sweet lord sweet lord song english musician released november triple album things pass issued single harrison solo artist sweet lord topped charts worldwide biggest selling single america britain song number single harrison originally gave song fellow artist record version harrison produced appeared album september harrison wrote sweet lord praise hindu god krishna time intending lyrics serve abandon religious deliberate blending hebrew word chants hare krishna prayer recording features producer wall sound treatment heralded arrival harrison admired slide guitar technique biographer described musically distinctive signature mark preston group musicians appearing recording later 1970s sweet lord centre heavily publicised copyright infringement suit similarity song fine hit new_york girl group harrison found earlier tune verdict repercussions music industry claimed copyright happy day christian hymn inspiration song melody harrison performed sweet lord august remains popular composition post beatles career reworked song sweet lord inclusion bonus track 30th anniversary reissue things pass artists covered song including elton_john sweet lord ranked rolling_stone_magazine list greatest songs time song reached number britain second time released january months harrison death background george_harrison began writing sweet lord december copenhagen denmark guest artists european tour time harrison written gospel influenced hear lord krishna preston african american spiritual sing lord produced religious themed hit singles beatles apple record label preston way god planned temple london hare krishna musical adaptation year old performed members colloquially known movement harrison wanted fuse messages christian musical biographer terms gospel chant copenhagen marked end tour night residency theatre december according harrison court testimony sweet lord conceived band members attending backstage press conference upstairs room theatre harrison recalled chords guitar alternating sung phrases hare krishna later took idea chorus vocals developed band leader recent version events idea originated harrison asking writing genuine gospel song demonstrated singing words lord wife singer added gospel reply british music journalist questioned accuracy account comparing fisherman big story inspiration rendition eighteenth century christian hymn happy day harrison continued working theme completed song help preston returned london composition song lyrics reflect harrison stated desire direct relationship god expressed simple words believers regardless religion author observes degree verse line want lord takes long lord end song second verse harrison declares wish know god attempts reconcile want know want want lord won long lord following verse response main vocal repetition song title harrison devised choral line singing hebrew word praise common christian jewish religions later song instrumental break voices return chanting words known hare sanskrit words main faith harrison identified belong spiritual organisation autobiography harrison explained intended repeating alternating hare krishna terms meant thing listeners chanting knew going following sanskrit lines sung twice repeats ancient prayer according hindu tradition prayer dedicated spiritual teacher guru teacher divine krishna translates lines follows offer homage guru great creator destroyer energy god prayer verse fourteen verse hymn praise hindu spiritual teachers christian anti rock activists objected chanting hare krishna sweet lord anti christian born christians adopted song anthem commentators cite simplicity harrison lyrics central song lyrics directed specific manifestation single faith deity writes concept god essential nature unaffected particular interpretations present knowing powerful time space christian hindu muslim jew buddhist address gods way phrase sweet lord version beatles officially december harrison plans solo album reportedly intended offer sweet lord instead following tour decided record harrison producing second apple album recording took place olympic studios london january preston principal musician supported guitarist bass player drummer backing band happened tour harrison invited participate gospel group overdubbed vocals harrison preston collaboration sing lord time preston version sweet lord differs harrison later reading refrain appears start song section words hare krishna sung twice track prayer likewise absent views original recording possible definitive roots song thanks pure gospel groove participation review allmusic describes sweet lord things pass harrison composition originally given preston record stunning gospel numbers harrison versions preston sweet lord minor hit europe issued single september little impression commercially album single releases delayed months united_states sweet lord climb number billboard hot end february helped enormous success harrison version recording months olympic session beatles having broken sweet lord tracks harrison recorded things pass triple album song reluctant record fear committing publicly overt religious message sticking neck block live harrison explained time thought saying wish somebody producing sessions abbey road studios preston played track members identity remaining musicians traditionally open question drummer claiming played song bass john_lennon rhythm common view following research harrison chose number rhythm tracks selecting master featured bass second keyboard suggests added acoustic guitar main session harrison original vocal appears acceptable according notes written august chorus vocals sung harrison credited george smith singers slide guitar parts orchestral arrangement overdubbed months partly central london describes recording crafted sound beginning bank