"World of Stone" - Analysis of George's Lyrics

George Harrison's lyrics are full of deep meaning. I would like to open this thread/discussion to hear some of your thoughts on some of the lyrics I would like to get a deeper understanding on :

On "World of Stone" found on "Extra Texture" George sings :

The wiser you may be the harder it gets to see
In this world made of stone
Such a long, long way to go
Such a long way from home

By " the wiser you may be the harder it gets to see", what do you think this means ?

Thank you for this wonderful thread!


This has me thinking... it could have many levels? There is a sort of secular interpretation of the song ... possibly George saying, "Don't follow me... 'Beatle George'... but follow your own Truth", or perhaps he could mean to follow a realized Guru?

But the lines you picked out, intuitively what rings true, might be that as we become 'wiser' (hopefully) we experience more compassion. With compassion often comes this huge onslought of desire (to help). The desire to help in itself can be a much harder desire to shake than the desire for material things? Not that we need to shake it entirely, but it becomes entwined in our 'spiritual ego' which is so subtle?

So for example, on the path trying to free ourselves of desires... we can cognate easily that material things will not make up happy long term. We tire of them and this can be proved nearly daily in ways. It makes logical sense to give those up for something higher.

But then... as we grow closer to God personally... we feel more connected to the other Beings here in the material world, and then also to their suffering. We want to reach out? And reaching out is a wonderful thing, but where is the balance? It gets hard to see... why... why the suffering? This can lead to the mystical Dark Night of the Soul as well.... the likes of which led Buddha to say "forget this... I am either going to come to an understanding or I will die trying... nothing else matters."

It's the part where it's somewhat easier to be a householder or a monk, but taking spirituality outta the ashram... finding balance... and finding acceptance?

What a really good thread! Thank you for this thread and the good comments!

George's lyrics were and remain very deep, profound and intense. I think a lot of his songs were about acceptance. He also wrote some very beautiful prayers like "Dear One" and set them to music. My church uses some of George's songs for prayer meetings and social events.

In recent years, I read that Olivia said George felt ashamed that he did not have an extensive vocabulary. That makes me very sad. I think George had a very good vocabulary and he was a MASTER of natural expression. Just take the lyrics of "I Want to Tell You" and "The Answer's At the End" for example. George was quite skilled at making points in a wonderfully lyrical way. When you listen to him speak, he conveys his thoughts in a very appropriate and sequential fashion. I think George was gifted.

I also think music opened up neuropathways in George's brain and brought forward not only talent, but other parts of his intelligence. He was plainly a very bright man.

I am thinking now of what Hari's Chick above has said. I would like to add that George was a natural at reaching all people. He not only helped bring many towards God; he and his music are vital parts of the lives of countless many, my church included. I think of a child I knew with Asperger's Syndrome who actually learned to express herself through George. She absolutely loved George; thought he was the greatest thing to hit these shores since the Honda and often used George's words to express herself before coming into her own style. To this day she loves George and has said that there are many people with autism who are Beatle fans.

Hari's Chick, Im enlivened that you are inspired by the idea of discussing the spiritual and philsophical meanings of George's songs. Krishna/God can seak through anyone, so I was interested in hearing other's insights as to how they interpert Geroge's messages . By your comments, I can see you are a deep devotee. I appreciate them.

Like you, I also thought George was expressing the humility of a true Krishna devotee by saying,

"Wise man, you won't be to follow the like of me".

Like the great Vaisnava acaryas, he speaks as if he is an ordinary materialistic man, to teach by example the mood of freedom from false pride, before we can really get on the spiritual path of Krishna consciousness. Your point is very much in line with the Bhagavad Gita (4.34 ) where Krishna tells Arjuna that in order to understand the Truth " one must approach a bona-fide spiritual master,hear from them submissively and render service unto him/her. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you , because they have seen the Truth".

George reminds me of Pundarika Vidyanidhi, in Caitanya lila, who externally appeared very opulent and materialistic, but internally was detached, and always meditating upon the Lord and His service.

