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.
So Sad
George Harrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To eclipse out the sun
That has lighted my love for sometime
And a cold wind now blows
Not much tenderness flows
From the heart of someone feeling so tired
And he feels so alone
So sad, so bad, so sad, so bad
While his memory raced
With much speed and great haste
Through the problems of being there
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, so sad, so bad
Take the dawn of the day
And give it away
To someone who can fill the part
Of the dream we once held
Now it's got to be shelved
It's too late to make a new start
And he feels so alone
With no love of his own
So sad, so bad, so sad, so bad
It's a song about heartache and loneliness. The beginning of the song sets the tone that everything was bright and warm before but now the winter has come, indicating that something major has changed. The sudden ,rushed and harsh push of winter overpowers the sun which in turn “was lighting his love for sometime”. In short, something that was once beautiful and warm has now been forcefully extinguished.
The lyrics go on to describe how he is feeling. The “not much tenderness flows” from the one suffering from heartache or the “someone feeling so tired”. The person described in the song is holding onto the memory of their love and trying their best to ward off such dark thoughts which make them feel a sense of great despair. The person in the song is longing for someone to fill the gap left by the loss of this love. They have come to the point of realization that the dream they once had won’t end up being a reality. That person is left with no love of their own and feels so sad and so bad.
Overall, it's a sad and lonely song about heartbreak and the aftermath of a lost love. The winter metaphor is used throughout as a way to describe the coldness and emptiness he feels inside. It's a relatable topic that many people can identify with and one of the reasons the song has resonated with so many listeners over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the winter has come
The singer is facing a metaphorical winter, a particularly difficult time in their life.
To eclipse out the sun
The difficult time is overshadowing the love and light the singer once felt.
That has lighted my love for sometime
The love they experienced up until this point is what helped to guide and comfort them.
And a cold wind now blows
The difficult time is making everything feel cold and isolated.
Not much tenderness flows
The artist is not receiving much compassion or kindness from those around them.
From the heart of someone feeling so tired
The singer feels worn out and drained.
And he feels so alone
The singer is feeling extremely isolated and lonely.
With no love of his own
The artist is lacking love in their life.
So sad, so bad, so sad, so bad
The repetition of this phrase conveys the intensity of the artist's sadness and pain.
While his memory raced
The artist is reflecting on their past experiences and memories.
With much speed and great haste
The memories are rushing through their mind quickly and frantically.
Through the problems of being there
The memories are associated with difficult situations or problems the artist faced.
In his heart at arm's length
The singer is emotionally distant from their own heart and feelings.
Held within its great strength
Despite the emotional distance, the singer recognizes the strength of their own heart and emotions.
To ward off such a great despair
The singer's emotions are what have protected them from falling into total despair up until this point.
Take the dawn of the day
The artist is suggesting that someone else take the freshness and newness of each day.
And give it away
They want someone who will appreciate and utilize the opportunities each day can bring.
To someone who can fill the part
The singer is hoping for someone who can fulfill their own dreams or aspirations.
Of the dream we once held
The singer and another person shared a dream, but they are no longer able to fulfill it together.
Now it's got to be shelved
The dream is no longer possible due to circumstances outside of the artist's control.
It's too late to make a new start
The artist recognizes that they cannot simply begin again, and that the past is irreversible.
And he feels so alone
Despite reflecting on the past and future, the artist is still feeling very much alone in their present situation.
With no love of his own
The lack of love and companionship in their life remains a considerable source of pain.
So sad, so bad, so sad, so bad
The repetition of this phrase continues to emphasize the intensity of the artist's feelings.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind