My Sweet Lord

For other uses, see My Sweet Lord (disambiguation).

"My Sweet Lord"
Single by George Harrison
from the album All Things Must Pass
A-side	"My Sweet Lord"
B-side	"Isn't It a Pity" (US) "What Is Life" (UK)
Released	23 November 1970 (US) 15 January 1971 (UK)
Format	7"
Genre	Rock, folk rock
Length	4:39
Label	Apple Records
Writer(s)	George Harrison
Producer	George Harrison, Phil Spector
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
George Harrison singles chronology
"My Sweet Lord" (1971) "What Is Life" (1971)
Alternative cover 2002 reissue cover All Things Must Pass track listing 23 tracks Side one "I'd Have You Anytime" "My Sweet Lord" "Wah-Wah" "Isn't It a Pity" Side two "What Is Life" "If Not for You" "Behind That Locked Door" "Let It Down" "Run of the Mill" Side three "Beware of Darkness" "Apple Scruffs" "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)" "Awaiting on You All" "All Things Must Pass" Side four "I Dig Love" "Art of Dying" "Isn't It a Pity" (Version 2) "Hear Me Lord" Side five "Out of the Blue" "It's Johnny's Birthday" "Plug Me In" Side six "I Remember Jeep" "Thanks for the Pepperoni" George Harrison singles chronology "Cheer Down" (1989) "My Sweet the Lord" (2002) "Stuck Inside a Cloud" (2002)

"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna.^[1] It is ranked #460 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

Writing and recording

The song was originally intended for Billy Preston, who had a minor hit with it in early 1970, in his album Encouraging Words. It was written in December 1969, when Harrison and Billy Preston were in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The recording of the song took place in London. Preston was the principal musician while Harrison was engineering the sessions.

Single release

When released as a single, "My Sweet Lord" became an international #1 hit. In October 1970, Harrison told the British press that it was going to be his first solo single, but a few days later he changed his mind and said it would not be made available thus, as he did not want sales in that format to detract from those of the album. (The other three former Beatles had also released solo albums earlier that year, without releasing a single in Britain from any of them). It was released as a single in the US (Apple 2995) on 23 November 1970. Within a few weeks, EMI and Apple Records bowed to media and public demand, and the UK release (Apple R 5884) followed on 15 January 1971. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.^[2]

Entering the British charts in the first week at number seven and then hitting the summit for five weeks, it was the first single by an ex-Beatle to reach number one. It did so again in the UK when reissued in January 2002 after Harrison's death from cancer. It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 26 December 1970, remaining on top for four weeks.

In Britain, the original single was officially a double-A Side with "What Is Life". In the US it was a double-A-side with "Isn't It a Pity"- with both sides featuring a full Apple label.

The song has also appeared on The Concert for Bangla Desh (1971), The Best of George Harrison (1976), Live in Japan (1992), and Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison (2009).

Legal controversy

Following the song's release, musical similarities between "My Sweet Lord" and The Chiffons' hit "He's So Fine" led to a prolonged copyright infringement suit, known as Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs Music, which lasted over 10 years. In 1976, a U.S. district court decision found that Harrison had "subconsciously" copied the earlier song. In 1978, before the court decided on damages in the case, Harrison's former manager Allen Klein, who represented Harrison earlier in the proceedings, purchased the copyright to "He's So Fine" from Bright Tunes. In 1981, the court decided the damages amounted to $1,599,987 but that due to Klein's duplicity in the case, Harrison would only have to pay Klein $587,000 for the rights to "He's So Fine"—the amount Klein had paid Bright Tunes for the song.^[3]

Harrison claimed in a BBC interview with Annie Nightingale that the Judge in the case said that he liked Harrison's version of "My Sweet Lord" less.^{[citation needed]}

The Chiffons would later record "My Sweet Lord" to capitalise on the publicity generated by the lawsuit. Country singer Jody Miller recorded a country chart top-five cover of "He's So Fine", which plays on the two songs' similarities by featuring the same guitar breaks played on the Harrison recording.

Shortly after the trial in 1976, Harrison^[4] wrote and recorded a song about the court case titled "This Song", which includes "This tune has nothing 'Bright' about it." "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Rescue Me" are also mentioned in the song.