Could you please say a lilte more about how the desire to help others spiritually "becomes entwined in our 'spiritual ego' which is so subtle" ? Do you mean the danger of thinking ourselves to be the "doer", as oppposed to understanding that the Lord is doing everything through His devotee, and that we are just an instrument ? Are you making the point that we should love one another, but not force our love more than another person is able to recieve ?

I agree, taking spirituality out of the ashram is the greatest challenge to find and keep that balance. Without good and strong spiritual association, it is almost impossible, I find anyways.

Another way to look at "the wiser you may be the harder it gets to see", is given by the great 19th century pioneer of Krishna consciousness in the western world, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. In one of his beautiful Vaisnava Acarya bhajans ( devotional songs ) called Vidyara Vilase / The Pastimes of Scholarship, he wrote these profound words which elucidate "the wiser you may be the harder it gets to see" (translated from the original Bengali):

(1) Once I spent long, long hours in the pastimes of scholarship. I never took to service of Your lotus feet as I do now. (2) Reading on and on, never finding satiation, I felt that knowledge would be the highest goal. That hope was false and fruitless -- that knowledge was ignorance. (3) Materialistic studies are the glare of maya only, for they are an obstacle to spiritual progress. The infatuated person is trapped in the impermanent world, falsely trying to enjoy it, and such studies make him as foolish as an ass. (4) When they stretch out over a long time, one loses all energy and is sapped of all power to enjoy. By the time old age comes, nothing in the world is tasteful for such an ass. (5) Now at the end of life I realize that all my academic study is ignorance. Realization of this fact is burning like a piercing dart. (6) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says: "Without Your lotus feet there is no value in the world. Reflecting upon my material studies, I take to Your lotus feet and superexcellence. "

George's songs are like sutras. In just a few words, mixed with a sweet melody, he gets across the same message.

On March 15 1970 Srila Prabhupada ( AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ), the most compassionate and loving founder acarya of the Hare Krishna Movement, wrote a letter to his student Guru dasa, who had become an intimate friend of George's. In the letter , he provides the inspiration for songs like "World Of Stone", and sets the stage for the divine river of transcendental songs that would flow from the pen ,mouth and guitar of George Harrison, in the years to come.....

Srila Prabhupada's Mar 15/70 leter to Guru dasa "" When I remember all of you in London, as well as George Harrison, I become very happy because the combination is very much hopeful. I am so glad to learn that George has said, "I don't want to make nonsense records any more.'' This version of George I consider very valuable. His popularity and his great talent can be very nicely utilized by producing such nice records as "Govinda,'' instead of producing something nonsense. In our Vaisnava literature there are hundreds and thousands of nice purportful songs, and if those songs, under George's supervision, are recorded, I think it will bring a great revolution in the record making business.

So when he says that he does not wish to produce nonsense this does not mean that he has to close his business. On the other hand, he will get greater opportunity for producing the finest transcendental records which are still unknown to the world. "

Now these "transcendental records" are becoming known, more and more everyday, to a new, young generation of souls who also have the good karma to see the "inner light" . George's music continues to reflect "the light that has lighted the world" , so that we can "beware of darkness", and can " hope to get out of this place by the LORD SRI KRSNA'S GRACE , our salvation from the material world. From the Spiritual Sky,Such sweet memories have I To the Spiritual Sky How I pray Yes I pray that I won't get lost or go astray

Does anyone else have any thoughts on any of the meanng of his song , World Of Stone ?

Wise man, you won't be to follow the like of me

In this world made of stone

Such a long way to go

We may disagree we all have the right to be
In this world made of stone
Such a long way to go

Such a long, long way from home

The wiser you may be the harder it gets to see
In this world made of stone
Such a long, long way to go
Such a long way from home

In this world made of stone


Such a long, long way to go, and such a long way from Om

Regarding "Om" in the Bhagavad Gita 7.8 , Lord Krishnna says " I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man".

The impersonal sound of Krsna is om, but the sound Hare Krsna contains om. The chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra is clearly recommended for this age. So if one quits his body at the end of life chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, he certainly reaches one of the spiritual planets in Vaikuntha, and never returns to the material world again.

