GEORGE HARRISON This Song 1976 HQ

"This Song" is the fourth track on George Harrison's 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3. It was released as the first single from the album and reached number 25 on the American pop charts, although like all three singles from the album, it failed to chart in the UK.

"This Song" was written after the week Harrison spent in a New York courtroom, unsuccessfully trying to convince a judge that his 1970 song "My Sweet Lord" did not intentionally infringe the Chiffons' 1963 hit "He's So Fine". According to Harrison, the plaintiff got ridiculously in-depth, breaking "My Sweet Lord" down into several melody lines, or "motifs", as they referred to them. Apparently, the plaintiff also drew up several charts with large musical notes on it to prove their point. Harrison said in his autobiography, I, Me, Mine, that after several days, he "started to believe that maybe they did own those notes".

After he lost the case, Harrison wrote "This Song", which released his frustration of the infringement case in the form of an uptempo, piano-driven boogie. It features Billy Preston on piano and organ, and Monty Python's Eric Idle calling out a falsetto "Could be 'Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch' – No, sounds more like 'Rescue Me'!" interjection right before the instrumental break.

The song also has a humorous music video (shown on the 20 November 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Paul Simon, in which Harrison was a special musical guest), which features George in a courtroom along with a cast of many of his friends (dressed up as the jury, bailiff, defense experts, etc.). Drummer Jim Keltner appears as the judge and the Rolling Stones's Ronnie Wood (dressed as a "Pepperpot" character) mimics Idle's aforementioned falsetto words.

[michaelmancusi]

Another masterpiece by George Harrison

[MagicalToothpaste]

I recommend the music video for this; it is hilarious. Thank you for the upload!

[danielburns]

this song went to #25 on the pop charts in 1977!!!

[NickB]

Great way for George to have the last laugh on a bogus lawsuit. Video for this filmed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

[SandyCheeks]

This is pretty good, why don't I ever hear this on the radio?

[juracicampos]

Quem. Houve. Estas. Produções. Musicais. Tem. Bom. Gosto. Harrisonsongs.

[barryballsit]

Clip is great for this with Monty Python input but like this version better as I like the extra guitar solo not on the film clip version

[cultural]

It was after he lost the plagiarism suit on My Sweet Lord, which he borrowed from the Chiffons song He's so Fine.

[edylynn]

"This Song" came to mind in the light of Ed Sheeran's fight in court about his song "Thinking Out Loud" being accused of copying Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On". As a semi retired DJ I hear notes of other songs in hit songs all the time so I remember George going through this same crap when someone said "My Sweet Lord" sounded like another song. Get over it money grubbers!!!

[ringo]

The entire lawsuit was ridiculous to begin win. My Sweet Lord bears only a passing resemblance to He's So Fine, and being influenced by art to make something new is how songwriters since the beginning of time have operated.

[ge]

"This riff ain't rare" 😉

[juracicampos]

Quem. Houve. Estas. Produções. Musicais. Tem. Bom. Gosto. Harrisonsongs.