"The Light That Has Lighted the World" was issued in mid 1973 as the third track on "Living in the Material World" and is the first of a trio of slow-paced songs throughout the album that covers Harrison's preoccupation with breaking free from the past and others' perceptions (the second and third being "Who Can See It" and "Be Here Now"). Some months before this, the working title of the album was said to be "The Light That Has Lighted the World". According to author Keith Badman, it was only in January 1973 that the name was changed to "Living in the Material World". As with eight other tracks on the album and the 1973 B-side "Miss O'Dell", Harrison donated his publishing royalties and the copyright for "The Light That Has Lighted the World" to his Material World Charitable Foundation.