When I listen to or siing along with George's songs, I often ponder what specific life lesson he is sharing in that particular song. With all of the Beatle and/or George fans that are atracted to this site, like bees are to pollen rich flowers, I thought by beginning a thread devoted to song analysis, I wouold e enlightened by so many others realizations. I chose to begin with "World of Stone" , recorded in 1975 on Extra Texture, because to me,, the lyrics at first listen, eluded me, and I was wondering "What is George really trying to say here ? What was he going through at that time to write these lyrics , "World of Stone".

So far, Hari's Chick has been the only person besides my self to make a specific comment on this song. FPSHOT & Beatlebangs 1964 have both given their general appreciation for Hari Chick's insightful comments regarding "George's depth of lyrical profundity, but nothing more has been said by anyone else on this song. Before moving on to another song, I would like to continue to invite other George fans to ponder the meaning of this song and share their thoughts. In the meantime, while waiting for your wisdom to arrive, I will continue to relate the realizations I am getting with regard to the teachings of George's and our mutual guru, Srila Prabhupada.

My landlady, Krishna devi dasi just gave me some feedback, as I related to her how George is expressing the rare devotional quality of humility by singing, "Wise man, you won't be to follow the like of me. " She said this was what made Gerge Harrison great, that he was humble, but did not think he was so great. Pride preceds a fall. Ugly pride is such a commen, and obnoxious quality. It is born from ahankara, or false ego "I am this body, and everything in relation to this body is mine, or meant for my gratification . I Me Mine. "

Unless we understand that the soul is 1 / 10,000 the tip of a hair in size, and that we are actually the servant, of the servant of the servant of the Lord, then " We may disagree we all have the right to be ,In this world made of stone". The dharma of the soul is to serve, and to ultimately serve one aother, in relation to the Lord The "qualification" to remain in this cold-hearted world of stone,, is to disagree and quarrel with one another based on the "I Me Mine" misconception. Everything belongs to the Lord, nothing belongs to us. If we don't keep the Lord in the center of our relationships, then our false ego collides with other false egos, and the net result are wars and destruction.

The Srimad Bhagavatam states that we are living in the "winter" of the four ages known as the Kali Yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the age of the "Sue Me, Sue You Blues". Less than 25% of the population have any serious interest in self-realization, the goal of the human form of life, because everyone is too busy quarreling over petty things.

'O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.
SB 1.1.10

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."


In this present age quarrels take place even over trifles, and therefore the sastras ( Vedic literatures ) have recommended for this age a common platform for realization, namely chanting the holy names of the Lord. People can hold meetings to glorify the Lord in their respective languages and with melodious songs, and if such performances are executed in an offenseless manner, it is certain that the participants will gradually attain spiritual perfection without having to undergo more rigorous methods. SB Introduction

Originally Posted by Gaura

Hari's Chick, Im enlivened that you are inspired by the idea of discussing the spiritual and philsophical meanings of George's songs. Krishna/God can seak through anyone, so I was interested in hearing other's insights as to how they interpert Geroge's messages .

It is beautiful how you put this and a wonderful use of this forum! And I agree, and also would love to hear others' thoughts/interpretations as well, very much.

Originally Posted by Gaura

Like you, I also thought George was expressing the humility of a true Krishna devotee by saying,

"Wise man, you won't be to follow the like of me".

Like the great Vaisnava acaryas, he speaks as if he is an ordinary materialistic man, to teach by example the mood of freedom from false pride, before we can really get on the spiritual path of Krishna consciousness. Your point is very much in line with the Bhagavad Gita (4.34 ) where Krishna tells Arjuna that in order to understand the Truth " one must approach a bona-fide spiritual master,hear from them submissively and render service unto him/her. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you , because they have seen the Truth".

The words bona-fide spiritual master were in my mind as well. Yes, yes.

Originally Posted by Gaura

George reminds me of Pundarika Vidyanidhi, in Caitanya lila, who externally appeared very opulent and materialistic, but internally was detached, and always meditating upon the Lord and His service.

