How a Random Beach Sign Inspired George Harrison's Last Single "Any Road" and Son

In 1988 George Harrison was in Hana on the island of Maui in Hawaii with his family where he had a vacation property. At the time, Harrison was also there to shoot a video for the song “This Is Love” from his 1987 album Cloud Nine.

While walking with his son Dhani one day, the two came across a sign near the beach that read: “If the wind blows, you can always adjust your sails, but, if you don’t know where you’re going, then any road will take you there.”

The words would become the base of a new song, “Any Road,” which Harrison started writing shortly after seeing that sign. Harrison held the song close until it had its place and later recorded it on and off between July 1999 and October 2001 for his 12th and final album Brainwashed.

Harrison’s lyrics follow the Eastern philosophy he followed for most of his life, of continuing forward no matter how difficult the path, or moving toward a higher state of being as in Hindu.

“The past, the present, and the future is just one cycle,” said Harrison in a video around Brainwashed. “I believe as most Buddhists and Hindus believe that it’s us coming back.”

For I’ve been travellin’ on a boat and a plane
In a car, on a bike, with a bus and a train
Travellin’ there, travellin’ here
Everywhere in every gear

But, oh Lord, we pay the price
With the spin of a wheel, with the roll of the dice
Ah yeah, you pay your fare
And if you don’t know where you’re goin’
Any road will take you there

And I’ve been travellin’ through the dirt and the grime
From the past to the future, through the space and the time
Travellin’ deep beneath the waves
In watery grottoes and mountainous caves

Source: americansongwriter.com/Tina Benitez-Eves

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