A Song Perfect for Holy Week and Easter

In this video, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and more play live at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2002.

 

 The late George Harrison wrote the song performed, "My Sweet Lord," which combines gospel music with Harrison's Hindu bhajan beliefs. The inspiration for Harrison's song is the Christian hymn "Oh, Happy Day."

The original lyrics to the song (you can't help but sing along):

My sweet Lord
Hm, my Lord
Hm, my Lord

I really want to see you
Really want to be with you
Really want to see you, Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord

My sweet Lord
Hm, my Lord
Hm, my Lord

I really want to know you
Really want to go with you
Really want to show you, Lord
That it wont take long, my Lord (hallelujah)

My sweet Lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my Lord (hallelujah)
My sweet Lord (hallelujah)

I really want to see you
Really want to see you
Really want to see you, Lord
Really want to see you, Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord (hallelujah)

My sweet Lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my Lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my Lord (hallelujah)

I really want to know you (hallelujah)
Really want to go with you (hallelujah)
Really want to show you, Lord (aaah)
That it wont take long, my Lord (hallelujah)

Hmm (hallelujah)
My sweet Lord (hallelujah)
My, my, Lord (hallelujah)

Hm, my Lord (hare Krishna)
My, my, my Lord (hare Krishna)
Oh hm, my sweet Lord (Krishna, Krishna)
Oh-uuh-uh (hare, hare)

Now, I really want to see you (hare rama)
Really want to be with you (hare Rama)
Really want to see you Lord (aaah)
But it takes so long, my Lord (hallelujah)

Hm, my Lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my Lord (hare Krishna)
My sweet Lord (hare Krishna)
My sweet Lord (Krishna, Krishna)
My Lord (hare, hare)
Hm, hm (Gurur Bramha)
Hm, hm (Gurur Vishnu)
Hm, hm (Gurur Devo)
Hm, hm (maheshwara)
My sweet Lord (Gurur Sakshaat)
My sweet Lord (Para Brahma)
My, my, my Lord (tasmayi shree)
My, my, my, my Lord (guruve namah)
My sweet Lord (hare Rama)

My sweet Lord (hare Krishna)
My sweet Lord (Krishna, Krishna)
My Lord (hare, hare)

Before you get upset that I think that a Hindu mantra is appropriate for Easter, please consider what the words mean.

• "Hare" is another word for "Vishnu," which means "he who removes illusion." Hare can also refer to the energy of God or can simply mean "holy."
• "Krishna," "Rama," "Devo" and "Sakshaat" mean God; they're the different names for God, kind of like "Father" or "Holy Spirit"
• "Gurur" means "teacher"
• "Tasmayi shree...guruve namah" means that you offer obedience to your teacher (God)
• "Maheshwara" refers to the omni-powerful God
• "Para Brahma" means "Supreme God"

Don't forget that the word "hallelujah" isn't an English word. It's a Hebrew word that means "praise God."

By embracing other cultures as Christians, you embrace your brothers and sisters.

The Lord is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! 
Hallelujah!