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.
Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
George Harrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin'
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where the executioner's face is always well-hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
But I'll know my song well before I start singin'
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
In this song, George Harrison is asking questions to his “blue-eyed son” or “darling young one,” symbolizing the youth or a new generation, about where they have been, what they have seen, what they have heard, and who they have met. The answers to these questions paint a picture of a world that is plagued with turmoil, chaos, and destruction. The twelve misty mountains, six crooked highways, and seven sad forests all indicate a long and difficult journey. The newborn baby with wild wolves and the room full of men with hammers a-bleedin’ symbolize violence and danger. The guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children suggest how war and conflict are pervasive in society. The sound of thunder and waves, and the presence of people laughing and starving depict both natural and man-made disasters.
The song’s tone is one of warning and foreboding. The repetition of “it’s a hard, it’s a hard” emphasizes the difficulty of the situation, while the phrase “hard rain’s a-gonna fall” suggests impending doom. Despite this, the final verse gives a sense of hope, where the singer suggests that they will continue to speak the truth and fight for what is right, even though it might not be easy.
Overall, Harrison’s song speaks to the challenges of living in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving. It is a solemn reminder of the need to speak out against injustice and to be vigilant in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Where have you been, my child?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
Where have you been, my love?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've been lost in my journey.
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways
I've struggled to find my way.
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been stuck in despair.
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been surrounded by hopelessness.
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
I've been surrounded by death.
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
It's difficult, it's tough.
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
There's trouble brewing.
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
What have you witnessed, my child?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
What have you witnessed, my love?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw innocence in danger.
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw empty luxury.
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a violent end.
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'
I saw suffering caused by human hands.
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw a means of transcendence tainted.
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw people silenced by oppression.
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
I saw the youth corrupted by war.
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
What have you heard, my child?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
What have you heard, my love?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin'
I heard danger approaching.
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
I heard destruction on a massive scale.
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
I heard cruelty and indifference.
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
I heard a voice silenced by society.
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
I heard sadness behind the facade of entertainment.
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's difficult, it's tough.
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
There's trouble brewing.
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who have you met, my child?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
Who have you met, my love?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I saw the innocent confronted with death.
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I saw the tension between races.
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I saw suffering caused by societal oppression.
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I saw hope for the future.
I met one man who was wounded in love
I saw the pain of heartbreak.
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
I saw the destructive force of anger.
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's difficult, it's tough.
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
There's trouble brewing.
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
What will you do, my child?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
What will you do, my love?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'
I'm facing the trouble head-on.
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
I'll face the darkness.
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where people are suffering.
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the world is polluted.
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where oppression is a way of life.
Where the executioner's face is always well-hidden
Where evil lurks in the shadows.
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where humanity is at its lowest point.
Where black is the color, where none is the number
Where hopelessness reigns supreme.
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
I'll bear witness to the struggle.
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
I'll make it known to all.
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
I'll be fearless in the face of adversity.
But I'll know my song well before I start singin'
I'll be prepared to fight.
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's difficult, it's tough.
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
There's trouble brewing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Lowgun5
Bob Dylan was 21 when he wrote this. It sounds like he was a thousand.
@andrewlewis9467
Hahaa man it’s so true though
@mitzidumaresque2144
sounds like .... it was a thousand years ago
@williamfarley3794
This song is relevant for thousands of years
@Aththadha
An old soul in awkward blue jeans
@Tom-nw3rt
Is it good or bad?
@100Neopunk
He turns 80 tomorrow. Blessed be he for he is still among us
@zackzallie8735
A legend among us as always.
@mschiller1661
Neil Young asked him how he wrote the songs from his youth. Bob said he didn't know who that man was.....
@ryanpruner1853
Sus