| Page 1 2 3 4 WE ALL SHINE ON: BEING THERE REMEMBERS JOHN LENNON by The Being There StaffNovember 2005 seemed an appropriate time for us to assess the songwriting prowess of John Lennon. October 9 would have been his 65th birthday, and December 8 will be the 25th anniversary of his tragic death. For eight years as a Beatle and ten years as a solo artist, John Lennon proved himself to be one of the most advanced songwriters of his generation. But he was more than that: as a person, John promoted peace and open-mindedness. This month, the Being There staff has collaborated on a list of what we consider to be John’s best material. Whether or not we should include his work as a Beatle in the list proved a difficult decision: those songs are generally credited to Lennon & McCartney, so to include them on a list of the greatest John Lennon songs seemed a little sketchy. At the same time, one cannot imagine a list of the greatest Lennon songs without including such tracks as “Across The Universe” and “In My Life.” In the end, we were happy to see that our list was an almost even split, with many of Lennon’s great material as a solo artist included alongside his best work with The Beatles. 1. “In My Life” (The Beatles - Rubber Soul, 1965)  
 I cannot think of any song by John Lennon—whether with the Beatles or solo—that I love more than “In My Life.” It is flawless in its construction, both lyrically and musically. The cliché has always been that John wrote better lyrics, while Paul wrote better melodies. And I suppose that there is ample evidence for that. But the melody to “In My Life” is as heartbreakingly beautiful as anything Paul ever penned on his best day. And that’s a bold statement. The song is book-ended by a simple, stunning guitar line, one of the most recognizable in pop music. When the first verse begins, Lennon’s vocals are gorgeous, perfectly set against Paul and George’s harmonies. And just when you feel you’re going to melt when confronted with all that beauty and that the song can’t get any lovelier, George Martin’s divine harpsichord solo lifts the tune impossibly higher. It is not heretical to suggest that the music of “In My Life” is on the level of a piece by Bach. Of course all of that fantastic music could be undone by sub par lyrics. Thankfully, Lennon’s reputation as a lyricist is well-earned here. The first verse is pleasant enough, recalling people and places that have deep and abiding meaning to the singer—the events and loved ones that one treasures above all. But the real magic of “In My Life” is in the second verse, in which all of those treasured memories of “people and things that went before” are measured against the object of Lennon’s most profound affection and found paling in comparison. Lennon has examined all that has ever mattered to him in his entire life—and she means more to him than all of it. It is the song’s final line—“In my life, I love you more”—that most endears Lennon to me as a songwriter. Every time I hear “In My Life,” I am reminded of the eternal value of love. (RB) 2. “Imagine” (John Lennon - Imagine, 1971) 
John Lennon had a lot of ideas about the world in his time and he was never shy about sharing them. In the years leading up to the writing and release of “Imagine,” Lennon had released “Give Peace a Chance” and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” both major accomplishments at conveying the message of peace and the inner image of the world that he carried. “Imagine” is a vital part of life’s soundtrack for many people, but for Lennon, “Imagine” is everything he ever wanted to say to the world. Much like “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” “Imagine” is a song that induces reflection. It is simply a series of statements to ponder over, collected into a song. As simplistic as each idea and statement may seem on its own, Lennon has turned them into a very poignant combination in the song. Although “Imagine” is a full musical composition with drums, bass and strings, it is the piano that stands out the most. A few bars played in repletion for most of the song, the piano somehow drives home its message. “Imagine” is possibly the most important song to ever have a social impact on the world. Its message is so simple that it can be understood worldwide. It is a song that many have turned to in times of hope as well as times of grief. “Imagine” is a song that gives the world hope; hope that maybe the ideas that Lennon put forth can really become reality, and ultimately heal the world. (LHA) 3. “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (The Beatles – Rubber Soul, 1965)
“I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me.” In many ways, Rubber Soul was the album where John Lennon truly started exploring more sophisticated song structures, and the album’s second track, “Norwegian Wood,” is an indicator of the influence Bob Dylan had on him. So much so that Dylan’s “Fourth Time Around” (from the next year’s Blonde on Blonde is said to have been written in response). The song itself seems to be about a one night stand, but it is sung so romantically that we are wrapped up in the lyrics and troubadour-like acoustic guitar. “Norwegian Wood” also had the important distinction of being the first Beatles song to include George Harrison’s sitar, which he still had little idea of how to play. (ADM) 4. “Woman” (John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Double Fantasy, 1980) 
“Woman” is very likely the earliest memory of music I have. I was three when the song was released as a single, however it was the video that always kept this song lodged in my memory. I have carried a clear picture of that video with me over my whole life, not for any particular reason, only for the simple fact that “Woman” made a huge impression on me as a child. As a child, I never understood the meaning behind the song, or the impact the timing of its release had, merely a month after Lennon’s death. It was the simpleness of “Woman” that made it have such an impact to me at three years old. The song’s structure is very basic, and the music arrangement is not complicated. Subtly floating in the background is the very soft choral contribution accenting Lennon’s own vocals. The combination of these elements leaves Lennon’s vocals to be the central focus of the piece at all times, as well as the key to the song’s melody. His voice is soft, but strongly delivered and becomes in itself, the central instrument, leaving the message of the song naked to the listener. The lyrics are very basic and often repetitive; however, it is a very personal representation of Lennon’s personal life. After Lennon’s death, “Woman” was like a post-mortem message that explained without question what Lennon’s personal life was and that there was happiness there. Other songs of Lennon’s dealt with his personal life and feelings, but none had the same tone of complete content that “Woman” portrays. The video that followed showed that same image, with footage of Lennon and Ono together in their day-to-day lives, all smiles. The footage of the video was softened and gives off a bit of a fairytale feeling, which is appropriate for this song, as Lennon and Ono’s relationship would come to be recalled as a modern day fairytale in itself. (LHA) 5. “Jealous Guy” (John Lennon – Imagine, 1971) 
“Imagine” may be the most popular song on the 1971 album of the same name, but in many ways “Jealous Guy” is just as good. Like “Imagine,” our focus is on the dreamlike piano, played this time by Nicky Hopkins. “Jealous Guy” is the ultimate apology song; we are never told what it is the narrator is apologizing about, just that he “began to lose control.” How much more direct can a chorus get than “I didn’t mean to hurt you / I’m sorry that I made you cry / I didn’t want to hurt you / I’m just a jealous guy.” The thing about Lennon that has always made him an effective songwriter, is that it always sounds like he really means what he is singing. His apology is convincing in its sincerity. Interesting sidenote: “Jealous Guy” originated back to the Beatles’ trip to India in 1968. Many of the songs Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison wrote on their trip were included on the White Album. But this track, originally titled “Child of Nature” and containing different lyrics, was rewritten with the same melody and chord structure to become one of the standout tracks of Lennon’s solo career. (ADM) Page 1 2 3 4 |  |
Take Me Home - FAQ - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Donate
©2004-2008, Being There Media.
ISSN 1718-5033 Being There Magazine