The Concert For Bangladesh was the event title for two benefit concerts org… Read Full Bio ↴The Concert For Bangladesh was the event title for two benefit concerts organized by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, held on the afternoon and evening of August 1, 1971, playing to a total of 40,000 people at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was the first benefit concert of this magnitude in world history, featuring an all-star supergroup of performers that included Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston and Leon Russell. An album was released later in 1971 and a concert film was released in 1972, with later releases for home video. In 2005, the film was re-issued on DVD accompanied by a new documentary. The concert raised US$243,418.50 for Bangladesh relief, which was administered by UNICEF. Sales of the album and DVD continue to benefit the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.

BACKGROUND

As East Pakistan struggled to become the separate state of Bangladesh (see Bangladesh Liberation War), the tremendous political and military turmoil led to a massive refugee problem in India. This problem was compounded by the 1970 Bhola cyclone, bringing torrential rains causing devastating floods and threatening a humanitarian disaster.

Bengali musician Ravi Shankar consulted his friend George Harrison regarding a means of providing help to the situation. Harrison recorded the single "Bangla Desh" to raise awareness and pushed Apple Records to release Shankar's single "Joi Bangla" in a dual-pronged effort to raise funds.

Shankar also asked Harrison's advice regarding a small fund-raising concert in the United States. Harrison took the idea and started calling his friends, persuading them to join him in a large concert at Madison Square Garden. The event was organised within five weeks.

Harrison first asked his fellow Beatles to appear. John Lennon agreed to take part in the concert, however Harrison stipulated that Lennon's wife Yoko Ono not perform with him. Lennon agreed, but left New York two days before the event following an argument with Ono regarding his and Harrison's agreement that she not participate. Paul McCartney declined because of the bad feelings caused by The Beatles' legal problems on their break-up. Ringo Starr, however, readily agreed to appear.

CONCERT PROGRAM

Ravi Shankar and the sarodist Ali Akbar Khan opened the concert with recital of Indian music consisting of the rāga, "Bangla Dhun".

It was the first live appearance for George Harrison since the breakup of The Beatles. Eric Clapton made his first public appearance since the end of the five-month Derek and the Dominos tour the previous December. Clapton was still in the grip of a heroin addiction, and had been unable to attend any rehearsals until the final soundcheck. This was the first live performance of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and was the first time the public was made aware that it was Clapton who played the solo on The Beatles' recording.

Musical help was also on hand from Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner, Badfinger, a large horn section put together by Jim Horn and other musicians, including Carl Radle, Jesse Ed Davis, Don Preston and a host of backing singers organized by Don Nix.

Bob Dylan made his first stage appearance since the Isle of Wight Festival in August 1969. Apart from sitting in for a few numbers with The Band on New Year 1972 and an unannounced appearance backing John Prine on harmonica at a Greenwich Village club, he did not play live again until January 1974.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps
George Harrison And Friends Lyrics

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I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how nobody told you how to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning

While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
I look at you all I see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps

Look at you all
Still my guitar gently weeps

Overall Meaning

George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is a haunting classic, included in The Beatles' White Album. The opening line immediately sets the tone for the song: "I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping." Harrison's perspective is one of a man who is struggling to understand why love has seemingly disappeared from the world around him. The central metaphor throughout the song is his guitar, which gently weeps with every strum.

As the song progresses, Harrison's lyrics become more personal, inquisitive, and emotive. Lines like, "I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping, still my guitar gently weeps," hint at the underlying sense of despair and melancholy that he feels. He then asks, "I don't know how nobody told you how to unfold your love, I don't know how someone controlled you, They bought and sold you," pointing to the power structures that have coopted love and sullied it in the process.

The song concludes with Harrison's final plea, "I don't know how you were diverted, You were perverted too, I don't know how you were inverted, No one alerted you." The song leaves listeners with a sense of longing, as the guitar's weeping is the only sound that echoes throughout the emptiness.

Line by Line Meaning

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
I observe everyone around me and notice a feeling of love that is not being expressed or acted upon.

While my guitar gently weeps
In the midst of this love that is unexpressed, my guitar emits a melancholic yet beautiful sound.

I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
As I continue to observe my surroundings, I see that there are tasks that need to be taken care of, such as cleaning the floor.

Still my guitar gently weeps
Despite these mundane tasks, my guitar continues to play its somber tune.

I don't know how nobody told you how to unfold your love
I am perplexed as to why no one has taught or guided you on how to express your feelings of love.

I don't know how someone controlled you
It is unknown to me how someone has exerted power or influence over you.

They bought and sold you
This person or group may have even treated you as a commodity, buying and selling you as if you were a product.

I look at the world and I notice it's turning
Amidst these confusing observations, I also take note of the cyclical nature of the world, which continues to evolve and change.

While my guitar gently weeps
Again, my guitar provides a constant, emotional soundscape that mirrors the world's changes.

With every mistake we must surely be learning
Reflecting on this changing world, I believe that every mistake made is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Still my guitar gently weeps
Despite the potential for growth, there is still a sadness and longing that is expressed through my guitar's melody.

I don't know how you were diverted
Continuing to ponder the behaviors and actions of others, I am unsure of how or why you became distracted from your true feelings and desires.

You were perverted too
This distraction may even have led to your own corruption or perversion of your genuine intentions.

I don't know how you were inverted
Further perplexed, I can't help but wonder how you became so turned around from your authentic self and emotions.

No one alerted you
It seems that no one provided a warning or signal to you that you were veering off course from expressing your true feelings of love.

I look at you all I see the love there that's sleeping
Revisiting the previous observation, I again see that there is love present that is not actively being expressed or realized.

While my guitar gently weeps
Once more, my guitar's emotive sound underscores the presence of this unexpressed love.

Look at you all
As this emotional ballad comes to its end, I make one final observation of everyone around me.

Still my guitar gently weeps
And even in this final moment, my guitar provides a melancholic tune that lingers and echoes the unspoken feelings of those around me.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: George Harrison

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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