My Sweet Lord
Encyclopedia
"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
. It is ranked #460 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
, 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.
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.
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).
' 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.
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.
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 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
". 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."
word of praise, "Hallelujah
", common in the Christian
and Jewish
religions. Later, the background singers chant two Vaisnava Hindu
prayers, including
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."
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.
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
):
Various Christian fundamentalist anti-rock activists have objected to the chanting of 'Hare Krishna' in the song as anti-Christian or satan
ic while some born-again Christians appear to have adopted the song as an anthem
.
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.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
lead guitarist George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass
All Things Must Pass
All Things Must Pass is a triple album by George Harrison, recorded and released in 1970. The original vinyl release featured two LPs of rock songs as well as Apple Jam, a third LP of informal jams...
. The song was written in praise of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
god Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. It is ranked #460 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
Writing and recording
The song was originally intended for Billy PrestonBilly Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
, who had a minor hit with it in early 1970, in his album Encouraging Words
Encouraging Words
Encouraging Words is the fifth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1970. Preston worked closely with George Harrison on the album, who contributed guitar, co-produced, co-wrote a song with Preston, and contributed two of his own songs which were yet to be released, as All Things Must Pass...
. 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, EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
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
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for sales of over one million copies.
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
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
when reissued in January 2002 after Harrison's death from cancer. It reached number one on the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
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
The Best of George Harrison
The Best of George Harrison is the first compilation album of George Harrison's music and was released in 1976, following the expiration of his EMI contract...
(1976), Live in Japan (1992), and Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison
Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison
Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison is the third compilation of George Harrison's music, and the first to span his entire solo career after The Beatles era...
(2009).
Legal controversy
Following the song's release, musical similarities between "My Sweet Lord" and The ChiffonsThe Chiffons
The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
' hit "He's So Fine
He's So Fine
"He's So Fine" is a recording by The Chiffons which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in the spring of 1963. One of the most instantly recognizable Golden Oldies with its doo-lang doo-lang doo-lang background vocal, "He's So Fine" is also renowned as the plaintiff song in the now-infamous...
" 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
Cryptomnesia
Cryptomnesia occurs when a forgotten memory returns without it being recognised as such by the subject, who believes it is something new and original...
the earlier song. In 1978, before the court decided on damages in the case, Harrison's former manager Allen Klein
Allen Klein
Allen Klein was an American businessman, talent agent and record label executive. His clients included The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.- The accountant :...
, 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.
Harrison claimed in a BBC interview with Annie Nightingale
Annie Nightingale
Anne "Annie" Nightingale MBE is an English radio broadcaster. She is most commonly known by the more informal name of Annie...
that the Judge in the case said that he liked Harrison's version of "My Sweet Lord" less.
The Chiffons would later record "My Sweet Lord" to capitalise on the publicity generated by the lawsuit. Country singer Jody Miller
Jody Miller
Jody Brooks is an American country music singer. Born as Myrna Joy Miller, she was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Oklahoma.-Career:...
recorded a country chart top-five cover of "He's So Fine
He's So Fine
"He's So Fine" is a recording by The Chiffons which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in the spring of 1963. One of the most instantly recognizable Golden Oldies with its doo-lang doo-lang doo-lang background vocal, "He's So Fine" is also renowned as the plaintiff song in the now-infamous...
", 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 wrote and recorded a song about the court case titled "This Song
This Song
"This Song" is the fourth track on George Harrison's 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3. It was released as the leadoff single from the album and reached #25 on the American pop charts.-History:...
", which includes "This tune has nothing 'Bright' about it." "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
I Can't Help Myself
"I Can't Help Myself" is a single by American country music artist Eddie Rabbitt. Released in 1977, it was the first single from the album Rabbitt. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart performance:...
" and "Rescue Me
Rescue Me (Fontella Bass song)
"Rescue Me" is a song written by Fontella Bass, Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith. In 1965, it was released as a single by Fontella Bass. It would prove the biggest hit of Bass' career, reaching #1 on the R&B charts for four weeks and placing at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" 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
Oh Happy Day
"Oh Happy Day" is a 1967 gospel music arrangement of an 18th century hymn. Recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, it became an international hit in 1969, reaching US #4 and UK #2 on the pop charts...
". In a 1980 interview with Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
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."
Hindu prayers
Early in the song, the background singers repeat the HebrewHebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
word of praise, "Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Halleluyah, and the Latin form Alleluia are transliterations of the Hebrew word meaning "Praise Yah". The last syllable is from the first two letters of the name of God, YHWH, written JHVH in Latin). Hallelujah is found primarily in the book of Psalms...
