A Celebration of Presence, A Prayer of Gratitude, and George’s Brightest Anthem to the Healing Power of the Heart
When George Harrison released “This Is Love” on his 1987 album Cloud Nine, he was entering a late-career renaissance. After years of personal change, spiritual deepening, and time away from the spotlight, George returned with a renewed sense of clarity — both in music and in life. “This Is Love” stands at the heart of that revival: a shimmering, radiant meditation on gratitude, companionship, and the quiet miracles that appear when one chooses to open the heart again.
The song begins with a bright, sparkling guitar line — unmistakably George, yet infused with the polished production of Jeff Lynne. There is a feeling of sunlight breaking through clouds, of morning light spreading across an open field. The atmosphere is immediately hopeful, energetic, and free of the heaviness that had sometimes touched George’s earlier work.
Then his voice enters.
Warm.
Steady.
Filled with the gentle wisdom of a man who has finally made peace with the storms of the past.
“Precious words drift away from their meaning…”
In this opening phrase, George hints at the fragility of communication and the ways love can become lost when intentions fade or hearts close. Yet the song quickly shifts from reflection to affirmation. This is not a lament — it is a celebration.
The emotional center of the song is captured in the simple, luminous refrain:
💬 “This is love, this is la-la-la-love.”
Sung in George’s unmistakable blend of sincerity and playfulness, the line becomes a mantra — a gentle proclamation that love, in its purest form, is not complicated. It is not dramatic. It is not something to chase or analyze. It is something to live in. Something that becomes clear only when you slow down enough to notice its presence.
The production amplifies this message.
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Bright electric guitars shimmer like sunlight on water.
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Jeff Lynne’s backing vocals wrap around George’s lead like a warm breeze.
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The rhythm section moves with the ease of a heart that has stopped fighting itself.
There is a sense of spaciousness in the recording — as if George has made room in his life for joy to return.
Lyrically, the song blends earthly affection with spiritual undercurrents. George had long believed that love was both human and divine, and “This Is Love” reflects that duality. He sings of walking through storms, losing direction, and rediscovering meaning through companionship — yet he also hints at a larger Love, a force that guides, protects, and awakens the soul.
By the time the final chorus arrives, the song has grown into something almost prayer-like. George is not merely singing about love; he is offering gratitude for it. Gratitude for life, for renewal, for forgiveness, for the second chances that appear when you least expect them.
Over time, “This Is Love” has become one of the most cherished songs in George’s later catalog — not because it is complex, but because it is honest. It reflects a man who has weathered storms, walked through spiritual seeking, faced loss, and emerged with an open heart.
Ultimately, “This Is Love” is George Harrison’s reminder that real love — gentle, patient, compassionate — is the quiet miracle that holds life together.
A truth not shouted, but lived.
A truth that shines exactly when you are ready to see it.