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.
Tears of the World
George Harrison Lyrics
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Our leaders heed us to their call
Stonewalling, voices calling
Drowning in the tears of the world
Big business calling every tune
Polluting here and to the moon
All nations, conservations
But your life's worth saving
We should start behaving
Like the truth's been told
By saviours through our time
Your downfall, you bring it on yourselves
All warnings fall upon deaf ears
Their scorn compounding my worst fears
No way out, hopeless souls shout
Drowning in the tears of the world
Drowning in the tears of the world
Tears of the world
Where's your love been sleeping?
Has your heart been weeping
Over all unrighteous action in the world
Where bad jazz seems all they're laying down?
No use in turning your blind eye
You feel the heat as you fry
Try your best, you'll find no rest
Drowning in the tears of the world
It's a sure bet, each pays his debts
Drowning in the tears of the world
In "Tears of the World," George Harrison addresses the devastating effects of war and pollution on the planet. The song's opening lines condemn those who call for war and the leaders who heed their irresponsible calls. The lyrics suggest that the world is drowning in tears, metaphorically representing the pain and suffering caused by war and environmental destruction. The second verse highlights the harm caused by big corporations that pollute the environment with little consideration for the impact on the planet and its inhabitants. The song's chorus emphasises that no one is immune to the consequences of these actions, and everyone will ultimately pay the price for their irresponsibility.
Harrison offers hope in the final verse, pointing out that everyone has a responsibility to work towards a better world. The lyrics suggest that humanity must push back against those who seek to do harm to the planet and its people. The song is a warning to listen to the warnings of others, to take responsibility for actions taken and to take care of one another before the world is consumed by its own tears.
Line by Line Meaning
War mongers terrorize us all
People who promote war are causing fear and suffering for everyone
Our leaders heed us to their call
People in positions of power follow their own interests instead of listening to the needs of the people they're supposed to represent
Stonewalling, voices calling
Important issues are being ignored or dismissed, despite people speaking out about them
Drowning in the tears of the world
People are suffering greatly and it feels overwhelming and suffocating
Big business calling every tune
Powerful corporations have control over what happens in the world, often prioritizing profit over the wellbeing of people and the planet
Polluting here and to the moon
Environmental destruction is happening on a massive scale, both on Earth and beyond
All nations, conservations
Issues around preserving nature and protecting the environment should be a shared concern for all countries
But your life's worth saving
Despite all the negative things happening in the world, every person has value and should be treated with dignity and respect
We should start behaving
It's time for people to take responsibility for their actions and work towards a better world
Like the truth's been told
We should act on the knowledge we have about what is happening in the world instead of ignoring it
By saviours through our time
There have been people throughout history who have worked to make the world a better place, and we can learn from their examples
Your downfall, you bring it on yourselves
The negative consequences of our actions will ultimately come back to harm us
All warnings fall upon deaf ears
Even when people are warned about the consequences of their actions, they often choose to ignore them
Their scorn compounding my worst fears
The criticism and ridicule of others adds to the feeling of fear and uncertainty
No way out, hopeless souls shout
People feel trapped and powerless to change their circumstances
Drowning in the tears of the world
People are suffering greatly and it feels overwhelming and suffocating
Where's your love been sleeping?
We should question why we have allowed so much suffering to happen in the world
Has your heart been weeping
We should feel compassion towards those who are suffering and take action to help them
Over all unrighteous action in the world
There are many unethical and immoral things happening in the world that we should be addressing
Where bad jazz seems all they're laying down?
The negative aspects of the world seem to be dominating the conversation and making it difficult to focus on positive solutions
No use in turning your blind eye
We cannot ignore the problems in the world and hope they go away
You feel the heat as you fry
Ignoring problems may seem easy or comfortable in the short term, but it will only lead to negative consequences in the end
Try your best, you'll find no rest
Working towards positive change may be difficult and require sacrifice, but it is necessary to make the world a better place
Drowning in the tears of the world
People are suffering greatly and it feels overwhelming and suffocating
It's a sure bet, each pays his debts
There are consequences for our actions, and we will ultimately be held accountable for them
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.