acoustic guitars flourish strings introduces harrison slide guitar motif close minute mark tension building bridge subtle shift key major rarely key sharp major dominant seventh chord signals song release extended introduction higher register complemented harrison increasingly vocal subsequent timely twin slide guitars backing vocals switch sanskrit prayer notes indian music aspects production like representing sympathetic strings slide guitars string instruments interview documentary george_harrison recalls liked results insisted sweet lord lead single album later rock version song markedly different happy day gospel arrangement musical structural terms harrison composition pop music conventions drawing similarities melody line hit fine suggests harrison focused feel record editor wrote despite harrison inspiration sweet lord having come happy day hands producer arranger came carbon copy song remark sad fact master girl group early 60s failed recognise similarities release arriving new_york october carry mastering things pass harrison announced single issued impact triple album apple executive business manager pushed sweet lord released immediately version scheduled release single america following month film director recalls preliminary finance meeting documentary harrison provide emergency funding began asking listen selection songs pick favourite sweet lord harrison relented sweet lord issued album lead single world britain release date november united_states mix song differed found things pass featuring echo slightly altered backing vocal track sides north american picture sleeve consisted photo harrison taken window recently purchased park home estate trees reflected glass released double isn pity apple catalogue number america sides disc featured apple label public demand constant airplay britain led release january apple single backed life song apple soon released internationally follow sweet lord harrison version sweet lord international number hit end early months solo single reach biggest seller 1970s support concert appearances promotional interviews harrison single commercial success impact radio harrison biographer writes song rolled like commanding presence way like rolling stone arrived mid elton_john recalls hearing sweet lord taxi names era great singles thought god got know record starts radio great think record felt way brown sugar page harrison tribute article rolling_stone credited sweet lord radio youth consciousness beatles produced single certified gold recording_industry_association_of_america december sales million copies reached number billboard hot december remaining weeks coincided things pass seven week reign atop billboard albums chart britain sweet lord entered charts number hitting number january staying weeks biggest selling single performed similarly world particularly france germany held spot weeks respectively harrison apple recordings described harrison arguably successful rock star planet period adding sweet lord things pass topped charts world easily solo beatles projects later year single worldwide sales amounted million copies making best selling singles time according sweet lord sold million copies song returned number position reissued january months harrison death cancer age reception author dawn west written harrison solo single sweet lord people wanted hear november harmonies acoustic guitars solid exquisite harrison guitar solo reviewing single rolling_stone called track sensational era songs temple adaptations christian hymns happy day amazing grace worldwide hits rolling_stone observed harrison hare krishna refrain trivial fine sign times john_lennon famously told reporter time time radio lord beginning think god december album review nme apparent lack single release sweet lord noted song owe fine obvious write hit months music publisher served writ harrison citing copyright infringement january review nme expressed surprise apple delay releasing single declaring opinion record finally establishes george talent equivalent recently allmusic explains international popularity harrison single sweet lord quasi religious feel conventional pop appeal reach mainstream listeners care dig spiritual lyrical message added slide guitar riff describes best known guitar passages popular music highlights combination harrison evident lack excellent production sweet lord heard prayer love song anthem contemporary gospel track piece perfect pop ensuing suit sweet lord somewhat association point mention song complete reference fine sweet lord ranked rolling_stone_magazine list greatest songs time accompanying text briefly mentioned success single harrison slide concentrating controversial lawsuit acknowledging common ground songs music critic describes harrison composition honest child black american sacred song writing time things pass reissue rolling_stone described sweet lord capturing sweet faith irresistible end sweet lord topped reader polls single year world single year publication song voted best single harrison honoured male vocalist june harrison won songwriter awards sweet lord listeners voted sweet lord best song george_harrison solo years ahead blow away life named personal favourites harrison songs guitar gently according website sweet lord appeared following critics best song lists books important songs author songs rock world ranked number ultimate classic rock songs number nme best songs 1970s number magazine greatest songs time number copyright infringement suit initial action february filed suit harrison associated organisations including bmi alleging copyright infringement late song fine harrison admits having thought didn realise started pointing similarity songs june year country singer released cover fine incorporating harrison sweet lord slide