# George Harrison's My Sweet Lord **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973 "2009-01-05T18:55:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/1 "2009-01-05T18:55:15Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/2 "2009-01-05T19:02:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/3 "2009-01-05T19:14:21Z")
They’re singing, “He’s So Fine.” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/4 "2009-01-05T19:35:25Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > They’re singing, “He’s So Fine.” [Wrong thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=499762) ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/5 "2009-01-05T19:38:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/6 "2009-01-05T19:38:47Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > [Wrong thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=499762) No, George Harrison was sued for plagiarism because his song sounded so close to “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons. > **[My Sweet Lord](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sweet_Lord#Legal_controversy)** > > "My Sweet Lord" is a song by the English musician George Harrison, released in November 1970 on his triple album All Things Must Pass. It was also released as a single, Harrison's first as a solo artist, and topped charts worldwide; it was the biggest-selling single of 1971 in the UK. In the United States and Britain, the song was the first number-one single by an ex-Beatle. Harrison originally gave the song to his fellow Apple Records artist Billy Preston to record; this version, which Harri... ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/7 "2009-01-05T19:40:09Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > [Wrong thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=499762) Actually, those aren’t misheard lyrics; George was sued for stealing the tune from The Chiffon’s “He’s So Fine.” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/8 "2009-01-05T20:02:09Z")
Learn something new every day! ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/9 "2009-01-06T04:03:32Z")
Though he actually stole it from “Oh Happy Day.” ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/10 "2009-01-06T09:28:59Z")
> [@](#): > > **Biggirl** : What are the background singers saying? (do lang, do lang, do lang) ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/11 "2009-01-06T09:42:30Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > (do lang, do lang, do lang) Could you please translate that for me? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/12 "2009-01-06T11:05:06Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Could you please translate that for me? That’s what the background singers in “He’s So Fine” are singing. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/13 "2009-01-06T13:18:48Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/14 "2009-01-06T16:46:45Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > 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 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/15 "2009-01-06T17:02:16Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Could you please translate that for me? 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. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/16 "2009-01-06T19:00:06Z")
If you play it backwards, it says “Paul ain’t dead, but he had a real nasty cold last week.” ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/479973/17 "2009-01-06T20:17:33Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Actually, those aren’t misheard lyrics; George was sued for stealing the tune from The Chiffon’s “He’s So Fine.” 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.