John Lennon Essay Research Paper John Lennon

John Lennon Essay, Research Paper

John Lennon’s music reflected the life he led and the things in which he believed. Now Twenty years after his death, his music still speaks to people with great relevance. John Lennon, a member of the Beatles Was one of the greatest lyricists of all time. Even though he was cut down before his time, his lyrics remain as powerful and reflective today as ever. His enduring lyrics weave threads of his life, to create a beautiful tapestry of songs, which will endure and be sung for generations to come.

Weiner says that John’s death brought an end to whatever was left of the miserable memories of the sixties to a conclusion. He said: “Yet Lennon lives on: not just for his now greying fans, not just for younger kids just discovering The Beatles, but in some unexpected and surprising ways ( Weiner).”

One example of how his music is echoed in today’s society, was evidenced by at the last Republican National Convention in 2000. When Dick Cheney stepped up to the lectern to accept the party’s nomination for Vice President, the band played Lennon’s “Come Together.” In the beginning of the song it say’s “Here Come Ole Flattop” referring to the candidates near baldness. Weiner also mentions that, the Democrats at their convention used the song Imagine as a theme in their tribute to Jimmy Carter. The lyrics to the song Imagine clearly captured the essence of ex President Carters time in the oval office:

“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”(Imagine)

Understanding Lennon’s music without going back to his beginnings would be impossible. John Lennon grew up in the seaport town of Liverpool, England. John was born to his mother Julia, who seemed to have no sense of her responsibility to her newly born infant. So they sent him off to live with his aunt Mimi. As a small boy, his father, a ship’s steward, with a love for the sea, deserted him(Goldman 21). His first musical influence was Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel.”Goldman stated that: “Heartbreak Hotel” spoke with stunning directness to the boy who saw loneliness. Now he heard loneliness in music as well”(Goldman 62). At a time when a 16-year-old Lennon had started getting to know his mother, a tragic event again changed his life. His mother while crossing the street, was run over and killed by an off duty police officer(Goldman 84). One of the ways the boy dealt with his loss was playing the guitar, that his mom had taught him to play. He later wrote a song about her called Julia and another called “My Mommies Dead.” Many of his songs reflected the pain he felt inside. Ironically the first song Lennon wrote, “Hello Little Girl” was inspired by a 30’s or 40’s song, he had heard his mother sing(Goldman 64).

“From “In My Life” to “All You Need is Love” to “Imagine” John Lennon’s songs documented his life’s haunting uncertainty and struggles, its irony and absurdity, and its brave possibilities ( Rotondi:Obrecht).” Lennon’s gravel throated voice was in tune to our feelings and he had a driving hand with his electric Rickenbacker guitar. Lennon had the talent to transform the pain he felt into beautiful sweet songs. Rotondi stated in his article in Guitar Player Magazine: “Every John Lennon song made a plea, or critically observed, or entertained with the sheer force of images or creative language( Rotondi: Obrecht”)”

John’s music Ideas came from, here, there, and everywhere. His song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” clearly illustrates this. In Lennon’s Playboy interview by David Sheff , Lennon tells the story of how one day his son Julian came home with a picture he had painted. When asked about the painting, Julian said it was his friend Lucy in the sky with diamonds(Sheff). One of his most autobiographical songs, “In My Life” was according to Lennon the first song he wrote about his life intentionally. John said he wrote the song on a bus trip he took one day that brought back many childhood recollections ( Sheff)

John once wrote a song called “Getting Better” He once admitted to a journalist that he sometimes had problems expressing himself and was totally ashamed of the way he had treated women. The lyric “I used to be cruel to my woman. I beat her and kept her apart from the things she loved,” Was typical of the way he treated his first wife, Cynthia. The song continues on to say, “Man I was mean, But I’m changing the scene. I’m doing the best that I can(Garbarini 63).” Lennon was saying he was sorry for his treatment of Cynthia and was trying to make a change in his behavior pattern.