The song Harrison forbid.”The tune was so obvious”: the song George Harrison feared no one should hear
Every musician is usually concerned about having a few songs that aren’t as strong as the rest of their collection. The concept of having a flawless streak is unachievable in rock & roll, but sometimes the most difficult obstacles for artists to overcome are the songs that drag down the rest of the record once they appear. And, while none of the former Beatles’ solo albums were back-to-back, George Harrison had some moments he would have preferred not to include on his final records.
Looking at his professional trajectory, it’s clear that Harrison did not prioritise a solo career in the same manner that his bandmates did. He had had enough of being in the spotlight, and if his label insisted on him creating more records, he was going to do so for the right reasons, whether it was his epic debut All Things Must Pass or making The Concert for Bangladesh a big experience for a noble cause.
The song Harrison forbid
Harrison had one complaint about the first single, ‘Blow Away’.
After repairing a leak in his roof, Harrison thought that the song did not need to be heard by his core supporters, stating, “I came in, discovered the chords to the melody that popped into my brain, and then some time later wrote the verse. But then I thought the music was so clear that I felt humiliated and didn’t want to play it to anyone. But when I recorded it, I actually like it more.”
The song Harrison forbid
Sure, the concept is a touch flimsy, but part of the appeal of Harrison’s writing is his ability to create something no one would have thought of. The thought of fixing a leaky roof may seem silly, but everyone has faced adversity, and hearing someone advise them to take time for all of life’s challenges to pass is far from a poor lesson to send out into the world.
It may not be as cerebral as some of his spiritual compositions, nor as classic as his Beatles songs, but there is plenty of room in rock and roll history for a song like this. And as we enter a new period and things seem to become more terrible by the day, it’s nice to hear a friend through the speakers assure us that everything will be well.
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