I was listening to the Beatles channel on Sirius XM and they were doing a segment called Dark Horse, which showcases George. The above song came on and I remembered how much I loved this album. Probably the most played album I had, (besides Sgt. Pepper) during my high school years. We all know that George Harrison is my favorite Beatle. When this album came out I was obsessed. Right away I was drawn to his spirituality and truth.
I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school for 3 years. We went to church every Sunday with my father, not my mother. I received the sacraments. As a side note, for my confirmation, we had to pick a saint’s name and I wanted a name from a Beatle song. After doing some investigating, (no google at that time) I chose Rita, of course for “Lovely Rita,” on Sgt. Pepper.
I got married in the Catholic church twice, (annulment is another story). Both times “our” song was; first marriage, “My Love” by Paul, and second marriage, “Help” which then led into “Maybe I’m Amazed.”
Anyway again I regress. The reason I brought up religion was because I used this album, “Living in the Material World” to pray. I used to sit on my bed and look out the window and see the trees and blue sky and green grass and use the lyrics as my prayers.
“The Day the World gets Round,” “Give me Love,” Who Can See it,” :Be Here Now,” “The Light that has Lighted the World,” “Living in the Material World,” and my favorite lyrics, “The Lord Loves the One.”
You can say I used them as a mantra. After the past week in politics, I needed to listen to this and affirm the things that I believe in. This album gives me peace.
Then not to get too mellow, I listened to John Lennon’s album “Imagine.” I love John’s honesty and I feel the lyrics so deeply. Again some of the songs and lyrics can be applied to events that are happening in the news today. I can get some mad emotions out and also hopefulness and love.
“Crippled Inside,” “It’s so Hard,” “How,” “Gimme Some Truth,” and of course the most idealistic and positive tune of all, “Imagine.”