The audience choked too and sang along in a simply moving performance

Paul McCartney talking about George Harrison before accompanying himself on ukukele

George Harrison wrote a few enduring tunes and Something was one of his best. At the July 11, 2009 concert in Halifax, Nova Scotia Paul McCartney almost brought himself and the audience to tears by remembering his old friend and The Beatles band-mate.

Paul pulled out a Gibson ukulele and explained George collected them and gave this one to him. Harrison liked the old bawdy musical hall style of uke players like George Formby.

As he introduced the song, he broke up. McCartney is the consummate performer who can handle a touching moment with a velvet glove and make the audience join in the emotion.

Then he started strumming and singing Something. We were choking back the tears as we sang along. Sorry that’s me a little at the start of the tape. I forgot again it was rolling.

So many memories are stirred by the song, McCartney and the memories of artists like Harrison loved and now gone. Life is for the living but memories make it bitter sweet.

In the middle the bass kicks in gently, followed by the percussion and lead guitar which sails over the top of the famous Harrison solo. It was a moment to be savored forever.

When I was young, my mother played the uke for us and sang the old George Formby songs along with Shine on Harvest Moon crooners.

On Sunday I visited her and mentioned McCartney. She had read it in the paper and picked up her banjo uke and started into When I’m Cleaning Windows.

“Isn’t that a little saucy for you mom?” I asked with a wink.

She winked back and replied “I’m 89 not dead.”

I wished that a camera was near when she was singing it.

I borrowed her uke, which needs a little maintenance, to learn and record the song.

Here’s George Formby singing When I’m Cleaning Windows.