"So Sad" | ||||
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Song by George Harrison from the album Dark Horse | ||||
Published | Harrisongs, November 1973 | |||
Released | 9 December 1974 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 5:00 | |||
Label | Apple | |||
Writer(s) | George Harrison | |||
Producer(s) | George Harrison | |||
Dark Horse track listing | ||||
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9 tracks |
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"So Sad (No Love of His Own)" | |
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European picture sleeve
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Single by Alvin Lee and Mylon LeFevre | |
from the album On the Road to Freedom | |
B-side | "On the Road to Freedom" |
Released | 17 December 1973 |
Format | 7-inch vinyl |
Genre | Country |
Length | 3:00 (single edit) |
Label | Columbia |
Writer(s) | George Harrison |
Producer(s) | Alvin Lee |
"So Sad" is a song by English musician George Harrison that was released on his 1974 album Dark Horse. Harrison originally recorded the song for his previous album, Living in the Material World, before giving it to Alvin Lee, the guitarist and singer with Ten Years After. Lee recorded it – as "So Sad (No Love of His Own)" – with gospel singer Mylon LeFevre for their 1973 album On the Road to Freedom. The latter recording includes contributions from Harrison and marked the first of many collaborations between him and Lee.
Harrison began writing "So Sad" in New York in 1972 about the failure of his first marriage, to Pattie Boyd. The lyrics present a stark winter imagery that contrasts with the springtime optimism of his Beatles composition "Here Comes the Sun". Harrison recorded his version of the song during a period of romantic intrigue surrounding his marriage and those of fellow musicians Ron Wood and Ringo Starr. The main recording session took place at Harrison and Boyd's home, Friar Park, in November 1973, eight months before she left him for Eric Clapton. Aside from Harrison's extensive contributions on vocals, guitars and keyboards, the musicians on the recording include Starr, Nicky Hopkins and Jim Keltner.
Several reviewers have highlighted "So Sad" as a standout track on the otherwise disappointing Dark Horse album. While noting its bleak depiction of lost love, author Simon Leng describes the song as "the temporary death of [Harrison's] Krishna dream", reflecting the singer's surrender to human sorrow over his spiritual resolve.