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George Harrison - Dark Sweet Lady

George Harrison - Dark Sweet Lady Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: George Harrison
Released: 1978

Dark Sweet Lady Lyrics

Dark Sweet Lady

Harrison wrote this about Olivia, his second wife who happens to be Mexican American. It shows that he found someone he really loved and cared for.

George Harrison - Any Road

George Harrison - Any Road Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Brainwashed
Released: 2002

Any Road Lyrics

Any Road

This was Harrison's last album recorded before his death in 2001. He could not finish recording before he died, so the album was completed by his son Dhani.

This is about having ambition in life; if you don't take action, nothing will succeed.

This song was released as a single with "Marwa Blues" as the B-side.

George's son Dhani said that while he and his father were in Hawaii, they walked by a beach and saw a sign that read, "If the wind blows, you can always adjust your sails, but, if you don't know where you're going, then any road will take you there." The sign was the inspiration for the song.

George Harrison - All Things Must Pass

George Harrison - All Things Must Pass Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: All Things Must Pass
Released: 1970

All Things Must Pass Lyrics

All Things Must Pass

This was one of the songs Harrison had saved up from his days with The Beatles. He wrote a lot of songs, but so did John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and most Beatles albums contained only one or two of Harrison's compositions; although his songs like "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun" are considered classics by many Beatles fans. When the band broke up, Harrison released a triple album that contained many songs he wrote when he was a Beatle.

The song is about moving on in life. Harrison was dealing with the breakup of The Beatles.

Harrison had Phil Spector produce the album and brought in some outstanding musicians to play on it, including Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Those 4 formed Derek and the Dominos during the sessions. When they were done with All Things Must Pass, they went to England and started touring and working on their own album, Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs, which was released around the same time as All Things Must Pass.

In 2003, Bobby Whitlock released an acoustic version on his album Other Assorted Love Songs. The album was recorded at a live show he played with his wife, Kim Carmel, and released on their own Domino Label. For more on the All Things Must Pass and the story of Derek and the Dominos, check out our Bobby Whitlock interview.

Harrison first recorded this as a demo at Abbey Road on February 25, 1969, his 26th birthday. Other demos recorded that day were "Old Brown Shoe" and "Something." (thanks, Adrian - Gettysburg, PA)

George Harrison - When We Was Fab

George Harrison - When We Was Fab Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Cloud Nine
Released: 1987

When We Was Fab Lyrics

Back then long time ago when grass was green
Woke up in a daze
Arrived like strangers in the night
Fab, long time ago When We Was Fab
Fab, back when income tax was all we had

Caresses fleeced you in the morning light
Casualties at dawn
And we did it all
Fab, long time ago when we was fab
Fab, you are my world you are my only love

And while you're in this world
The fuzz gonna come and claim you
But you mo better wise
When the buzz gonna come and take you away
Take you away
Take you away

The microscopes that magnified the tears
Studied warts and all
Still the life flows on and on
Fab, long time ago when we was fab
Fab, but It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Fab, long time ago when we was fab
Fab, like this pullover you sent to me

Fab
And You've Really Got A Hold On Me
Fab, long time ago when we was fab

Writer/s: Lynne, Jeff / Harrison, George
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

When We Was Fab

Harrison wrote this after the Beatles had split up. It's about the days of Beatlemania, when the group was known as "The Fab 4." It sounds very much like a Beatles song. (thanks, Catherine - Glasgow, England)

Jeff Lynne, George's bandmate from the superstar band The Traveling Wilburys and leader of The Electric Light Orchestra, produced this song and as well as the rest of this album. A huge Beatles fan, Jeff also appears briefly in the video for this song (look for the big afro). (thanks, Robert - Berkeley, CA)

Ringo Starr played drums on this track and a few others on the album. Harrison says that when he started writing the song, he had Ringo's drumming in mind for the intro and the overall tempo.

Harrison states in this song: "income tax was all we had." Excessive taxation was a scourge for him - he wrote the Beatles song "Taxman" on the subject.

Gary Wright, who had a big hit with "Dream Weaver," played piano on this track.

George Harrison - I'd Have You Anytime

George Harrison - I'd Have You Anytime Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: All Things Must Pass
Released: 1970

I'd Have You Anytime Lyrics

Let me in here, I know I've been here
Let me into your heart
Let me know you, let me show you
Let me roll it to you

All I have is yours
All you see is mine
And I'm glad to hold you in my arms
I'd Have You Anytime

Let me say it, let me play it
Let me lay it on you
Let me know you, let me show you
Let me grow upon you

All I have is yours
All you see is mine
And I'm glad to hold you in my arms
I'd have you anytime

Let me in here, I know I've been here
Let me into your heart

Writer/s: GEORGE HARRISON, BOB DYLAN
Publisher: BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I'd Have You Anytime Song Chart

Harrison wrote this with Bob Dylan. Harrison covered Dylan's "If Not For You" for this album.

