What are the background singers saying? I hear Hari Hari and Hari Kristna but there are other things they say that I can’t quite catch.
Also, what do these things mean? Sure I remember the Hari Kristnas from the airport but what language is it and what is the English translation?
It’s a prayer from India.
If I recall, the words used in “My Sweet Lord” are “Hare Krishna, hare Krishna, krishna krishna, hare hare.” There also seem to be more.
They’re singing, “He’s So Fine.”
It’s two prayers, the Hare Krishna and the Gurur Brahma. The Hare Krishna (or Maha Mantra) Reality Chuck already mentioned; the Gurur Brahma part goes:
Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu,
Gurur Devo Maheswarah.
Guru Shakshat Para Brahma,
Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah.
And translates to: “The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Lord Shiva, Maheswara, the Guru alone is the Supreme Brahman, The Godhead, to Him, the great Guru, I offer my salutation.”
There’s also some “Hallelujahs” thrown in there.
No, George Harrison was sued for plagiarism because his song sounded so close to “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons.
Actually, those aren’t misheard lyrics; George was sued for stealing the tune from The Chiffon’s “He’s So Fine.”
Learn something new every day!
Though he actually stole it from “Oh Happy Day.”
(do lang, do lang, do lang)
Could you please translate that for me?
That’s what the background singers in “He’s So Fine” are singing.
Strange, I had this song going through my head this morning for no particular reason at all.
Also, I always thought there was a ‘hare rama’ thrown into the mix as well?
You’re right. The “Hare Rama” part is is from the second half of the Hare Krishna Mantra.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
From the do-wap: To “lang.” To swash across the dance floor with a cheap-looking girl with high-teased hair and lots of eyeliner. Extra points for a sweater tied over her shoulders.
If you play it backwards, it says “Paul ain’t dead, but he had a real nasty cold last week.”
I just finished reading Patty Boyd’s autobiography. It’s the usual self-serving twaddle, but she was pretty insistent that Harrison did so completely unintentionally. The only part of the two songs that actually matches up is a three note descending motif - “My sweet lord” and “he’s so fine”.
The saddest thing about all this is that after the lawsuit Harrison would no longer listen to anyone else’s music. No radio, no records, no TV.