George Harrison’s spiritual songwriting was not limited to the songs most often associated with his public image. These six selections trace his interest in chanting, Krishna consciousness and the limits of material identity, while distinguishing Harrison’s own explanations from interpretations a listener might bring to the music. “Lesser-known” here is a discovery-guide choice, not a claim about measured popularity.
Why Harrison’s spiritual songs are worth revisiting
Harrison’s official account of his 1973 album Living in the Material World describes it as spiritual and notes that its artwork includes an illustration from the Bhagavad-Gita. That album-level context helps orient a listener, but it does not establish that every song has the same religious source or meaning. In a conversation recorded at his home on September 4, 1982, Harrison recalled encountering Krishna chanting through visits to India and listening to a record by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He also said Prabhupada influenced the album’s title song. The official album page and the published conversation provide the context for the selections below.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Greatest Hits (Remastered) | $35.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits | $42.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits[2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/411qOkbEPUL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits[2 LP] | $27.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Skynyrd's Innyrds: Their Greatest Hits | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Their Greatest Hits Volumes 1 | $39.59 | Buy on Amazon |
Six songs to explore
1. “Awaiting on You All” — All Things Must Pass
This is the clearest example of Harrison turning a specific spiritual practice into a pop song. In the 1982 conversation, he described it as being about japa-yoga: chanting mantras on beads. He said he felt there was a need for that kind of message in pop music and decided to make the song himself. That explanation comes directly from Harrison, rather than being inferred from the lyrics alone. Read the conversation.
2. “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” — Living in the Material World
The album’s opening track and lead single moves from its title phrase into a direct plea for love and peace. Harrison’s official album page confirms its place in the sequence and presents the record in spiritual terms, but it does not supply a track-specific theological explanation. It is best approached as a song whose appeal is plain in its words, without claiming a more exact religious meaning for Harrison than the sources establish. See the official track listing.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Format: Vinyl...
- Best Sellers: Top Seller...
- Released: 2024-01-26...
- Genre: Rock...
- Format: Vinyl...
3. “The Light That Has Lighted the World” — Living in the Material World
Placed third on the album, the song can invite a spiritual reading through its language of light and perception. That is an interpretation of the listening experience, not a documented explanation by Harrison in the sources cited here. Its place among songs on an album he described as spiritual gives useful context, but should not be mistaken for proof of a specific intended meaning. The official page verifies the track and album placement.
4. “Living in the Material World” — Living in the Material World
Harrison explicitly linked the title song’s thinking to Prabhupada, who explained to him that people are not their physical bodies. That influence gives the title a sharper edge: “material” is not simply a reference to possessions, but to the bodily identity Harrison said Prabhupada had challenged. The official album page’s description and artwork add context, while Harrison’s own account is the basis for connecting the song to that teaching. Harrison’s explanation and the album details.
Rank #2
- Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers' Greatest Hits is the best-selling release in the band's illustrious catalog
5. “The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)” — Living in the Material World
Harrison connected this song’s wording with loving God, giving and reciprocal action. That is his personal explanation of the song, not a complete account of Hindu doctrine. Its title makes the relationship sound almost like a compact principle, but the most grounded way to hear it is through the ideas Harrison himself named. The track is seventh on the album. The conversation with Harrison discusses his explanation; the official page confirms its placement.
6. “Be Here Now” — Living in the Material World
The album’s eighth track is a natural choice for a spiritual listening guide, but the sources cited here verify its position rather than a track-specific statement from Harrison about what it means. A listener may hear an invitation to attend to the present, but that should remain an interpretation rather than an attributed intention. Check the official track listing.
Rank #3
- Records have been cleaned and new sleeved.
- 2 LP release.
- Made in Spain.
How to listen across the selections
The songs offer different levels of documentary certainty. “Awaiting on You All,” “Living in the Material World,” and “The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)” have specific explanations attributed to Harrison in the 1982 conversation. The other three are anchored by official album information and can be approached through attentive listening without assigning them an undocumented doctrine. The full Living in the Material World album contains five of these six songs; the official page links to CD and vinyl listings for the album.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Take It Easy
- Witchy Woman
- Lyin' Eyes
- Already Gone
- Desperado
Rank #4
- Lynyrd Skynyrd's greatest hits are available now on vinyl! With the original album certified 5x platinum, this LP is a must buy for Skynyrd fans everywhere
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
