Now that’s the big question, isn’t it?
What is life, really?

Is it work? Bills? Hustling for stuff we don’t even need?
Probably not.
The thing is, no one has a perfect answer — but lucky for us, George Harrison gave it his best shot in 1970. And honestly? He might’ve come the closest.

His song “What Is Life” — the roaring, radiant classic from All Things Must Pass — doesn’t just ask the question. It feels like the answer. From the first crashing beat, it’s like life itself wakes up, stretches its arms wide, and beams a giant smile your way. This song moves. It doesn’t wait for you to catch up — it drags you into the light and dares you to stay there.

And right now, as we roll into summer, tell me something that vibes harder than this. I’ll wait.

Let me be clear: this is my favorite George Harrison track. Even with all the gold he brought to The Beatles — from “Something” to “Here Comes the Sun” — this solo gem shines in a different way. It’s joy in motion. Celebration in stereo. It’s the one song that can pull me out of any funk and into a full-blown life moment. Headphones in. Sun out. “What Is Life” blaring. Everything feels right.

Musically, it’s warm and wide open. The drums hit with confidence. That fuzzy, twangy guitar riff drives the track like a convertible with the top down. And then those horns — those horns — come in like glitter tossed in the air, giving it that extra burst of magic. Harrison’s voice, steady and earnest, cuts through it all with a kind of hopeful urgency. It’s a perfect balance of rock muscle and spiritual vulnerability.

But beneath the bounce, there’s something deeper going on. This isn’t just a love song — it’s a meaning song. A spiritual one. When George asks,

“What is life if not with you?”
he’s not just pining for romance. He’s grappling with identity. He’s asking what it means to be without connection. Without love — romantic, spiritual, universal — who are we?

That’s what hits hardest about this track. For all its brightness, it’s a song that aches for clarity. It’s longing in technicolor. And that makes it timeless.

Released in 1970, just months after the Beatles broke up, All Things Must Pass was Harrison finally stepping into the light after years in Lennon-McCartney’s shadow. And “What Is Life” wasn’t just a single — it was a statement. George could write hits. He could lead. He could dig deep. And he could make you dance while your soul was being cracked open.

More than 50 years later, the song still slaps. Still resonates. Still makes us ask: what gives this messy, beautiful life its meaning?

George answered that the best way he could:

“What I feel, I can’t say… But my love is there for you anytime of day.”
And really — what more do you need?

So tell me — what is life without love?