Along with Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, Dylan and Harrison worked together as The Traveling Wilburys in 1988. Harrison's pseudonym was Nelson Wilbury and Dylan's was Lucky Wilbury.

The first meeting between Dylan and Harrison was when Harrison was a member of the Beatles. It was at this meeting that Dylan supposedly introduced the band to marijuana.

Dylan would be one of the many performers at the Concert for Bangladesh, organized by Harrison. This was the first rock charity event.

When The Beatles broke up, Harrison had so much leftover material that he was able to make All Things Must Pass a triple album. When it was issued on CD, it fit on 2 discs. (thanks, Marvin - East Brady, PA)

George Harrison - What Is Life

George Harrison - What Is Life Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: All Things Must Pass
Released: 1970

What Is Life Lyrics

What Is Life
George Harrison

What I feel, I can't say
But my love is there for you anytime of day
But if it's not love that you need
Then I'll try my best to make everything succeed

Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side

What I know, I can do
If I give my love now to everyone like you
But if it's not love that you need
Then I'll try my best to make everything succeed

Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side

What I feel, I can't say
But my love is there for you any time of day
But if it's not love that you need
Then I'll try my best to make everything succeed

Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
Oh tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side

What is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side

Oh tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me who am I without you by my side

Writer/s: ABADI, AMIR / ALDUBB, / GERHARD, NINA
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

What Is Life Song Chart

Originally, Harrison wrote this for Billy Preston with sort of a gospel feel. After it ended up being a fast rocker, he decided it wouldn't be right for Preston and released it himself. Preston was one the early artists on the Beatles' Apple label (he released two albums), and he was present at the sessions that yielded "Get Back." (thanks, Larry - Ft. Worth, TX)

Harrison was writing many religious songs at the time, but this wasn't one of them. The lyrics are directed to a person, not God.

The original song had piccolo, trumpet, and oboe parts that weren't used because Harrison didn't like the feel. They can be heard on the 2000 reissue of the album, where the original backing track is included as an extra song.

Phil Spector produced the album. Bobby Whitlock, who played keyboards at the sessions, had this to say about him in his Songfacts interview: "The real show in that whole place was Phil Spector - what a funny guy. He's not too funny now, but then, what he was doing in there and the way he was carrying on, I thought, they've got all these mics out here catching us jamming, where they need a mic is on the inside. He was a pretty colorful character to say the least. That was one of the highlights of it - listening to him and watching him and watching how he operated. I learned a lot just from being around him. He's just eccentric, he's real creative. I agree with his work ethic. I concur with him 100% when it comes to being creative in the studio - put 6 guitars on it if you need it. If it wasn't for Phil Spector, forget about The Righteous Brothers. There probably wouldn't be a lot of us here from 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' - you know how many babies were made to that?"

On the album, the "O'Hara-Smith" singers are credited as background vocalists. Whitlock explains: "That's Eric Clapton and me. If you listen, you can hear Eric and me wailing away." (For more on these sessions, check out our Bobby Whitlock interview)

This has been covered by Olivia Newton-John and the surf band The Ventures. A version by Shawn Mullins appeared on the Big Daddy soundtrack.

In the UK, this was released as the B-side to "My Sweet Lord." In the US, it was released as its own single, with "Apple Scruffs" as the B-side.

George Harrison - All Those Years Ago

George Harrison - All Those Years Ago Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Somewhere In England
Released: 1981

All Those Years Ago Lyrics

All Those Years Ago Song Chart

This is tribute to John Lennon, who was shot and killed the year before. Harrison remained friends with Lennon after The Beatles broke up.

In an interview after John Lennon was shot, George said that he originally had written most of the lyrics for Ringo, but with Lennon's assassination, he rewrote the lyrics and told of how he looked up to John. (thanks, JT - Tullahoma, TN)

Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney played on this along with Denny Laine from McCartney's band Wings.

