that makes the song certainly worth the mention.
The Music Court 
Boy this brings back great memories from a band that would not become a caricature like Elvis had allowed himself to be..john Lennon will always get the best reviews as being the sardonic wit and master of the lyrical value of his music..BUT one of these days..my hunch is..that George Harrison will be actually viewed as perhaps the one who wrote some of the most popular Beatles tunes ever composed..His “Something in the way” was head and shoulders the grand entry in one of the last L.P’s
by the greatest composers this side of Berlin, Sondheim, learner and Lowe..etc..One thing to I i want to commend Paul about..I believe that ego’s aside, Mac is and was not only a great bass player..and his contribution to what made the Boys music so irresistible is a given..but I believe he was a good man also..Cast in point..Paul produced one of Rock’s greatest and most important biographical movies with his ..”The Real Buddy Holly Story”..which he did simply because he ..like many of us ..knew the real king of Rock and Roll.was..Buddy Holly..The movie that made Gary Bussy rich and stupid was a sham and made Holly look foolish and appeared to be a buck tooth version of Ronald Macdonald..If you have not seen it…do you a favor and discover it
I have not seen it and will certainly watch it. Thanks for the comment and suggestion!