He was even detached about his passing. On a recent interview, Deepak Chopra was challanged as to why George sought treatments around the world (implying he feared death). Deepak said in fact no... George did *not* fear and was entirely detached. Deepak said George sought treatments only to be able to be longer with his family and friends. But George himself... was ready to see Krishna.

Originally Posted by Gaura

Could you please say a lilte more about how the desire to help others spiritually "becomes entwined in our 'spiritual ego' which is so subtle" ? Do you mean the danger of thinking ourselves to be the "doer", as oppposed to understanding that the Lord is doing everything through His devotee, and that we are just an instrument ? Are you making the point that we should love one another, but not force our love more than another person is able to recieve ?

Yes, I refer to thinking ourselves the "doer". Also, when we begin to feel the seeds of true compassion- especially in the world where the internet connects us to all the news of the world's sorrows- we can fall sway to grief, which is listed by Sri Yukteswar as being one of the 'eight meannesses of the heart'.. an obstacle to moral courage. It takes courage to say "I can help here and here... and I cannot help here." That second half, the not helping... letting go and letting God... can be so difficult.

I once had a teacher who was teaching a class on Buddhism to a packed room... over 800 of us. And he had to turn away some students for lack of seats. He stood at the podium and cried. He was this little fellow who looked like a street person but was actually head of the history department at the university. He composed himself and said, "It was my sincere vow to never turn away a student who wished to know about the Buddha..." A moment flashed and he looked up filled with smiles and said, "Now let's continue..." and he was detached! In that flash of a moment! See, at first, he was spiritually/ego involved... then, detachment... ahhh...

Spiritual ego is tricky... holding a concept of ourselves as a spiritual person but it can be hard if we are not properly grounded and balanced. Part of that I believe is acknowledging all aspects of the self- the 'dark and the light'. In some cases it can be that we associate getting to our spiritual goals with the "light" side only. I think 'getting there' is such a process and we need to learn to love all sides of ourselves.

One of the best things about George was how he could do all this service for Krishna and he was so humble about it all. He is such an inspiration to us all...

Originally Posted by Gaura

I agree, taking spirituality out of the ashram is the greatest challenge to find and keep that balance. Without good and strong spiritual association, it is almost impossible, I find anyways.

I cannot agree more... 1000% agreement...

Originally Posted by Gaura

Another way to look at "the wiser you may be the harder it gets to see", is given by the great 19th century pioneer of Krishna consciousness in the western world, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. In one of his beautiful Vaisnava Acarya bhajans ( devotional songs ) called Vidyara Vilase / The Pastimes of Scholarship, he wrote these profound words which elucidate "the wiser you may be the harder it gets to see" (translated from the original Bengali):

AH HA! Beautiful! So George would have been reading Srila Thakura then! Awesome! Do you have the link to where we might get this song?

Also it was Srila Thakura's poetry which also inspired My Sweet Lord.

Originally Posted by Gaura

(1) Once I spent long, long hours in the pastimes of scholarship. I never took to service of Your lotus feet as I do now. (2) Reading on and on, never finding satiation, I felt that knowledge would be the highest goal. That hope was false and fruitless -- that knowledge was ignorance. (3) Materialistic studies are the glare of maya only, for they are an obstacle to spiritual progress. The infatuated person is trapped in the impermanent world, falsely trying to enjoy it, and such studies make him as foolish as an ass. (4) When they stretch out over a long time, one loses all energy and is sapped of all power to enjoy. By the time old age comes, nothing in the world is tasteful for such an ass. (5) Now at the end of life I realize that all my academic study is ignorance. Realization of this fact is burning like a piercing dart. (6) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says: "Without Your lotus feet there is no value in the world. Reflecting upon my material studies, I take to Your lotus feet and superexcellence. "

Beautiful to read! Thank you! Hare Krishna!

Originally Posted by Gaura

On March 15 1970 Srila Prabhupada ( AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ), the most compassionate and loving founder acarya of the Hare Krishna Movement, wrote a letter to his student Guru dasa, who had become an intimate friend of George's. In the letter , he provides the inspiration for songs like "World Of Stone", and sets the stage for the divine river of transcendental songs that would flow from the pen ,mouth and guitar of George Harrison, in the years to come.....