Long time Beatle producer George Martin produced this for Harrison. Geoff Emerick, one of The Beatles sound engineers, also had a hand in this tune. (thanks, chet - saratoga springs, NY, for above 2)

In Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards , Al Kooper gives an eye-witness account of George Harrison's reaction to hearing the news that John Lennon had been shot: "George was in the kitchen, white as a sheet, real shook up. We all had breakfast. He took calls from Paul and Yoko, which actually seemed to help his spirit, and then we went into the studio and started the day's work. Ray and I kept George's wine glass full all day..." Working til midnight, some of the work from this session ended up on the album Somewhere in England.

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: All Things Must Pass
Released: 1970

My Sweet Lord Lyrics

My Sweet Lord
Hm, my Lord
Hm, my Lord

I really want to see you
Really want to be with you
Really want to see you Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord

My sweet Lord
Hm, my Lord
Hm, my Lord

I really want to know you
Really want to go with you
Really want to show you Lord
That it won't take long, my Lord (hallelujah)

My sweet Lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my Lord (hallelujah)
My sweet Lord (hallelujah)

I really want to see you
Really want to see you
Really want to see you, Lord
Really want to see you, Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord (hallelujah)

My sweet Lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my Lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my Lord (hallelujah)

I really want to know you (hallelujah)
Really want to go with you (hallelujah)
Really want to show you Lord (aaah)
That it won't take long, my Lord (hallelujah)

Hmm (hallelujah)
My sweet Lord (hallelujah)
My, my, Lord (hallelujah)

Hm, my Lord (hare krishna)
My, my, my Lord (hare krishna)
Oh hm, my sweet Lord (krishna, krishna)
Oh-uuh-uh (hare hare)

Now, I really want to see you (hare rama)
Really want to be with you (hare rama)
Really want to see you Lord (aaah)
But it takes so long, my Lord (hallelujah)

Hm, my Lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my Lord (hare krishna)
My sweet Lord (hare krishna)
My sweet Lord (krishna krishna)
My Lord (hare hare)
Hm, hm (Gurur Brahma)
Hm, hm (Gurur Vishnu)
Hm, hm (Gurur Devo)
Hm, hm (Maheshwara)
My sweet Lord (Gurur Sakshaat)
My sweet Lord (Parabrahma)
My, my, my Lord (Tasmayi Shree)
My, my, my, my Lord (Guruve Namah)
My sweet Lord (Hare Rama)

(hare krishna)
My sweet Lord (hare krishna)
My sweet Lord (krishna krishna)
My Lord (hare hare)

Writer/s: HARRISON, GEORGE / CHOWTA, SANDEEP
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

My Sweet Lord Song Chart

This was Harrison's first single as a solo artist, and it was his biggest hit. The song is about the Eastern religions he was studying.

Highly unusual for a hit song, Harrison repeats part of a Hindu mantra in the lyric when he sings, "Hare Krishna... Krishna, Krishna." When set to music, this mantra is typically part of a chant, that acts as a call to the Lord. Harrison interposes it with a Christian call to faith: "Hallelujah" - he was pointing out that "Hallelujah and Hare Krishna are quite the same thing."

In the documentary The Material World, Harrison explains: "First, it's simple. The thing about a mantra, you see... mantras are, well, they call it a mystical sound vibration encased in a syllable. It has this power within it. It's just hypnotic."

In 1976, Bright Tunes Music sued Harrison because this sounded too much like the 1963 Chiffons hit "He's So Fine." Bright Tunes was controlled by The Tokens, who set it up when they formed the production company that recorded "He's So Fine" - they owned the publishing rights to the song.

During the convoluted court case, Harrison explained how he composed the song: He said that in December 1969, he was playing a show in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the group Delaney and Bonnie, whose piano player was Billy Preston (who contributed to some Beatles recordings). Harrison said that he started writing the song after a press conference when he slipped away and started playing some guitar chords around the words "Hallelujah" and "Hare Krishna." He then brought the song to the band, who helped him work it out as he came up with lyrics. When he returned to London, Harrison worked on Billy Preston's album Encouraging Words. They recorded the song for the album, which was released on Apple Records later in 1970, and Harrison filed a copyright application for the melody, words and harmony of the song. Preston's version remained an album cut, and it was Harrison's single that was the huge hit and provoked the lawsuit, which was filed on February 10, 1971, while the song was still on the chart.

In further testimony, Harrison claimed he got the idea for "My Sweet Lord" from The Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Oh Happy Day," not "He's So Fine."

When the case was filed, Harrison's manager was Allen Klein, who negotiated with Bright Tunes on his behalf. The case was delayed when Bright Tunes went into receivership, and was not heard until 1976. In the meantime, Harrison and Klein parted ways in bitter fashion, and Klein began consulting Bright Tunes. Harrison offered to settle the case for $148,000 in January 1976, but the offer was rejected and the case brought to court.

