Getting ‘Round

Today Jim asks us to share a song that was not originally released as an album single, or a song that never became a single.

Because today would have been George Harrison’s 81^st birthday the choice of artist was a simple one for me. Unfortunately, the song choice was also simple and the reason that’s unfortunate is because there are way too many of George Harrison’s songs that weren’t released as singles. Like me, you might think that’s a crime, but in a way it makes sense because as much as Paul wrote for the radio and John wanted to write for the radio, I don’t believe George wrote for the radio, I believe he wrote to us and for us, and where’s the money in that?

Anyway…

I wanted to share the song So Sad from George’s 1974 album Dark Horse because I like it a lot. The song is sparse and melodic and the words and George’s voice tear your heart out. Harrison wrote the song when he was separated from his wife Pattie Boyd and things were falling apart. It’s not a simple song and because it’s so depressing it’s not an easy song to like. George explained at the time: “I started ‘So Sad’ in New York City in 1972. I like this song a lot as a melody and lyrically, except the only problem with it is it’s depressing. It is so sad. It was at the time I was splitting up with Pattie.”

But I can’t share So Sad today because Harrison had given the song to friend and occasional collaborator Alvin Lee who recorded it on his 1973 album, On the Road to Freedom and as it happens, the song was released as a single by Lee which disqualifies it from this prompt. I thought about it though, maybe fudging a little bit, but the rules say no and the rules are the rules. Long live the rules!

But darn if it isn’t a really good song. (You can hear it here)

In his heart at arm’s length
held within its great strength,
to ward off such a great despair.
But he feels so alone
with no love of his own.
So sad, so bad…

Has any other Beatle written anything like that? (Or capable of writing anything like that?)

So with my #1 song this week out of the running I chose another George Harrison song to share and it’s The Day the World Gets ‘Round. The song is from his 1973 masterpiece, Living in the Material World. As for the song’s origin, Wikipedia explains it as: Harrison was inspired to write the song following the successful Concert for Bangladesh shows, which were held in New York on 1 August 1971 as a benefit for refugees from the country formerly known as East Pakistan. The lyrics reflect his disappointment that such a humanitarian aid project was necessary, given the abundance of resources available across the planet, and his belief that if all individuals were more spiritually aware, there would be no suffering in the world. 

If George only knew how messed up we still were over 50 years later 😦

I hope you enjoy it. Or re-enjoy it.

“Beware of darkness”

The day the world gets ’round to understanding where it is.
Using all it’s found, to help each other, hand in hand.

The day the world gets ’round to understanding where it’s gone.
Losing so much ground, killing each other, hand in hand.

Such foolishness in man I want no part of their plan. No!

If you’re the destructive kind: now I’m working from day to day
as I don’t want to be like you.
I look for the pure of heart, and the ones who have made a start.
But lord, there are just a few who bow before you.

In silence they pray.
Oh how they pray for the day the world gets ’round.
Using all they’ve found to help each other, hand in hand.
The day the world gets round.

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Thanks for reading! See you later.

“I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping.”