George Harrison, My Sweet Lord | Music Lifts

In the 6^th edition of Music Lifts (2024), we’re uplifted by George Harrison performing, “My Sweet Lord.”

Welcome to Music Lifts , a column that seeks to highlight songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 6^th edition of Music Lifts (2024), we highlight “My Sweet Lord” as performed by George Harrison.

“My sweet Lord / I really wanna see you / Really wanna be with you / Really wanna see you, Lord, but it takes so long, my Lord.” Clearly, faith was important to the late, great, George Harrison. Harrison professes his faith on his no. 1 hit, “My Sweet Lord”, which appears on his 1970 album, All Things Must Pass.  The excerpted lyrics are applicable to Christian religions – the idea of a relationship with God.  That said, ultimately, Harrison makes ample references to eastern religion, specifically, Hinduism. “My, my, my Lord (Hare Krishna)” clearly separates this from Christianity.  Still, Harrison serves up many hallelujahs, though eventually, its Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Gurur Brahma, etc. Considering Hinduism, the lengthiness to see The Lord doesn’t mirror what many Christian religions ascribe to – heaven versus reincarnation.

Regardless of the religious specifics, which are intriguing, what makes “My Sweet Lord” a musical lift is the embracement of faith and believing in something.  The lyrics are uncomplicated, which, interestingly, is similar to many Christian and gospel songs. Harrison sounds fantastic, while he and Phil Spector construct a marvelous, folk-gospel backdrop.  Even if “My Sweet Lord” isn’t a gospel standard, there is ample faith, not to mention plenty of instrumentalists! Of course, we can’t mention “My Sweet Lord” without that lawsuit – we’ve all been highly inspired by others’ music, haven’t we? Yes Lord! Also, the late, great Billy Preston recorded this Harrison classic, too!

George Harrison • All Things Must Pass • G.H. Estate Limited / BMG Rights Management (US) LLC • 1970

George Harrison, My Sweet Lord: Music Lifts No. 6 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; G.H. Estate Limited / BMG Rights Management (US) LLC; Hamid Tajik, Qamar Rehman, vansh mehta, Viridiana Rivera via Pexels]