Harrison also featured the song in the set list for his only other tour as a solo artist , a series of North American concerts over November – December 1974 with Ravi Shankar . Harrison shared the lead guitarist 's role with Robben Ford , often extending the piece to eight minutes . While it was a popular inclusion in a set list that barely acknowledged Harrison 's past as a former Beatle , his alteration of some of the lyrics – so that his guitar " gently smiles " and " tries to smile " – disappointed many concert-goers and reviewers . Author Simon Leng comments that on Harrison 's return to Madison Square Garden towards the end of the tour , his playing on the song nevertheless received a standing ovation
North American concerts
George Harrison and Ravi Shankar's 1974 North American tour
While My Guitar Gently Weeps