The trial took place February 23-25, with various expert witnesses testifying. The key to the case was the musical pattern of the two songs, which were both based on two musical motifs: "G-E-D" and "G-A-C-A-C." "He's So Fine" repeated both motifs four times, "My Sweet Lord" repeated the first motif four times and the second motif three times. Harrison couldn't identify any other songs that used this exact pattern, and the court ruled that "the two songs are virtually identical." And while the judge felt that Harrison did not intentionally copy "My Sweet Lord," that was not a defense - thus Harrison was on the hook writing a similar song without knowing it.

Assessing damages in the case, the judge determined that "My Sweet Lord" represented 70% of the airplay of the All Things Must Pass album, and came up with a total award of about $1.6 million. However, in 1978 Allen Klein's company ABKCO purchased Bright Tunes for $587,000, which prompted Harrison to sue. In 1981, a judge decided that Klein should not profit from the judgment, and was entitled to only the $587,000 he paid for the company - all further proceeds from the case had to be remitted back to Harrison. The case dragged on until at least 1993, when various administrative matters were finally settled.

The case was a burden for Harrison, who says he tried to settle but kept getting dragged back to court by Bright Tunes. After losing the lawsuit, he became more disenfranchised with the music industry, and took some time off from recording - after his 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3, he didn't release another until his self-titled album in 1979. He told Rolling Stone, "It's difficult to just start writing again after you've been through that. Even now when I put the radio on, every tune I hear sounds like something else."

This was recorded at Abbey Road studios using the same equipment The Beatles used. There were some familiar faces at the sessions who had contributed to Beatles albums, including John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Billy Preston and Eric Clapton. Bobby Whitlock was friends with Harrison and Clapton, and played keyboards on the album. When we spoke with Whitlock, he shared his thoughts:

"That whole session was great. George Harrison, what a wonderful man. All the time that I ever knew him, which was from 1969 to his passing, he was a wonderful man. He included everyone on everything he did because there was enough for all."

Whitlock adds, "All during the sessions, the door would pop open and in would spring three or four or five Hare Krishnas in their white robes and shaved heads with a pony tail coming out the top. They were all painted up, throwing rose petals and distributing peanut butter cookies." (For more on these sessions, check out our full Bobby Whitlock interview)

This was the first #1 hit for any Beatle after the band broke up. Harrison was the first Beatle to release a solo album. He came out with Wonderwall Music, a soundtrack to the movie Wonderwall, in 1968.

When this song was released, the phrase "Hare Krishna" was associated with a religious group called the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, whose members would often approach passengers in airports, seeking donations and trying to solicit members. Individuals in this group became popularly known as "Hare Krishnas," with a generally negative connotation.

Artists who record chant music often face a negative reaction from listeners who don't understand the mantras. When we spoke with Krishna Das , the leading American chant musician, he explained: "'My Sweet Lord' is very clear and very beautiful, but the problem is that English has been appropriated by Western religion and it's very hard to talk about spiritual things in a song that doesn't get too 'organized religion-y,' you know? And then you get a lot of people who have a negative reaction to that as well. You can get a lot of negativity from the organized religion people. Like, 'This isn't our Jesus. This isn't the way it is.'"

Phil Spector produced this and sang backup. With the blessing of Harrison and John Lennon (and over the objections of Paul McCartney), Spector produced the last Beatles album, Let It Be.

Harrison released a new version, "My Sweet Lord 2000," when he reissued All Things Must Pass.

Producer Phil Spector thought "My Sweet Lord" was the commercial hit of the album, and everyone else resisted him on that. According to Phil, George and others worried about how the public might react to the religious overtones and the Hare Krishna influence.

After Harrison died, this was re-released in the UK, where it once again went to #1. Proceeds from the single went to the Material World Charitable Foundation, which Harrison started in 1973 to support charities that work with children and the poor.

George Harrison parodied "My Sweet Lord" during Eric Idle's Rutland Weekend Television Christmas special on December 26, 1975. He turned it into The Pirate Song. (thanks, Ethan - Franklin, TN)

Artists to cover this song include Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Richie Havens, Nina Simone, Peggy Lee and Julio Iglesias. The Chiffons also covered the song in 1975 amidst the plagiarism lawsuit over their song "He's So Fine."

U2 performed this as a tribute at their show in Atlanta on November 30, 2001, the night after Harrison died.