You probably know the video. George Harrison is sitting in a study, looking pretty relaxed, while a taxidermy squirrel and a suit of armor start dancing around him. It’s peak 1987. But while the catchy rhythm and that relentless "do-it, do-it, do-it" hook feel like pure 80s pop magic, the story of the got my mind set on you lyrics george harrison fans love is actually much older, and honestly, a bit more tragic than the upbeat tempo suggests.
Most people think George wrote it. He didn't.
It was actually his third and final number-one hit in the United States, but it holds a weird distinction: it’s the only one of his chart-toppers that he didn't write himself. If you’ve ever found yourself humming that "whole lotta spending money" line, you’re actually singing the words of Rudy Clark, originally recorded by a soul singer named James Ray way back in 1962.
How a 1963 Road Trip Created an 80s Smash
George Harrison first heard the song while visiting his sister, Louise, in Benton, Illinois. This was September 1963. To put that in perspective, this was five months before the Beatles landed at JFK and changed the world on The Ed Sullivan Show.
George was just a kid, really. He spent his time in the States hanging out at small record shops and even sat in with a local band called the Four Vests. During that trip, he bought James Ray's self-titled album. The record featured a song called "I've Got My Mind Set on You." While the original was a bit slower, more "jazzy," and filled with what George later described as "screechy girl singers," the melody stuck in his head for over two decades.
It’s kind of wild to think about.
He carried that song in the back of his mind through the height of Beatlemania, the breakup of the band, his spiritual journey in India, and his 1970s solo success. It wasn't until the Cloud Nine sessions in 1987—working with ELO’s Jeff Lynne—that he finally decided to record it.
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Breaking Down the Got My Mind Set On You Lyrics George Harrison Chose
The lyrics are famously repetitive. In fact, "Weird Al" Yankovic famously parodied the song with a track called "(This Song's Just) Six Words Long." While it's actually more than six words, the point remains: the song is built on a loop.
But George actually made some changes to the original.
James Ray’s 1962 version included a few downbeat lines that George decided to cut. The original had lyrics like: “Everywhere I go, you know / Bad luck follows me. Every time I’ve fallen in love / You know I’m left in misery.”
George wasn't looking for misery. He was coming off a five-year hiatus from the music industry. He wanted something bright, punchy, and radio-friendly. By stripping away the "bad luck" and focusing on the relentless determination of "getting it right," he turned a forgotten soul track into an anthem of persistence.
The Secret Ingredient: Jeff Lynne and Jim Keltner
The sound of the 1987 version—that heavy, driving beat—wasn't planned from the start. During the sessions at George's home studio, Friar Park, legendary drummer Jim Keltner started playing a specific pattern. George and Jeff Lynne realized it fit the old James Ray song perfectly.
Jeff Lynne’s production is all over this track. You can hear it in the layered acoustic guitars and the crisp, almost mechanical precision of the rhythm. It was a massive comeback. Cloud Nine featured Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, and Elton John, but it was this cover that took George back to the top of the charts.
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Why the Lyrics Sparked Stalker Theories
If you spend enough time on Reddit or music forums, you’ll find people arguing that the lyrics are actually kind of creepy.
The argument goes like this: if you have your "mind set" on someone, and you keep saying it’s going to take "money" and "time" to "do it right," are you actually talking about love? Or is it something more sinister? Some fans have jokingly (and some seriously) suggested it sounds like a hitman planning a job or a stalker obsessing over a target.
Honestly, though? That’s probably overthinking it.
In the context of the early 60s soul era when Rudy Clark wrote it, the "money" and "time" were classic metaphors for the effort required to win someone’s heart. It’s about the "plenty of money" it takes to take a girl out on the town and the "patience" required to build a real relationship.
The Visual Legacy: Two Different Videos
Because the song was such a massive hit, it actually had two different music videos directed by Gary Weis.
- The Arcade Video: This one features a young Alexis Denisof (who later became famous in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) trying to win a prize for a girl in an amusement park.
- The Study Video: This is the one everyone remembers. The taxidermy animals, the dancing furniture, and George doing a backflip (which was actually performed by a stunt double).
The "study" video was inspired by the horror-comedy Evil Dead II, which had just come out. It perfectly captured the whimsical, slightly eccentric vibe that George Harrison embraced in his later years. He wasn't trying to be a "serious Beatle" anymore; he was having fun.
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What Happened to the Original Singer?
While George’s version made millions, the story of James Ray is a sad one. He was a talented soul singer who never got to see the 80s revival of his song.
Ray struggled with drug addiction and died of an overdose in the early 1960s, not long after George bought his record in Illinois. He left behind a very small discography, but his influence lived on through George. It’s a classic example of how music can travel through time, being rediscovered by the right person at the right moment.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans
If you're a fan of this track, there are a few things you should do to get the full experience:
- Listen to the James Ray Original: Search for "James Ray - I've Got My Mind Set on You." It’s fascinating to hear the jazz-influenced roots of the song.
- Check out the Extended Version: The 12-inch single features a 5-minute extended mix that leans even harder into the Jeff Lynne production.
- Watch the "When We Was Fab" Video: If you like the kooky vibe of "Got My Mind Set on You," this follow-up single from the same album is a masterpiece of Beatles nostalgia and 80s visual effects.
By the time the song hit No. 1 in early 1988, it broke a tie between Harrison, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr for solo chart-toppers. It was the last time any former Beatle would hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s a hell of a way to go out—with a song he’d been carrying in his pocket for 25 years.
To dive deeper into George's late-career renaissance, you should listen to the full Cloud Nine album, specifically focusing on the slide guitar work that became his signature sound during this era.