An unfinished Beatles song penned by George Harrison at the height of Beatlemania has been completed, and is being released for the first time.
"Silence Is Its Own Reply", was written in the late 1960's, but forgotten until recently when songwriter Dean Johnson was shown the lyrics by a radio DJ.
The original song was written on scrap paper at Abbey Road studios, and given to official Beatles biographer Hunter Davies as an example of George's handwriting.
The highly personal lyrics were originally believed to be about unrequited love, but are now considered a referernce to Harrison's turbulent relationship with John Lennon.
The original manuscript is housed in the British Library's Beatles collection, along with a selection of other material loaned by Hunter Davies.
After discovering the lyrics recently, Merseyside Beatles expert Spencer Leigh approached singer/songwriter Dean, and suggested a few more lines could complete the song.
Dean said: "Spencer called me out of the blue and left a message saying he had an interesting proposition for me.
"I called him back and when he said he would like me to work on George’s unfinished song I found it unbelievable, tremendously exciting and above all a complete honour.
"My brief was to follow George's sentiment through to its conclusion. The words were both brutally honest and compassionate and Harrison was obviously writing from the heart.
"I just tried by my best ability to get into the mind of someone in George's position and I am so pleased that most people who have heard it, think I achieved a credible continuity with the original lyrics."
The song was premiered on Spencer Leigh's BBC Radio Merseyside programme, during an interview with Hunter Davies, whose definitive Beatles biography is set to be republished.
The republished version will include George's lost lyrics, with the support of Harrison's family.
Silence (is its own reply): (Harrison/Johnson)
I'm happy to say that it's only a dream,
When I come across people like you.
It's only a dream and you make it obscene,
With the things that you think and you do.
You're so unaware of the pain that I bear,
And jealous for what you can't do.
There's times when I feel that you haven't a hope,
But I also know that isn't true.
Every time I ask you why,
Silence is its own reply,
It’s so hard to prove what I can do,
Compared to someone like you.
You make it look easy but you still tease me,
When you have got nothing better to do.
When the tears are falling and its dawning,
The truth will ring out so clear,
That no-one’s above you and nobody can love you,
Until all that pain disappears.
Every time I ask you why,
Silence is its own reply.
By the time we have talked it over,
It’s time to say goodbye.
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