guitar riffs putting screws point view harrison behalf manager entered negotiations resolve issue offering buy financially ailing publisher entire catalogue settlement reached company forced comparing compositions author writes songs title refrain sweet lord fine followed descent major scale key major sweet lord major fine respective similar beats minute respective sections want gon similar ascent retain bars repeat motif uniquely note 9th gon harrison hand introduces complex harmony relative minor fundamental distinctly original slide guitar motif case hold harrison chose ties end march split led lawsuits beatles bright tunes harrison later resumed negotiations final offer cent sweet lord composer publisher royalties stipulation retain copyright song viewed good bright legal representation offer rejected later renewed efforts purchase ailing company solely end supplying insider details sweet lord sales figures copyright value build case going court recorded version sweet lord aim drawing attention lawsuit beatles author described suit notorious civil action decade proceedings provoked combination commercial success harrison single intervention litigation loving court hearing ruling bright tunes music finally went united_states district court february hear evidence allegation harrison attended proceedings new_york guitar called musical experts support argument september court found harrison copied earlier tune admitted having aware recording judge said conclusion proceedings harrison deliberately use music fine believe deliberately clear sweet lord song fine different words harrison access fine law infringement copyright accomplished damages subsequent litigation liability established court recommended damages paid harrison apple bright tunes owen totalled amounting quarters royalty revenue raised north_america sweet lord significant proportion album figure considered harsh unrealistic observers unique elements harrison recording universal spiritual message lyrics signature guitar hook production ignored critical acclaim album received right observes people don usually hear single automatically buy expensive boxed set triple album chance award royalty revenue raised sweet lord inclusion recent best george_harrison compilation moderate percentage album ruling set new legal personal blow harrison admitted paranoid write new time early reaction music industry saw little richard claim breach copyright track recorded beatles beatles sale album credit songwriter inspiration song corresponding damages suit brought swiftly settled court july drawn damages portion suit events played harrison hands finally purchased copyright fine litigation claims proceeded negotiate sale song harrison february court decided case harrison pay instead million award receive rights fine paid song court ruled manager actions breach duty owed harrison duty continued principal agent relationship ended litigation continued early 1990s finer points settlement essay describes question longest running legal battles united_states matters ultimately concluded march subsequent charges music industry resulted policy swift settlement limited damage artist credibility anybody seen baby oasis step bitter examples songs writing credits hastily altered acknowledge composers work minimum litigation shortly ruling handed september harrison wrote recorded song inspired court case upbeat song includes line tune bright 1960s soul hits help sugar pie honey bunch rescue composition checked lyrics demonstrate point later popular music heard reminiscent interview playboy magazine john_lennon expressed doubts notion saying known know changed couple bars song touched let paid price maybe thought god sort let reaction charitable doubt tune similar songs written melodies mind george version heavier original mind wanted test case court speaking friend editor harrison said episode don feel guilty bad fact saved heroin life know motive writing song place effect far exceeded legal releases alternative versions initial release things pass sweet lord appeared compilation best george harrison career spanning let roll songs george_harrison original single life reissued christmas eve britain provocative emi given publicity lawsuit attracted year song pirate song december harrison guest appearance friend comedy sending public image seemingly perform sweet lord running gag half hour harrison sketches trying land acting role pirate dressed accordingly gets turned time regulars idle simply want play george_harrison reappears end normal attire known introduction sweet lord acoustic guitar backed house band instead continuing song harrison finally takes chance play pirate bob abruptly sea horror played idle musicians follow harrison lead group dancers appear stage closing credits roll performance known pirate song written recording available unofficially compilations observing parallels harrison real life reluctance play pop star writes great resonance gags sweet lord january harrison included new version song bonus track remastered things pass album sweet lord featured harrison sharing vocals daughter friend backed new instrumentation including acoustic guitar son track opens snippet emphasize spiritual roots suggests release harrison explained motivation song partly play better slide guitar solo cited spiritual response song traditionally received interest reworking tune avoid contentious musical notes reasons extended slide guitar break sweet lord writes harrison clear musical statement signature sound tool self expression vocal harrison vocal gospel sincere original recording given deteriorating health final year life version appeared january posthumous release sweet lord single song charity comprising original hit acoustic run let recent overdubs bonus track harrison