Music Blog

BEFORE HIS COUNTRY DIES

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶
Ravi Shankar/George Harrison

This week the theme at Song Lyric Sunday is to find a song by an artist or group that won a Grammy.

Where do I begin? Where my heart takes me!

If you know me, chances are very good you know I’m a Beatles lover from Day 1. If you know me really well, there’s no question which of the Fab Four is closest to my heart.

Perhaps it’s because we’re both Pisces. Maybe it’s because I always root for the underdog. Maybe it’s because he was an immensely humble man never allowing money or success to be the end all in his life. He was accepting, gracious, genuine …. a man of great faith who possessed an enormous talent.

He was, of course, George Harrison.

George has an amazing catalog of songs; in my mind one of the best things he ever did was the “Concert for Bangla Desh” which won a Grammy in 1973 for Album of the Year. I will not bore you with statistics; here’s a link to Wiki where you can find out everything you ever wanted to know:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Concert_for_Bangladesh_(album)

Today we’re just going to sit back and enjoy the legendary eponymous song from that phenomenal concert. Here is “Bangla Desh”:

Please follow me this week as I feature a different George song every day as a tribute to and in memory of the great George Harrison.

On Wednesday, November 29, we will mark the 22nd anniversary of his passing. That was a day that truly broke my heart. Thank the gods his music will never die.

As I like to say, “There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!”

Thanks, Jim, for another great prompt!

NAR © 2023

Outstanding Music Achievement

Lyrics

My friend came to me, with sadness in his eyes
He told me that he wanted help
Before his country dies
Although I couldn’t feel the pain, I knew I had to try
Now I’m asking all of you
To help us save some lives
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Where so many people are dying fast
And it sure looks like a mess
I’ve never seen such distress
Now won’t you lend your hand and understand
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Such a great disaster – I don’t understand
But it sure looks like a mess
I’ve never known such distress
Now please don’t turn away, I want to hear you say
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
Relieve Bangla Desh
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Now it may seem so far from where we all are
It’s something we can’t neglect
It’s something I can’t neglect
Now won’t you give some bread to get the starving fed
We’ve got to relieve Bangla Desh
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
We’ve got to relieve Bangla Desh
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh

Words and music by George Harrison

“BanglaDesh”
Single by George Harrison
B-side“Deep Blue“
Released28 July 1971
RecordedJuly 1971
Record Plant West, Los Angeles
GenreRock, gospel
Length3:57
LabelApple
Songwriter(s)George Harrison
Producer(s)George Harrison, Phil Spector
George Harrison singles chronology
“What Is Life“
(1971) “BanglaDesh“
(1971) “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)“
(1973)

The Concert for Bangladesh
Live album by George Harrison & Friends
Released20 December 1971
Recorded1 August 1971
VenueMadison Square Garden, New York
GenreRock[1]Hindustani classicalfolkgospel
Length99:32
LabelApple
ProducerGeorge HarrisonPhil Spector
George Harrison chronology
All Things Must Pass
(1970)The Concert for Bangladesh
(1971)Living in the Material World
(1973)

32 thoughts on “BEFORE HIS COUNTRY DIES”

  6. I love George Harrison too he is the only Beatle I like…. Never a fan of Paul orJohn ( both pompous self opinionated) …. And Ringo well he was a nice guy ….but it’d was always George for me.
    So as far as I am concerned you made a great choice.

    Here’s one for you. You probably know it but here goes 💜💜

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  7. I’ve got several of George Harrison’s singles but none of his albums (not on vinyl, cd or cassette!). Which one(s) do you recomend? I’ve got all the Beatles studio albums and more, plus several John Lennon and Paul McCartney (& Wings) albums….no Ringo Starr albums either!

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    1. I’ll tell you which George CDs I have; I’d recommend any of them, honestly.
      All Things Must Pass
      Let It Roll
      Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989
      Brainwashed
      Gone Troppo
      Concert for Bangladesh
      Cloud Nine
      Extra Texture
      Thirty Three and 1/3
      Traveling Wilburys Vol 1
      Traveling Wilburys Vol 3
      Traveling Wilburys
      If I were you, I’d get The Traveling. Wilburys Box set and Ringo’s “Sentimental Journey”, a CD of 1940 standards he made for his mother (if you’re into older music) It’s a gem.

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