Harrison stated in his autobiography that he was not consciously aware of the similarity when he wrote the song and was inspired to write "My Sweet Lord" by the Edwin Hawkins Singers' version of "Oh Happy Day".^[5] In a 1980 interview with Playboy magazine, John Lennon expressed his doubt of the notion of "subconscious" plagiarism: "He must have known, you know. He's smarter than that. It's irrelevant, actually—only on a monetary level does it matter. He could have changed a couple of bars in that song and nobody could ever have touched him, but he just let it go and paid the price. Maybe he thought God would just sort of let him off."^[6]

Hindu prayers

Early in the song, the background singers repeat the Hebrew word of praise, "Hallelujah", common in the Christian and Jewish religions. Later, the background singers chant two Vaisnava Hindu prayers, including

• Hare Krishna/Hare Krishna/Krishna Krishna/Hare Hare/Hare Rama/Hare Rama

This prayer consists of part of the principal mantra of devotees of the Gaudiya Vaisnavite faith, popularised in the Western world by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), colloquially known as the 'Hare Krishnas'. Harrison was a devotee of this religious path.

The mantra in full is "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare."

• Gurur Brahmā, gurur Viṣṇur, gurur devo Maheśvaraḥ
• (The teacher is Brahmā, the teacher is Viṣṇu, the teacher is the Lord Maheśvara,)
• gurus sākṣāt paraṃ Brahma, tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ
• (Verily the teacher is the supreme Brahman, to that respected teacher I bow down.)

This prayer is chanted by Hindu devotees prior to beginning any action, after hymns to Ganesha and Sarasvati. The prayer is dedicated to the spiritual teacher of the devotee which is equated with the Hindu Trimurti Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (Maheshvara) and with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit or Absolute Reality (Brahman). The prayer is the first verse of the Guru stotram, a fourteen verse hymn dedicated to the spiritual teacher.^[7]

During his live performances of "My Sweet Lord", Harrison has tried to engage his audience into the practice of "chanting the holy names of the Lord" (kirtan):

Breaking into the thundering rhythm guitar intro to “My Sweet Lord,” Harrison would soon begin to invite the cheering, largely stoned crowd to “chant the holy name of the Lord.” Few responded. Switching messiahs midstream, he would then rocket into the famous Krishna Hallelujah chorus and begin singing, “Om Christ, Om Christ, Om Christ” over and over, adding, “I know a lot of you out there think that’s swearing, but it’s not! If we all chant together purely for one minute, we’ll blow the roof off this place.^[8]

Various Christian fundamentalist anti-rock activists have objected to the chanting of 'Hare Krishna' in the song as anti-Christian or satanic while some born-again Christians appear to have adopted the song as an anthem.^[9]

Personnel

The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:^[10]

• George Harrison – vocals, backing vocals, slide guitar
• Eric Clapton – backing vocals, guitar
• Billy Preston – piano
• Gary Wright – electric piano
• Klaus Voormann – bass guitar
• Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Joey Molland - acoustic rhythm guitar
• Ringo Starr, Jim Gordon – drums
• Mike Gibbins - tambourine
• Uncredited: harmonium

Chart positions

Chart (1970/1971) Peak position Australian Kent Music Report[11] 1 Austrian Singles Chart[12] 1 Dutch Singles Chart[13] 1 German Singles Chart[14] 1 Irish Singles Chart 1 Japanese Oricon Weekly Singles Chart[15] 4 Norwegian Singles Chart[16] 1 Swiss Singles Chart[17] 1 UK Singles Chart[18] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[19] 1

Chart (2002) Peak position Canadian Singles Chart [20] 1 Dutch Singles Chart[21] 46 Italian Singles Chart[22] 12 Japanese Oricon Weekly Singles Chart[23] 96 Norwegian Singles Chart[24] 18 Swedish Singles Chart[25] 56 Swiss Singles Chart[26] 61 UK Singles Chart[27] 1 US Billboard Hot 100 [20] 94

George Harrison's versions

Harrison himself performed the song in a self-parody for Eric Idle and Neil Innes' Rutland Weekend Television Christmas special, broadcast 26 December 1975 on BBC2. Harrison closed the show performing lip-sync'ed to a previously recorded track which started with the song, and changed to a pirate shanty once Harrison started 'singing'. A clearly befuddled "Fatso" (Innes' band on the show backing Harrison) stop and eventually follow along and a group of dancers come out to join in the fun as the closing credits roll, while "host" Idle frequently walks onscreen, bewildered at Harrison's performance. This version is known as "The Pirate Song".