reworking title song proceeds single went set harrison april months single release portion sweet lord played harrison official website constant loop screen images lotus scattering forming song appears apple years reissue things pass demo version november demo sweet lord harrison backed included deluxe edition accompanying british dvd release george_harrison living material world documentary described early live compilation producer acoustic rolling_stone recorded start things pass sessions later released internationally early takes volume live versions harrison performed sweet lord relatively solo concerts starting shows new_york madison square garden august recording released subsequent live album taken evening begins harrison spoken hare krishna opening acoustic guitar chords backing musicians soul choir featuring singers hall harrison sung end song prayer role lead vocalist unlike studio recording sung backing chorus slide guitar parts played north american tour harrison solo artist sweet lord performed encore contrast subtle shift sanskrit chants original harrison song engage audience practice chanting holy names lord christ krishna varying degrees success backed band included harrison turned sweet lord styled extended gospel funk piece closer arrangement version lasting minutes performance song november marked guest appearance tour joined band stage harrison second final solo tour took place japan december band live version sweet lord recorded tokyo dome december released following year live japan album personnel following musicians believed played harrison original version sweet lord george_harrison vocals acoustic guitar slide guitars backing vocals acoustic guitar acoustic guitar acoustic guitar acoustic guitar piano electric piano bass drums percussion drums percussion string arrangements uncredited cover versions covered sweet lord love story album backed members choir valley california british easy listening pianist covered song harrison life album entitled love story equally popular theme song movie love story dawn performed song television series 1970s homer recorded version sweet lord eponymous album recorded sweet lord april album arranged issued covered song album happy hammond goes pop version released album titled love story version released album covered sweet lord love story album recorded version produced released single appeared involved album version appeared album welcome world recorded reggae version sweet lord background chorus krishna references easy listening version sweet lord recorded beatles tribute album george john paul covered sweet lord album standing wondering way song later released songs beatles french orchestral leader recorded song friends album swedish jazz singer recorded swedish language cover french recorded sweet lord album grand paul beatles italian singer covered song album beatles performed minute gospel reworking sweet lord fort group african american soldiers version released album emergency ward cover harrison isn pity interspersed song poem today killer end god accused killer giving atmosphere performance apocalyptic ending references krishna appear version covered song live album stage version later released album tribe recorded song album titled included cover versions highlights concert bangladesh covered sweet lord album jesus released version song album covered song album singing english song retitled spanish sweet lord version song released non album single covered sweet lord album streams white light like omitted references krishna christmas special performed song spiritual medley guest choir song briefly included stars medley songs released single don album recorded heavily revised version sweet lord things christian release entire background section replaced refrain jesus thirty covered song anti poll tax album leeds released recorded version song nme compilation album spanish house music band released version sweet lord single covered sweet lord album swedish band recorded song medley fine released single titled sweet lord fine december played song live modified lyrics concert cultural buenos_aires souls covered sweet lord album instrumental version sweet lord included complete recordings collection album recorded live church january recorded song covers album january soul singer performed medley sweet lord tribute harrison died april elton_john sting performed sweet lord close harrison tribute opening portion rock benefit concert held hall new_york_city crown covered track album recorded cover sweet lord album everybody loves somebody november song performed joining backing vocals brazilian artist included cover sweet lord album recorded version specifically christian additional verses krishna references album christmas prayer covered song released album remember included sweet lord album piano reggae artist recorded song album children high replacing background chorus sung references cover released george tribute album featuring guest appearances apple recording artist covered sweet lord album harrison harrison jazz explanations george harrison released october recorded version sweet lord performed song live notably performance year festival version appeared charity album liverpool number ones album covered track album covered harrison songs including sweet lord tribute played bass harrison studio version performance song included cover sweet lord solo album journey supplied lead vocals track covered song references krishna christian audiences performed sweet lord live played song live riff contributed sweet lord tribute accompanying november issue mojo magazine played song band including live tribute george_harrison accolades grammy awards chart performance weekly singles charts year end charts certifications sales
My Sweet Lord