December 8th- Another Day the Music Died- The John Lennon Story
Posted by hughrandle@gmail.com on December 26, 2012 at 5:40 PM
John Lennon was born in violence and died in violence. Born October 9, 1940 in Liverpool , England, Lennon’s birthplace, as much of England, was being threatened by the nearly nightly bombing of the Nazi Luftwaffe. Lennon’s home managed to survive, but being brought up in that environment, I suspect contributed to Lennon’s lifelong quest for peace. Amongst the Beatles, Lennon was the “controversial” one. His statement that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus” caused a worldwide uproar, even if his true meaning was misconstrued. His affair with and eventual marriage to Yoko Ono, is still forty some years later blamed for the break up of the Beatles. His unconventional methods of getting his message across, were ridiculed by some, and ignored by others. His post Beatle life re-enforced his persona as a peace-loving, war-hating, love your neighbor messenger. He was solo performer, talk show host, doting husband, and loving father. One consistent factor was that he continued, as he had in the 1960‘s, to provide us with amazing music. After a nearly five year hiatus to raise his second son Sean, and to clear up some immigration issues, Lennon went back to the recording studio with Yoko to produce Double Fantasy, a double album of new songs by both of them, and a return to productivity after the longest break he had ever taken. The album, released in November 1980 was greeted with mixed results, but events just three weeks later would change that. On December 8, 1980 after a long day of press interviews and studio follow-ups, Lennon returned to his luxury apartment The Dakota, around 10:45pm. A deranged fan, who earlier in the day had received an autographed copy of the album, fired five times, with four of those shots hitting Lennon. Although rushed to the hospital, and despite heroic measures, Lennon was pronounced dead a little after 11pm. Most of the United States found out through Monday Night Football, where a New England Patriot, Miami Dolphin game was winding down. Although a game winning field goal was pending, Howard Cosell, a personal friend of Lennon’s delivered the tragic news to America: Whether you feel John Lennon was a ranting pedagogue, a Hippie against the establishment, a brilliant teacher, or just an amazing songwriter, I feel there are many John Lennon songs you should know and study for their fantastic lyrics, and gripping meaning. Here are five that I have chosen from just his solo career. His Beatle catalog, written along with Paul McCartney will make an entirely different entry. Enjoy these songs, and as Lennon himself said: “ Give peace a chance.” FIVE LENNON SONGS YOU NEED TO LEARN: 1. Imagine Released- 1971 Favorite Line- " Imagine all the people, living life in peace" 2. Jealous Guy Released- 1971 Favorite Line- " I was trying to catch your eye, thought that you was trying to hide, I was swallowing my pain, I was swallowing my pain." 3. Mind Games Released- 1973 Favorite Line- "Love is the answer and you know that for sure. Love is a flower, you got to let it, you gotta let it grow." 4. Just Like Starting Over Released- 1980 Favorite Line- "But when I see you darling, its like we both are falling in love again, it'll be just like starting over" 5. Watching the Wheels Released- 1980 Favorite Line-"People askin questions, lost in confusion, well I tell them theres no problem, only solutions, well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I'd lost my mind, I tell them theres no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time." (Irony that 4 weeks after albums release, Lennon was gunned down