With re-issued All Things Must Pass for its thirtieth anniversary in 2000, surfaced a new version of the song, added as a bonus track, with Harrison sharing vocals with Sam Brown.

Other versions

• Andy Williams covered "My Sweet Lord" on his 1971 Love Story album, backed up by members of the choir of the Wee Kirk o' the Valley of Reseda, California.
• Edwin Starr recorded his version in 1971.
• John Holt recorded a reggae version in 1971 without a background chorus (i.e., with neither hallelujahs nor Krishna references).
• Peggy Lee covered the song in April 1971 on her album Where Did They Go?. Lee's version was arranged by Don Sebesky. It was released on CD in 2008.^[28]
• The Top of the Poppers recorded a version in 1971, which can be found on their The Best of Top of the Pops '71 album.
• In 1972, Nina Simone performed a 18-minute version of "My Sweet Lord" at Fort Dix before a group of black soldiers (recorded on Emergency Ward). She mingled the song with the David Nelson poem "Today is a killer", in which at the end God is accused of being a killer, giving the otherwise exuberant atmosphere of the performance an apocalyptic ending. No references to Krishna were used.
• In 1975, Julio Iglesias covered the song on his album El Amor. Iglesias sang it in English even though the song was retitled in Spanish as "Mi Dulce Señor (My sweet Lord)".^[29]
• Larry Norman covered the song on his 1977 album Streams of White Light Into Darkened Corners.
• On his 1981 Don't Give In album, Leon Patillo recorded a heavily revised version (among other things as this was a Christian album, the entire background "Hallelujah" section is replaced with "Jesus").
• Richie Havens covered this song on his 1987 album Sings Beatles and Dylan.
• Five Thirty covered the song for the anti-poll tax album Alvin Lives (in Leeds) (1990).
• Boy George had his own version of the song in 1992 for NME's Roaring Forty compilation album.
• Stacey Q covered "My Sweet Lord" on her 1997 album, Boomerang.
• Brainpool recorded and released the song as a single in 1997, as a medley of "My Sweet Lord" and "He's So Fine".
• In 1997 Megadeth covered this song with modified lyrics.
• Crown of Thorns covered this track on their 2002 album Karma.
• Richard Clayderman made a cover of this song for his 2002 album Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime
• At the Concert for George in November 2002, the song was performed by Billy Preston, with Sam Brown joining on background vocals.
• Girlyman also covered this song on their 2003 album Remember Who I Am.
• BeBe Winans released a version of the song with specifically Christian additional verses and no Krishna references on his 2003 album My Christmas Prayer.
• Reggae artist Little Roy (Earl Lowe) - a Rastafarian - recorded a version of the song for his 2005 album Children Of The Most High, replacing the background section with sung references to Rastafari.
• Les Fradkin has a cover version of "My Sweet Lord" released in 2005, featuring a guest appearance from Richie Furay and Lon Van Eaton (former Apple Records recording artist).
• Nina Hagen recorded (with Loka Nunda) her version of "My Sweet Lord" in 2008.
• Osibisa covered this track on their 2009 album Osee Yee.
• Jim James covered six of Harrison's songs under the name Yim Yames, including "My Sweet Lord", on his 2009 Tribute To album.
• Kevin Max covered this song with no references to Krishna for Christian audiences.
• Elliott Smith covered this song together with Grandaddy.
• Jose Feliciano has played this song live.
• Dolly Parton performed it with a choir on a television special, with only 'Hallelujah' being chanted.

