Songfacts®:

• This take on the Beatles "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" featured R&B vocalist Erykah Badu singing the melody, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante on guitar and George Harrison's son Dhani Harrison on drums and rhythm guitar. Dhani Harrison used for the latter a 1961 Gretsch guitar. It had been given as a present to the song's producer RZA of Wu-Tang Clan by Russell Crowe after they had finished filming the movie American Gangster.
• In an interview with the New Musical Express December 8, 2007, RZA was asked how he managed to clear a Beatles sample for this song. He replied: "Well, I was fortunate that I became friends with Dhani Harrison and the song was written by his father. I actually wrote a letter to his mother." The interviewer then asked if it was a letter or email. RZA answered: "A letter. I explained it was Wu-Tang- harsh but real. And respectful of the art. She thought it was harsh. So I thought I should mellow it down, I got Erykah Badu to come in and sing on it. So she gave us the clearance." The conversation then got onto the subject of this song, and RZA admitted: "You know what? I wouldn't usually admit this so openly, but it's good to cry. That's what 'The Heart Gently Weeps' is all about. You need to let stuff out, man. I didn't cry for 15 years until my mother passed away. Then I cried. But then I sealed myself back up again. Now when I watch movies, I cry."