Major life events have significantly influenced musicians through the years, particularly in their musical and creative endeavors. For The Beatles’ George Harrison, one major life event influenced a whole career of solo releases. One of which was the song “My Sweet Lord” from his 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass.
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“My Sweet Lord” was Harrison’s first single as a solo artist, and it was a chart-topping hit across the globe. But the song wasn’t your typical pop chart fodder. Rather, “My Sweet Lord” is a folk rock gospel song heavily inspired by Harrison’s spiritual awakening.
In 1967, George Harrison and the rest of The Beatles traveled to Rishikesh, India. At the time, Harrison was in a pretty relatable but unpleasant spot. He was struggling with his identity as a musician as well as his purpose in life outside of being part of the Fab Four. A bit of spiritual guidance was all he really needed to go down a new path in life, helped in part by the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
The Spiritual Experience That Inspired “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison
Much of the music Harrison wrote during and after that famed trek to India reflects a sort of enlightenment about his life. Plenty of people, including fans and those close to Harrison, saw it as just a phase. However, the inspiration that Harrison took back with him from India influenced him until the very end of his life. “My Sweet Lord” could be seen as a defining song of that life-changing experience.
Harrison started writing “My Sweet Lord” in 1969 in Denmark with the assistance of Eric Clapton and session musician Billy Preston. The Beatles weren’t officially broken up yet, but the writing was on the wall. Harrison found solace in his growing ability as a songwriter. One could see the lyrics of “My Sweet Lord” as Harrison pleading for guidance and comfort from a higher power.
He had more or less accepted the concept of leaving earthly materialistic desires behind and explored those notions in “My Sweet Lord”. You can also hear Harrison exploring religious separations and boundaries in the tune, as he alternates between Hebrew, Christian, and Hindu phrases.
The final result was a hymn to a god that all religions share, and the spiritual theme managed to not be entirely too preachy or pushy in one direction. It’s really a gorgeous piece of work that has aged well today.
Photo by Birmingham Post and Mail Archive/Birmingham Post and Mail Archive/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
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