After the Beatles stopped touring in 1966, George started writing more songs than could be fitted onto the albums so that by the time of the split he had built up a collection of songs, some used on his debut solo album, All Things Must Pass. The album, released in 1970, contains the two-time number one hit, "My Sweet Lord".
Harrison is also credited for creating music benefits, notably the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. Harrison played beside Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, and Leon Russell to a crowd of 40,000 in Madison Square Garden, New York. The show raised over $240,000 benefiting the George Harrison Fund for Bangladesh relief.
Harrison went on to release several successful solo albums, and in the late 1980s collaborated with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, in a group called Traveling Wilburys. The group released two albums. Later, Harrison reunited with the other two surviving Beatles, after John Lennon's murder in 1980, to produce two final Beatles records, "Free As a Bird" and "Real Love" featuring the voice of Lennon, taken from home demos provided by Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. The three Beatles also co-wrote a massive autobiography and television special, both titled "The Beatles Anthology."
Before his death, Harrison conceived of a Cirque du Soleil show, "Love," featuring remixes of Beatles music which were overseen by Beatles producer George Martin.
Harrison died on November 29, 2001 after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a wife and son, Olivia and Dhani Harrison. His last album, Brainwashed, was released posthumously and featured the single "Any Road".
A benefit concert in Harrison's memory was played on 29 November 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall. The star-studded event (featuring Eric Clapton and Monty Python, as well as former band mates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr) was released on the DVD double-album, Concert for George.
Far East Man
George Harrison Lyrics
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It gets harder to see
Who your friends really are
I won't let him down
Got to do what I can
I won't let him drown
He's a far east man
All these ups and those downs
Makes me question what love is
Is it a lie or worthwile
I won't let him down
Got to do what I can
I won't let him drown
He's a far east man
Sometime is so short
But it takes so long
Wondering if it is
Or if I'm wrong
Even then my heart seems
To be the one in charge
Can only do what it tells me
We can't let them down
We've got to do what we can
We can't let him drown
He's a far east man
Looks like right here on earth
God, it's hellish at times
But I feel that a heaven's in sight
And I can't let him down
Got to do what I can
I can't let him drown
He's a far east man
The lyrics of Far East Man by George Harrison speak to the realities of war and conflict, and the importance of standing by your friends and loved ones in difficult times. The song opens with the reflection that amidst the chaos and violence of global events, it becomes more challenging to distinguish who your true allies are. However, the singer insists that despite these challenges, he will not abandon his friend, a "far east man" who is likely from Asia.
The second verse turns to considerations of love, and the doubts and insecurities that can accompany it. The singer questions whether love is real or just an illusion, but ultimately affirms his commitment to his friend, declaring that he will not let him down. The final verse suggests that although life on earth can be truly difficult, hope remains for a better future. The singer is resolved to persevere in support of his friend and do whatever he can to help him through.
The song as a whole speaks to themes of loyalty, friendship, and perseverance in the face of challenging circumstances. Through the singer's commitment to his friend, listeners are invited to contemplate the importance of standing by those we love, even and especially when times get tough.
Line by Line Meaning
While the world wages war
In a world full of conflict and aggression
It gets harder to see
It becomes more difficult to determine who your true allies are
Who your friends really are
Who you can trust and rely on
I won't let him down
I won't abandon my ally in need
Got to do what I can
I must put in my best effort
I won't let him drown
I won't allow my ally to suffer or fail
He's a far east man
He comes from the Far East, which may create cultural barriers and challenges
All these ups and those downs
The highs and lows of life
Makes me question what love is
Causes me to doubt the concept and meaning of love
Is it a lie or worthwile
Is it false or valuable?
Sometime is so short
Time can be fleeting and precious
But it takes so long
But it seems to take forever to make progress or reach our goals
Wondering if it is
Questioning whether the path we're on is the right one
Or if I'm wrong
Or perhaps I'm misguided
Even then my heart seems
Even when my mind is unsure
To be the one in charge
To take the lead and make the tough decisions
We can't let them down
We can't disappoint or abandon our allies
He's a far east man
He is from a different culture and requires understanding and empathy
Looks like right here on earth
The world as we know it can be bleak and harsh
God, it's hellish at times
It can be unbearable and excruciating
But I feel that a heaven's in sight
But I have faith that a better future is possible
And I can't let him down
And I must continue to support my ally in this difficult world
I can't let him drown
I won't allow him to fail or suffer
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
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