Synopsis
Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison by Joshua M. Greene is a biography that traces the life of George Harrison, the enigmatic Beatle often overshadowed by his bandmates, focusing on his profound spiritual quest and its interplay with his musical evolution. The narrative begins with Harrison’s childhood in post-war Liverpool, a working-class environment marked by economic hardship and the echoes of wartime conflict. Born in 1943, Harrison grew up in a modest family, displaying a quiet rebelliousness and early passion for music that would lead him to join the Beatles, then a fledgling band, as their lead guitarist. Greene vividly describes Harrison’s early years, from his apprenticeship in Hamburg’s gritty underground clubs to the meteoric rise of Beatlemania, which thrust him into global fame by his early twenties. This rapid ascent, however, brought with it a sense of disillusionment, as the trappings of celebrity—wealth, adoration, and excess—left Harrison feeling unfulfilled and spiritually empty, setting the stage for his lifelong search for deeper meaning.
The heart of the book lies in Harrison’s spiritual awakening, which Greene, a former Hare Krishna devotee who studied meditation with Harrison, explores with intimate detail drawn from personal remembrances, recorded conversations, and firsthand accounts. In 1966, Harrison’s encounter with Ravi Shankar’s sitar music sparked an interest in Indian culture and philosophy, leading him to travel to India to study the instrument and immerse himself in Vedic teachings from figures like Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Vivekananda. This period marked a turning point, as Harrison embraced yoga, meditation, and the Hare Krishna movement, seeking a path to transcendence beyond the material world. Greene emphasizes how these influences reshaped Harrison’s music, evident in Beatles tracks like “Within You Without You” from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which reflected his growing fascination with Eastern mysticism. His frustration with the Beatles’ commercial pressures and internal dynamics, including his temporary departure from the band during the Sgt. Pepper sessions, further fueled his spiritual focus, culminating in his pivotal role in the band’s 1968 retreat to Rishikesh with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. While his bandmates drifted away from these practices, Harrison remained committed, finding solace in a spiritual community that contrasted with the chaos of fame.
As the Beatles dissolved, Harrison’s solo career became a canvas for his spiritual and musical expression, with his 1970 album All Things Must Pass serving as a landmark of his devotional artistry. Greene details how Harrison’s faith influenced his songwriting, weaving themes of enlightenment and divine connection into works like “My Sweet Lord” and later projects, such as producing Ravi Shankar’s Chants of India. The biography also covers Harrison’s significant contributions to the Hare Krishna movement, including his financial and musical support, notably through the 1969 recording of the Hare Krishna mantra, which became a global hit. Greene paints a picture of a man who, despite his wealth and fame, grappled with the challenges of living authentically in the public eye, facing criticism for his overt spirituality during his 1974 Dark Horse tour and navigating personal struggles, including the loss of privacy and constant exploitation by others. Yet, Harrison’s commitment to his beliefs remained steadfast, reflected in subtle gestures like stitching the Om symbol into his clothing for the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh.
The book does not shy away from Harrison’s complexities, portraying him as a man deeply engaged in the world he sought to transcend, balancing his spiritual ideals with the realities of his rock-star life. Greene notes Harrison’s later years, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, receive less attention due to his reduced public presence and lack of touring, but the narrative underscores his continued spiritual growth, culminating in a “levelheaded dispassion” by his sixth decade. This period saw Harrison embracing nature and finding peace in his role as a husband and father, even as he faced his mortality with lung cancer, passing away in 2001. While the book prioritizes Harrison’s spiritual journey over detailed accounts of his discography or Beatles-era conflicts, it offers fresh anecdotes about his interactions with musical peers like Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley, enriching the portrait of his influence. Critics of the book note that Greene’s closeness to Harrison’s spiritual path, particularly his Hare Krishna ties, may overemphasize this aspect, and some embellishments in dialogue raise questions about historical precision. Nonetheless, Here Comes the Sun stands as a compelling exploration of Harrison’s inner life, offering a nuanced view of a musician whose quest for enlightenment left an indelible mark on his art and legacy, inspiring readers interested in both the Beatles and the broader spiritual path.