Notes

1. ^ Newport, John P. (1998). The New Age movement and the biblical worldview: conflict and dialogue. Eerdmans. p. 70. http://books.google.com/books?id=Rxss1cqHWYIC&pg=PA70. 
2. ^ riaa.com
3. ^ "Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs Music, 420 F. Supp. 177 (SDNY 1976)". http://cip.law.ucla.edu/cases/case_brightharrisongs.html. 
4. ^ Huntley, Elliot J. (2004). Mystical One: George Harrison: After the Breakup of the Beatles. Guernica Editions. ISBN 1-55071-197-0. 
5. ^ Harrison, George. I Me Mine (1980) p. 176
6. ^ Sheff, David. Playboy January 1981
7. ^ Hymns and Prayers to Gods and Goddesses, Advaita Ashrama, 2005, Compiled by Swami Pavitrananda.
8. ^ Giuliano, Geoffrey (1990). Dark Horse: The private life of George Harrison. New York: Penguin Books. 
9. ^ Sullivan, Mark (October 1987). "'More Popular Than Jesus': The Beatles and the Religious Far Right". Popular Music 6 (3): 319. 
10. ^ "George Harrison: My Sweet Lord". The Beatles Bible. http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/george-harrison/songs/my-sweet-lord/. Retrieved 17 November 2011. 
11. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0646119176. 
12. ^ "George Harrison - My Sweet Lord - austriancharts.at". Ö3 Austria Top 40. http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=George+Harrison&titel=My+Sweet+Lord&cat=s. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
13. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - George Harrison - My Sweet Lord". MegaCharts. http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=George+Harrison&titel=My+Sweet+Lord&cat=s. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
14. ^ Günter Ehnert (ed.): Hit Bilanz. Deutsche Chart Singles 1956-1980. Hamburg: Taurus Press 1990, p. 93
15. ^ "George Harrison - Chart Archives on the Japanese Oricon Top 100". Homepage1.nifty.com. http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/after_beatles_george_singlechartaction_japan.htm. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
16. ^ "norwegiancharts.com George Harrison - My Sweet Lord". VG-lista. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=George+Harrison&titel=My+Sweet+Lord&cat=s. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
17. ^ "George Harrison - My Sweet Lord - hitparade.ch". Swiss Music Charts. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=George+Harrison&titel=My+Sweet+Lord&cat=s. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
18. ^ "Chart Stats George Harrison - My Sweet Lord". The Official Charts Company. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=5538. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
19. ^ "allmusic ((( All Things Must Pass > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r8992/charts-awards/billboard-single. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
20. ^ ^{a b} "allmusic ((( George Harrison > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4444/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
21. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - George Harrison - My Sweet Lord". MegaCharts. http://dutchcharts.nl/weekchart.asp?year=2002&date=20020202&cat=s. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
22. ^ "italiancharts.com - George Harrison - My Sweet Lord". http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=George+Harrison&titel=My+Sweet+Lord&cat=s. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
23. ^ ジョージ・ハリスン-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック "Highest position and charting weeks of "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison". oricon.co.jp. Oricon Style. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/471657/1/ ジョージ・ハリスン-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック. Retrieved accessdate=28 April 2010. 
24. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Norwegian charts portal". VG-lista. http://norwegiancharts.com/weekchart.asp?year=2002&date=200204&cat=s. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
25. ^ "swedishcharts.com - George Harrison - My Sweet Lord". http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=George+Harrison&titel=My+Sweet+Lord&cat=s. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
26. ^ "Schweizer Hitparade". Swiss Music Charts. http://hitparade.ch/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=2002&date=20020217. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
27. ^ "Chart Stats George Harrison - My Sweet Lord {2002}". The Official Charts Company. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=29636. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
28. ^ Mercado, Iván Santiago. "Peggy Lee Discography and Videography". JazzDiscography.com. http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Lee/capitolee2c.html. 
29. ^ Adaime, Iván. "Review of El Amor". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r25364/review. Retrieved 5 January 2009. 

External links

• Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs Music at UCLA Law
• Plagiarism Suit
• George Harrison Super 70s
• (2001). "Harrison's sweet music", BBC News: Entertainment: Music.

Preceded by "The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles	Billboard Hot 100 number-one single 26 December 1970 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "Knock Three Times" by Dawn
Preceded by Grandad by Clive Dunn	UK Singles Chart number-one single 30 January 1971 (5 weeks)	Succeeded by Baby Jump by Mungo Jerry
Preceded by More Than a Woman by Aaliyah	UK Singles Chart number-one single 20 January 2002 (1 week)	Succeeded by Hero by Enrique Iglesias