The Original George Harrison Pirate Song Video Featuring Eric Idle

 It's been over 6 years since I uploaded a clip of George Harrison singing his Pirate Song to my You Tube channel. I edited it from an episode of 'Rutland Weekend Television' that was first shown on BBC 2 in 1975. The clip has had almost 2 million views with many likes and comments. It has caused quite a stir with many people not being aware of it's existence until they viewed it on my YouTube channel.

George Harrison singing Pirate Song on Rutland Weekend Television

Artificial Intelligence 

Some have even suggested the clip is AI generated as they can't believe George did such a thing. It does reveal George's sense of humour and was a good sport. I actually remember watching the episode way back in 1975, so it's definitely real!

Rutland Weekend Television

The context to the clip is that it was part of an episode of Rutland Weekend Television, which was a spoof Monty Python type of show that wasn't really mainstream back in the 1970s.

You will notice Eric Idle in the clip as a bemused presenter very much put out when Harrison starts to sing his pirate song following the My Sweet Lord Intro. Earlier in the show, George had repeatedly appeared wanting to be a pirate. 

'Rutland Weekend' was no doubt a play on the ITV franchise for the London Weekend slot which was taken up by London Weekend Television, or LWT as it was known. Strangely, LWT took over TV programming in the London Area from Thames TV at 6:30 on Friday until end of broadcasting on Sunday. Thames would take it back again on Monday. George Harrison was very much into Monty Python and no doubt was willing to help with this 'Rutland' spinoff. Not many of these shows were made, but we know that George played a big part in financing and contributing to future Monty Python Films. George created the film company Handmade Films.

'Not happy' Eric Idle poked by George Harrison

My Sweet Lord - He's So Fine

It was around the same time, 1975 that George was facing a lawsuit claiming that My Sweet Lord was a steal of He's So Fine by the Chiffons. George completely refuted this and is no doubt the thinking behind the 'Pirate' theme associated with this episode of Rutland Weekend. Notice how the song starts with the intro to My Sweet Lord, which is not disputed, but then George goes straight into his pirate thing, the case was ongoing at the time. No royalties for the opposition! Harrison eventually owned the rights to He's So Fine, which was a clever move as My Sweet Lord is more popular and has more radio playtime - Ch Ching!

Incidentally, the backing band look confused as George hijacks the song, but it's all an act with the band fully in on it. It looks like the band is made up of some of the members of the group Rockpile who also went on to join Dave Edmonds, Nick Lowe and did backing at Stiff records for Kirsty McColl and Elvis Costello. 

George Harrison Pirate Song On The Phil Blantyre Channel

Since uploading the clip to my channel, other versions have appeared on You Tube and other places on the internet. Some are of poor quality and you can see that they have been copied from my clip.

Remember Who Did It First !

Update June 2025

I was surprised that no copyright was claimed on the clip over the years since it was published. I thought the BBC might have, or George Harrison's estate, but that changed in may 2025. A copyright claim has been made on the My Sweet Lord intro of the clip. That portion has been credited to 'Billy Preston Live'. That's a laugh as he had nothing to do with the clip. It now means that adverts are served along with the clip and royalties going to someone who has no legitimate claim. 

Now that's PIRACY if I ever saw it