Paul McCartney offered a poignant salute to George Harrison and Sir George Martin over the weekend.
April 23rd is – of course – St George’s Day, named after the patron saint of England. In Sir Paul McCartney’s house, however, it takes on extra resonance, offering a moment to pause and salute two people close to him.
George Harrison passed away in 2001, with the Beatles guitarist leaving behind an incredible legacy. Paul McCartney remained close to the guitarist right to the end – in his first statement after the news, he called George his “little brother”.
Sir George Martin, of course, is often termed the Fifth Beatle due to his deep involvement in their studio process. His skill at arranging added another dimension to their work – just check out the Baroque flourishes on ‘Eleanor Rigby’ or the subtleties of McCartney’s own ‘Yesterday’.
Passing away in 2016, his legacy is cared for by his son Giles, who is an excellent producer in his own right.
Over the weekend, Sir Paul McCartney added a poignant note to social media, writing: “To Georges everywhere…”
View this post on Instagram/div>Speaking to All Things Considered, Paul McCartney movingly noted that George Harrison remains a presence in his life – through the fir trees he was gifted by the guitarist. George Harrison was a devoted gardener during his life, and entwined this with his creativity, and also his spiritual practises.
“He gave me [the] tree as a present. It’s a big fir tree and it’s by my gate [near my East Sussex home]. As I was leaving my house, I got out of the car close the gate and looked up at the tree and said, ‘Hi, George.’”
“There he is, growing strongly… that takes me back to the time when I hitchhiked with him! [George and John Lennon still have] an ever-present presence. That’s the tree George gave me. George has entered that tree for me. I hope he’s happy with that.”