", common in the Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
religions. Later, the background singers chant two Vaisnava Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
prayers, including
- Hare Krishna/Hare Krishna/KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
Krishna/Hare Hare/Hare RamaRamaRama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
/Hare Rama
This prayer consists of part of the principal mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
of devotees of the Gaudiya Vaisnavite
Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Gaudiya Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India in the 16th century. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gauḍa region with Vaishnavism meaning "the worship of Vishnu"...
faith, popularised in the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
(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
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
and Sarasvati. The prayer is dedicated to the spiritual teacher of the devotee which is equated with the Hindu Trimurti Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
, Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, and Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
(Maheshvara) and with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit or Absolute Reality (Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
).
The prayer is the first verse of the Guru stotram, a fourteen verse hymn dedicated to the spiritual teacher.
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
Kirtan
Kirtan or Kirtana is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed...
):
Various Christian fundamentalist anti-rock activists have objected to the chanting of 'Hare Krishna' in the song as anti-Christian or satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
ic while some born-again Christians appear to have adopted the song as an anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
.
Personnel
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:- George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
– vocals, backing vocals, slide guitar - Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
– backing vocals, guitar - Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
– piano - Gary WrightGary WrightGary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:...
– electric piano - Klaus VoormannKlaus VoormannKlaus Voormann is a German Grammy Award-winning artist, noted musician, and record producer. He designed artwork for many bands including The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Wet Wet Wet and Turbonegro. His most notable work as a producer was his work with the band Trio, including their worldwide hit "Da Da...
– bass guitar - Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Joey Molland - acoustic rhythm guitar
- Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, Jim GordonJim Gordon (musician)James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
– drums - Mike Gibbins - tambourine
- Uncredited: harmonium
Chart positions
| Chart (1970/1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
1 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Dutch Singles Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
1 |
| German Singles Chart | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Japanese Oricon Weekly Singles Chart Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
4 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
1 |
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 46 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 12 |
| Japanese Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 96 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 18 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 56 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 61 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 94 |
George Harrison's versions
Harrison himself performed the song in a self-parody for Eric IdleEric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
and Neil Innes'
Neil Innes
Neil James Innes is an English writer and performer of comic songs, best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, and for playing in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later The Rutles.-Personal life:...
Rutland Weekend Television
Rutland Weekend Television
Rutland Weekend Television was a television sketch show on BBC2, written by Eric Idle with music by Neil Innes. Two series, the first consisting of six episodes, the second of seven, were broadcast, in 1975 and 1976. A Christmas special also aired on Boxing Day 1975.It was Idle's first television...
Christmas special, broadcast 26 December 1975 on BBC2
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
. 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
All Things Must Pass
All Things Must Pass is a triple album by George Harrison, recorded and released in 1970. The original vinyl release featured two LPs of rock songs as well as Apple Jam, a third LP of informal jams...
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 WilliamsAndy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
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 StarrEdwin StarrEdwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
recorded his version in 1971. - John HoltJohn Holt (singer)John Holt is a reggae singer and songwriter.-Biography:Holt was born in Kingston in 1947. By the age of 12, he was a regular entrant in talent contests run at Jamaican theatres by Vere Johns...
recorded a reggae version in 1971 without a background chorus (i.e., with neither hallelujahs nor Krishna references). - Peggy LeePeggy LeePeggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
covered the song in April 1971 on her album Where Did They Go?. Lee's version was arranged by Don SebeskyDon SebeskyDon Sebesky is an American jazz trombonist and arranger.-Biography:Sebesky trained in trombone at the Manhattan School of Music; in his early career, he played with Kai Winding, Claude Thornhill, Tommy Dorsey, Warren Covington, Maynard Ferguson and Stan Kenton...
. It was released on CD in 2008. - The Top of the Poppers recorded a version in 1971, which can be found on their The Best of Top of the Pops '71The Best of Top of the Pops '71The Best of Top of the Pops '71 is a 1971 compilation album released by the Top of the Poppers, who were well-known for their cover-versions of popular songs during the 1970s. Despite negative reviews, the album sold well, and was recently re-released on CD and iTunes. Today many consider the album...
album. - In 1972, Nina SimoneNina SimoneEunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
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 GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
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 IglesiasJulio IglesiasJulio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
covered the song on his album El AmorEl Amor (Julio Iglesias album)El Amor is a 1975 album by Spanish singer Julio Iglesias. It received Diamond certification in Argentina.- Track listing :# Abrázame # A Veces Tú, A Veces Yo # Tema de Amor # Quién # Cuidado Amor...
