Here comes the Sun

I have really appreciated hearing the song Here Comes The Sun by the Beatles recently. It is being played on the radio frequently as a positive, optimistic “anthem” in these difficult times of lockdown I recommend it, and I have asked my husband Doug – who engaged with Beatlemania in his early years, I was a little too late – to add his thoughts on this.

Thank you Jo. Yes, this song deserves to be heard because it is cheering in a time when emerging from difficulty, which we hope and pray we are. George Harrison composed it, and it speaks of coming through a long, cold, lonely winter. The loneliness is likely to speak to many of us as we miss contact with loved ones and with our church community. But we will come through this, though we may have to carry something of this weight for a long time yet.

George Harrison was not the main Beatles composer, but he really began to blossom towards the end of their time together. Abbey Road featured not just Here Comes the Sun but also Something, which became a standard which even Frank Sinatra – who hated rock music – recorded. George also provided the remarkable Within You, Without You which graced the Sergeant Pepper album, using Indian instrumentation with a spiritual, Hindu theme which has sentiments I think we could all agree with. It begins with “We were talking about the space between us all” as we all are at present. He then chants about “the love we all could share”, and the people “who gain the world and lose their soul” (who said that first?) finishing with the sunny belief that “the time will come when you see we’re all one”.

George soon went on to record his classic album “All things must pass”, the title track putting us in touch with our mortality, with other songs such as Beware of Darkness (falling into evil ways) and, of course, My Sweet Lord. His faith had a different focus to ours but there is a great deal which we hold in common, and qualities of living in the light, of hope and love are ones we all need to hold onto closely in these challenging times and throughout our lives. From darkness to light is a theme we often use in church, and at Evensong we pray “Lighten our darkness”: with faith and trust in God we can have confidence and like the sunrise after a dark, threatening night of uncertainty and fear, we rejoice that here comes the sun, it’s alright.

                                             

Lord Jesus, Light of the World, shine in our hearts and minds to dispel our fear and doubt. Risen Lord, who overcame sin and death by rising early on Easter morning, triumph over all our human folly and inadequacy. By your Spirit at work in us, may we live in the light and share your light.

As we rejoice in the gift of each new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you, now and for ever. Amen.

Lord of all, we pray for all people who are suffering, all who are lonely or bereaved - and all who have to risk their lives for others. Hold them, hold us, within your eternal love and help us to seek and find that light in the darkness which you alone can give. Amen