Srila Prabhupada's Mar 15/70 leter to Guru dasa "" When I remember all of you in London, as well as George Harrison, I become very happy because the combination is very much hopeful. I am so glad to learn that George has said, "I don't want to make nonsense records any more.'' This version of George I consider very valuable. His popularity and his great talent can be very nicely utilized by producing such nice records as "Govinda,'' instead of producing something nonsense. In our Vaisnava literature there are hundreds and thousands of nice purportful songs, and if those songs, under George's supervision, are recorded, I think it will bring a great revolution in the record making business.

So when he says that he does not wish to produce nonsense this does not mean that he has to close his business. On the other hand, he will get greater opportunity for producing the finest transcendental records which are still unknown to the world. "

Can I plug Gurudas' book at this moment? "By His Example" by Gurudas... lots of bits about George, but the best part is beyond George... it is the nectar of Krishna!

Thank you FPSHOT for your thoughts on "World of Stone". Regarding your statement : "That can be the "wise man", which then also can just mean the totality of those who rather had George write "something" and "here comes the sun" kinda songs and did not understand the meaning of phrases like ""I only ask, that what I feel, should not be denied me now, As it's been earned, and I have seen my life belongs to me"

I'd like to point out for those George fans who are interested in more than how cute he was, etc...lol...about his substance, that although Geroge often had at least two different meanings to one song, he did state that both of those songs were highly spiritual, and about Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. and the later , about His devotees.

Without wanting to minimize any of the inspiration that Patti Boyd gave George, earlier in his career, the popular misconception is " She was the inspiration for one of Harrison's most famous Beatles songs, Something, which was called "the greatest love song ever written" by Frank Sinatra."

I have been wading through the multitude of sites to find the actual quote from George , that I have read, but here is a quote from Syamasundara written post-humous from Priitaas site:

http://www.geocities.com/priitaa/Ins.../sixtyfive.htm

"Shortly after Sriman George left his body there was an article in BTG (Back to Godhead magazine), written by Shymasundar das, one of George’s lifetime friends. It reveals George’s “real” meaning of the song, “Something.” Shymasundara writes:

“Picking up where we had last left off, in that roomful of rock-stars, promoters, and delirious fans, we huddled shut off from their puzzle and envy and yakked about the Absolute, who you knew to be a Person – yeah, yeah, and yeah, you said, and who am I to be telling you that Krishna is the Supreme Person, the All-Attractive Person – “attracts me like no other lover” – (later you said you had to say “she” or everyone would think you a “poof.”) “ by Shymasundara das


And there you have it. George told Shymasundara that he really wrote the song “Something,” about love of Krishna/God, and not about a woman. He only changed the word “He” to “she” so folks would not misunderstand and think George was gay. (This is not about the topic of homosexuality, it’s about the true meaning of the song.) Anyway, I always wondered if he was really talking about Krishna when I heard it. Reading this pointed out what I had suspected, and it all makes sense

Another site quotation :

Q: Mr. Harrison, I was wondering if you might tell us a bit about your ideas on love. Romantic love, that is. I recall you having written some of the Beatles' most beatiful love songs. It would be interesting to hear how your religious attitudes have impacted your beliefs concerning romanticism.

George: Well, the lover that we miss is actually God. The beauty that you see within each other is actually God. So, Krishna was the greatest romanticist.

Kulaksekhara dasa is one of the pioneers of the Hare Krishna Movement in England, who met George early on. Here it is explained that "Here Comes THe Sun" is about the Hare Krisha devotees :

We went out to his house in spring 1969 and spent the afternoon. After prasadam, we had a three hour kirtan with George playing electric Bass and Billy Preston playing an organ. Yamuna led the singing and the rest of the devotees played various instruments and percussion. A week after this, George came around to visit and said, "I wrote a song about you guy's, its called "Here Comes the Sun".

For more info, please see : http://www.geocities.com/priitaa/Ins...fortyeight.htm