The Beatles Dehradun Connecition.

Beatles Love For Doon

John Lenon (middle) and Paul McCartney with their guitars on and Ringo Starr watching them tune it up in ashram.
PC. thebeatlesinindia.com

Little did Doonites would have imagined, that the worlds biggest Rockstars of all time will tribute a song to their city. All these big and small things about Dehradun is what makes the city a one of its kind.

When one of the most influential group in the world of rock music were too tired of handling the fame and attention of the western media, guess where they decided to visit for mental peace and serenity. India. And that was the first time the western world realized the spiritual powers India holds within itself.

The quartet not only visited India but also composed a humming soulful song dedicated to the city of Dehradun which they visited more than twice in the spring of 1968 while their stay in Rishikesh. The serene mountains on the foothills of Himalaya’s not only fetched them tranquility but also enhanced their creativity by many folds and they ended up composing several songs some of which were even added to their famous “white album”.

The quartet visited India to learn about the art of Transcendental Meditation in order to find inner peace and boost up their creativity, under the guidance of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in his ashram in Rishikesh, which is now popularly known as the "Beatles ashram". The ‘fab fours’ were much impressed with the beautiful roads beside the mountains and lace especially the culture of the inhabitants. All this mesmerizing experience of Dehradun made them sing an ode to the beautiful city.

The song was never released to many decades and was just mentioned in the documentary called The Beatles Anthology, till recently when it got released on Youtube. The musical treat to the lovers of Dehradun was recorded in the famous Trident Studios, London in march 1969 when all four of them sat together remembering the scenic Indian city and the good old days beneath the Himalayas. The lyrics of the song goes something like this : 

“Dehra Dehra Dun, Dehra Dun Dun 

  Dehra Dehra Dun Dehra Dun Dun...

  Many roads can take you there 

  Many different ways 

  One direction takes you weeks 

  Another takes you days

  Many people on the roads 

  Looking at the sights

  Many others with their troubles

  Looking for their rights

  See them move along the roads

  In search of a life divine 

  Beggars in a gold mine…

  Dehra Dehra Dun, Dehra Dun Dun. ”

The link of the Youtube video is below:

Although it was mostly a group effort but the "Dehradun Song" is said to be sung and composed by George Harrison, the guitarist one of  the quartet. While in India he was spellbound with the art of transcendental meditation and many other customs of Hinduism. He latter became a disciple of Lord Krishna composing Hare Krishna Chanting Mantra in Trident studios after associating with Swami Praphupada, the founder of International Society of Krishna Consciousness widely known as ISKCON. 

Picture of George Harrison in Radha Krishna Temple