Posted on 10/09/2022 1:36:32 PM PDT by Captain Jack Aubrey
Today is the anniversary of the birth of John Lennon. Murdered at the age of 40, he should be here to celebrate his 82nd birthday today. What a loss.
His work has always struck a chord with me. Now that so much of the Beatles’ work is available on YouTube, I thought I would take the occasion to adapt comments I have made previously and note some of his less famous songs. I am a Lennonist at heart; I identify with his idealistic streak and his cynicism. I admired his wit as well. In the jaunty rockabilly number “I’ll Cry Instead” he let on, “I’ve got a chip on my shoulder that’s bigger than my feet.” That’s a big chip.
His songs have always resonated with me. My modest purpose here is to acquaint you with the songs in case you may have missed one or two along the way, to invite you to think about them from a new angle if you are familiar with them, or simply to enjoy them again.
(Excerpt) Read more at powerlineblog.com ...
Not a Lennon fan. Kris Kristofferson wrote it johnny cash played it.
Kristofferson is an underated songwriter much like Billy Joe Shaver and Townes Van Zandt.
Not a huge Lennon fan, but it did find #9 Dream wonderfully ethereal.
Kris Kristofferson wrote many songs that others have made famous. When I first met my wife 50 years ago, she introduced me to his music. I am absolutely hooked on any version of "Me and Bobby Magee". His producers almost threw that in the trashcan because it sounded too country. Then Joplin sang it.
Best band ever.
The fantasy utopia of “imagine” ruined the world...
Imagine Lyrics
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one
I hate that song. It is the socialist anthem. Lennon was an idiot politically.
Some of you are missing my point. Listen to the songs is what I asked. This post is not about politics.
I was in a grad school dorm room watching MNF with two roommates who were Japanese. They didn’t understand why I was upset or what the fuss was when the news of his killing was announced. Lost in translation, indeed.
I was in sophomore English class when I first heard of it.
My older brother (RIP) used to have a saying, “Tis all a matter of taste (said the woman who kissed the cow)”. Sometimes it seems that nearly everything is subjective and that more and more things are becoming “third rail” opinions that can fry one if now approached carefully.
There re many Beatles detractors on FreeRepublic...and that’s OK. I don’t number among them. To me they have been a musical inspiration and constant source of curiosity into psychology and personal dynamics.
John Lennon lived a complex life of contrasts. He was simultaneously an impossible optimist and a dark cynic. In the end I believe the darkside won out.
Paul was his moderating influence. Together they wrote some music for the ages. Apart, Paul wrote a lot of drek and John a bunch of garbage.
I love the earlier songs. I didn’t even finish “God” and I wouldn’t pollute my atmosphere if they had included “Imagine”. Honestly, I thought that “9 Dream” was one of Georges songs.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
The time that Lennon wrote that song was turbulent. He had dreams we all hoped for, but you can’t deny his words were fanciful and unrealistic.
We all want what he wrote about in that song, but the huge schism in this country is about how we get there. Song writers write about what they feel and believe, don’t they?
He was talented, and there won’t be a group like the Beatles again.
My sister was a Beatle fan, but since I was 7 years younger, I wasn’t into them. It was in 68 when I knew they were liberals. Lennon, in my old age, I think was good.
Liked Johnny Cashs version of Sunday Morning coming Down
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.