. Iglesias sang it in English even though the song was retitled in Spanish as "Mi Dulce Señor (My sweet Lord)". - Larry NormanLarry NormanLarry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer, who worked with Christian rock music...
covered the song on his 1977 album Streams of White Light Into Darkened Corners. - On his 1981 Don't Give In album, Leon PatilloLeon PatilloLeon Patillo is an American Contemporary Christian singer and evangelist.-Career:Patillo's first musical endeavor was with the group Creation, later called Leon's Creation. Formed in the late 1960s, Creation was a funk group similar in style and composition to Sly & the Family Stone; they were...
recorded a heavily revised version (among other things as this was a Christian album, the entire background "Hallelujah" section is replaced with "Jesus"). - Richie HavensRichie HavensRichard P. "Richie" Havens is an African American folk singer and guitarist. He is best known for his intense, rhythmic guitar style , soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children...
covered this song on his 1987 album Sings Beatles and Dylan. - Five ThirtyFive ThirtyFive Thirty was a three-piece rock band from London, England, briefly popular in the early 1990s. Originally performing in Oxford and Reading, Five Thirty moved to London and met drummer Phil Hopper....
covered the song for the anti-poll taxPoll taxA poll tax is a tax of a portioned, fixed amount per individual in accordance with the census . When a corvée is commuted for cash payment, in effect it becomes a poll tax...
album Alvin Lives (in Leeds) (1990). - Boy GeorgeBoy GeorgeBoy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
had his own version of the song in 1992 for NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
's Roaring Forty compilation album. - Stacey QStacey QStacey Q is a pop singer, dancer and actress. She is best known for her 1985 hit single "Two of Hearts".-Early life:Stacey Swain was born on November 30, 1958 in Fullerton, California. She is the youngest of three children...
covered "My Sweet Lord" on her 1997 album, Boomerang. - BrainpoolBrainpool (band)Brainpool is a pop music group from Lund, Sweden. The band was most popular in the mid-1990s, mostly in the Swedish indie-pop scene together with other bands like Eggstone or Beagle.-History:...
recorded and released the song as a single in 1997, as a medley of "My Sweet Lord" and "He's So Fine". - In 1997 MegadethMegadethMegadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
covered this song with modified lyrics. - Crown of ThornsCrown of ThornsIn Christianity, the Crown of Thorns, one of the instruments of the Passion, was woven of thorn branches and placed on Jesus Christ before his crucifixion...
covered this track on their 2002 album Karma. - Richard ClaydermanRichard ClaydermanRichard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of...
made a cover of this song for his 2002 album Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime - At the Concert for GeorgeConcert for GeorgeThe Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne...
in November 2002, the song was performed by Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
, with Sam Brown joining on background vocals. - GirlymanGirlymanGirlyman is an American folk-rock band formerly based in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, now based in Atlanta, Georgia.Their self-released debut album, Remember Who I Am, sold 5,000 copies before it was re-released by Daemon Records, the independent record label run by Amy Ray of the Indigo...
also covered this song on their 2003 album Remember Who I AmRemember Who I AmRemember Who I Am is Girlyman's first album, independently released in fall of 2003, nationally rereleased September 7, 2004 on Daemon Records."Viola" previously appeared on Nate Borofsky's solo album, Never Enough Time.-Track listing:...
. - BeBe WinansBeBe WinansBenjamin "BeBe" Winans is a gospel and R&B singer. He is a member of the noted Winans family, most members of which are also gospel artists.-The PTL Club:...
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 RoyLittle RoyLittle Roy is a Jamaican reggae artist.-Biography:Little Roy launched his career in the rocksteady age, recording a few singles for Coxsone Dodd and Prince Buster, none of which made much headway. As reggae itself unfolded, Roy switched to Lloyd Daley's recording studio...
(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 FradkinLes FradkinLes Fradkin is a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania...
has a cover version of "My Sweet Lord" released in 2005, featuring a guest appearance from Richie FurayRichie FurayRichie Furay is an American singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham and Randy Meisner...
and Lon Van Eaton (former Apple RecordsApple RecordsApple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
recording artist). - Nina HagenNina HagenNina Hagen is a German singer and actress.-Early years:Hagen was born as Catharina Hagen in the former East Berlin, East Germany, the daughter of Hans Hagen , a scriptwriter, and Eva-Maria Hagen, an actress and singer...
recorded (with Loka Nunda) her version of "My Sweet Lord" in 2008. - OsibisaOsibisaOsibisa is a British Afro-pop band, founded in London in 1969 by four expatriate African and three Caribbean musicians. Osibisa were one of the first African bands to become widely popular, leading to claims of founding World Music.-History:...
covered this track on their 2009 album Osee Yee. - Jim JamesJim JamesJames Edward Olliges Jr. , professionally known as Jim James or Yim Yames, is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Louisville, Kentucky-based rock band My Morning Jacket. James grew up in the Hikes Point neighborhood of Louisville, attended St. Martha grade school and graduated...
covered six of Harrison's songs under the name Yim Yames, including "My Sweet Lord", on his 2009 Tribute To album. - Kevin MaxKevin MaxKevin Max Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk...
covered this song with no references to Krishna for Christian audiences. - Elliott SmithElliott SmithSteven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
covered this song together with GrandaddyGrandaddyGrandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
. - Jose FelicianoJosé FelicianoJosé Feliciano is a Puerto Rican singer, virtuoso guitarist and composer known for many international hits including the 1970 holiday single "Feliz Navidad".-Childhood:...
has played this song live. - Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
performed it with a choir on a television special, with only 'Hallelujah' being chanted.