‘My Sweet Lord’: Jr Gong ‘love the tune’ so he did a cover
Widow of singer-songwriter George Harrison endorses song
Published:Friday | August 4, 2023 | 12:06 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
There has been much chatter ever since Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley released, on July 28, a reggae version of late member of The Beatles’ George Harrison’s song, My Sweet Lord.
Apart from the fact that My Sweet Lord is in no way the typical Rastaman chant — and ‘Gongzilla’, as he is called, is definitely a Rastafarian — covers are not the domain of the multi-Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer. So what’s so special about My Sweet Lord? Many things.
Website loudersound.com notes that “George Harrison’s first solo No.1 single stands alone in rock history for going against the secular grain as a full-on love song to the Creator”. It uses the word ‘Lord’ a whopping 40 times; ‘hallelujah’ 16 times, and ‘Hare Krishna’ nine times. In his reggae interpretation, Jr Gong substitutes ‘Haile Haile’ for the “Hare Krishnas” and many of the ‘hallelujahs’.
George Harrison recorded My Sweet Lord for his 1970 All Things Must Pass triple album, and according to his Wikipedia bio, “he was initially reluctant to record the song, for fear of committing himself to such an overt religious message”. By the end of 1970, the song was an international No. 1 hit. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 14, 1970, for sales of over one million copies, and it reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on December 26.
At the end of 1971, My Sweet Lord topped various polls for both Single of the Year and World’s Single of the Year. In the US publication Record World, the song was voted Best Single and Harrison was named Top Male Vocalist of 1971 and won two Ivor Novello songwriter’s awards. Worldwide sales amounted to five million copies by 1978, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Last Tuesday, Jr Gong posted a picture of Bob Marley, the original Gong, and George Harrison hanging out together, along with a simple explanation regarding his decision to cover My Sweet Lord.
“The original link up… The Beatles’ @georgeharrisonofficial and The Gong @bobmarley !!! When I decided to cover George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord it was because I heard the song and liked it… No deep meaning… nothing superficial… just love the tune that’s all. Had no idea this event even happened up until recently. Not sure who took the photos so if anyone has any info let us know… and if u have time check out my new rendition of My Sweet Lord… inna rub a dub.”
Regarding George Harrison meeting Bob Marley, Sam Kemp, in a June 2022 article in faroutmagazine.co.uk, mentions a specific date and place — July 13, 1975, after a show at the Roxy in Los Angeles — that seems to relate to the photo posted by Jr Gong.
The feedback to Jr Gong’s cover of My Sweet Lord has been positive from fans, and also from Olivia Harrison, the widow of George Harrison, who decided to do the ultimate online favour that any reggae or dancehall artiste would ask — give it a ‘strength’ by [reposting].
Olivia reposted the song on Instagram from @bobmarley. Olivia wrote, “@damianmarley’s new rendition of @georgeharrisonofficial’s My Sweet Lord is out now everywhere you listen! Stream it today at the link in story. #damianmarley #marleyfamily #LEGACY #newmusic.”
It would appear that this endorsement is not something that ought to be taken lightly. Stairwayto11.com noted that Olivia Harrison “has been safeguarding her husband’s legacy and estate ... and she doesn’t let anything happen to what the former Beatle accomplished during his 40-year career”.
My Sweet Lord marks Jr Gong’s first solo release since Reach Home Safe (2019) and his first release under his own label, Ghetto Youths International. A press release stated that the release date, July 28, coincided with the 52nd anniversary of George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh, the first major benefit concert in history, which raised funds and awareness for the humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh.
It added, “Marley hopes that his single will also inspire people to support causes that are close to their hearts and make a positive difference in the world.”