The George Harrison Song That Chastised Those Who Fear Change -
When it was over, George Harrison rarely got too sentimental about his time with The Beatles. But he also didn’t shy away from commenting on it in his songs, even if he did so ever so subtly at times.
“The Light That Has Lighted The World” stands out as one of the most moving songs from Harrison’s 1973 album Living In The Material World. It reflects his feelings on how people viewed the changes that he underwent upon entering the world of fortune and fame.
Heading for the “Light”
Because All Things Must Pass was such a powerhouse of an album, the LPs that followed it in the George Harrison catalog sometimes didn’t get the respect they deserved. This is especially true about Living In The Material World. It’s a far more muted record than its predecessor. But it’s no less compelling.
Harrison included “The Light That Has Lighted The World” on that album. He had originally written it as part of a series of songs that he intended for Cilla Black. Black was a recording star in Great Britain who came from the same environs as The Beatles, which led to a long association between the acts.
Since he had earmarked the song “When The Song Is Sung” as a single for Black, he figured he’d write her a B-side as well. To do that, he imagined a topic that might be relevant to Black. And he considered the fact that she, like Harrison, had gone from humble beginnings to the height of fame. That transformation served as the focus for “The Light That Has Lighted The World”.
Source: Jim Beviglia/americansongwriter.com
