Do some things really get better with age or does our familiarity with them over time deepen our love and appreciation, thus making those things more special to us? I think one of the keys to answering this question is to make a conscious effort to always be looking for the new and unexpected in the familiar. It’s all too easy to take someone or something for granted, forgetting about the uniqueness and beauty that has always been there. The people and places that we most cherish are always in motion, constantly changing. After all, the only real constant in life is change. Whether it’s a loved one or a favorite place in the world, being present and aware of the unique beauty that’s before us is one of the keys to really showing up for life.

The idea for this essay came to me while out for a walk one recent evening. Sometimes I just listen to the quiet sounds of life in my neighborhood, and other times my walk has a soundtrack. On this particular night I decided to plug in my earbuds and put my iPod on “shuffle”.  After a few minutes of strolling, George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord came up. If a list could somehow be compiled of the most listened to songs of my life, this song would certainly be near the top. I was 14 years old in 1971 when I bought the 45rpm vinyl record of My Sweet Lord at the local record shop in my hometown. This song has been part of my life for half a century so I think I’ve given it some very deep listens. However, during my walk the other night I heard a nuance in the background vocals that I had never heard before. It was amazing, after countless listens I actually heard something new. Suddenly I was hearing this song with new ears. I liken this phenomenon to noticing something new in the smile of a loved one or perhaps a previously unseen characteristic in that person. I thought I “knew” My Sweet Lord but all I know now is that there are still doors that remain to be opened by me in that song.

Every time I listen to My Sweet Lord, my reaction is quite profound. I’m often nearly overcome with emotion while the song is playing. This music taps into a deep well of spirituality that I never knew existed within me. The Beatles were all very spiritual men, how else could they have created music that has resonated so deeply with so many millions of people? However, because of his deep connection to Indian music, it is  George Harrison who is known as the spiritual one of the group. I have no idea who or what God is but I think it has something to do with eternal love, joy and beauty. If that’s the case, then surely My Sweet Lord is the musical embodiment of God.

Using words to write about music is about as futile as trying to describe colors to a blind person. Trying to describe my feeling while listening to My Sweet Lord are equally futile, but I’ll take a stab at it anyway.

The song begins with a shimmering wash of acoustic guitars, layered like the brushstrokes of a master on a canvas. At :16 the sweet, melodic, double tracked slide guitar sound that is George’s trademark makes its entry with the first of his two guitar solos. At :48 the first hint of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound appears via some beautifully understated flutes. The backing vocals, in the guise of a chorus of angels, debuts at 1:26 with the joyous refrain of “hallelujah, hallelujah”. The song changes key as the Wall of Sound kicks into full throttle at 1:45 when drums, percussion, bass, more acoustic guitars and the kitchen sink are added to the mix. At this point George is so deeply into his lead vocal that at 2:23 when he sings, “I really want to show you lord but it won’t take long my lord”, his voice cracks with emotion. My eyes well up with tears here every time. The second guitar solo, between 2:39—2:53, is pure manna from Heaven. At the 3:00 mark, more angels join the choir as the mantra “hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, hare hare” is repeatedly sung. By now, My Sweet Lord is no longer just a pop song (was it ever?), but rather a prayer, and I’m filled with the hope and possibilities of love and beauty that this song invokes. During the final 1:47, instruments and voices are all working in perfect harmony, the joy of the musicians shining through like sunbeams shooting out from behind a cloud. The final fade out is a walk on the beach at sunset, the pinks and yellows, reds and oranges gradually giving way to the deepest shades of blue, then silence.

With the writing and recording of My Sweet Lord, I believe George Harrison and producer Phil Spector created music that is truly divine. Like this song, the people and places that I hold most dear will continue to improve with age because I will continue to find new and different ways to love and appreciate them. Hallelujah indeed.