George Harrison would have been 80 years old today, February 25th. The late Beatle passed away in November of 2001 from throat cancer.
Harrison, who was known for writing some of The Beatles’ most well-known tracks and beloved deep cuts, would deeply celebrate his relationship with spirituality throughout his life. Many of his solo songs would be devoted to his exploration of and relationship with religion. Harrison’s first solo album, 1970’s “All Things Must Pass” would feature one of the most memorable songs of his career, “My Sweet Lord.”
Harrison’s relationship with spirituality provided him a guidepost for life, which would go on to largely shape his perspective and viewpoints. The “Here Comes The Sun” singer would devote his life to studying Hinduism; The religion would serve as a grounding force, and would play a role in many of Harrison’s musings on life!
George Harrison Shared Countless Inspirational Quotes Around His Perspective Around Navigating Life!
View this post on Instagram
Harrison’s deeply passionate relationship with his beliefs would serve as a vital element of his ‘tool kit’ for living a fulfilling life.
The “Beware Of Darkness” singer’s relationship and perspective on his sense of self also stemmed from spiritual guidance.
Harrison once spoke about his perspective on the root of human desire, saying, “People have to have the desire within themselves to know who they are and the reason why they are in this body.” (per Beatles Daily)
The desire to form a relationship with ourselves helps us know what is needed in order to go forth and prosper, a notion Harrison was also familiar with.
“Try to realize it’s all within yourself no one else can make you change,” Harrison once said. “and to see you’re only very small and life flows on within you and without you.”
Harrison also shared his perspective on the world at large many times throughout his life.
“We can go up or we can go down,” he once reflected on society. “I think generally the world is going on an upward swing where people are discovering more. The communications are better. We’re getting more into the subtle electricites that control the universe.”
Harrison was also a firm believer in the concept of divine law.
“The whole thing of life and all of the answers to everything are in one divine law, karma action and reaction,” he also reflected.
Harrison’s secure sense of self and his preference to live a life that strongly contradicted the results of fame and being a public figure would never deter him from staying true to his sense of self.
“I consider myself perfectly normal,” Harrison once explained. “And I don’t know any part of my life that would be so unusual as to interest the idly curious.”
“I’m a tidy sort of bloke,” he also said. “I don’t like chaos. I put records in the record rack, and tea in the tea caddy…” (all quotes from Beatles Daily)
Harrison’s Uplifting Way Of Living His Life Would Certainly Inspire Those Closest To Him
View this post on Instagram
The brotherhood Harrison experienced as a member of The Beatles wouldn’t be the only defining relationship in his life. Many of Harrison’s musical colleagues and admirers would speak on Harrison’s influence on their lives following his passing.
Harrison’s Beatle bandmate Paul McCartney said, “He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humor. He is really just my baby brother.”
The story that would define Harrison’s relationship with Eric Clapton would clearly not define Clapton’s perspective on his friend; Clapton would later marry Harrison’s first wife, Pattie Boyd.
“I always thought of George as being a little like the elder brother that I never had,” Clapton said. “So I respect his judgement and his values and I think he’s a wonderful man. And I like the way he bends the strings too.”
Rolling Stone Keith Richards also had plenty of respect for Harrison; the two bands would value one another’s perspective in the sixties, despite rumors of a feud.
Richards reflected, “To me- George was, and always will be, above all, a real gentleman, in the full meaning of the word. We both felt we had similar positions in our respective bands, which forms a special, knowing bond between us. Let’s hope he’s jamming with John [Lennon].” (All quotes from U Discover Music)
McCartney, 80, has been candid about his relationship with Harrison following his passing.
According to one of our pieces, Harrison had given McCartney the gift of a tree; gardening had been one of Harrison’s passions.
McCartney detailed how he greets the tree as his way of communicating with Harrison.
“As I was leaving my house,” McCartney detailed in a 2020 NPR interview, “I got out of the car [to] close the gate and looked up at the tree, and said ‘Hi, George…’
