george was nearly killed before he actually died!! when paul & ringo die, there will be beatles music played for a week, maybe 8 days a week!! there will be non stop beatle marathons going on all over the world, such is their legacy as a band & as individuals!!!@@JohnDoe-tw8es
The day before John Lennon died he gave an interview, which is a must read, and in it he admitted that he was a controlling macho man, who in his youth used to hit women. He said that he was actually very insecure and could very jealous at times. This song is an apology to Yoko and the other women he loved and mistreated through the years. 🕊❤️🎼
I remember watching Monday Night Football 43 years ago on December 8, 1980. The Miami Dolphins vs The New England Patriots. I remember rooting for one team, although I cant remember which, because it had some sort of potential playoff implications for my Buffalo Bills. Towards the end of the regulation game, a scroll came across the bottom of the screen saying a former Beatle had been shot in NYC. It didn't say who, or what kind of physical condition they were in. Immediately, I thought of Paul McCartney. Paul had been busted for Marijuana possession in Japan earlier that year, and although improbable, the only thing I could think of was maybe some sort of drug deal gone bad. I remember hoping he'd be okay. Then, a short while later, Howard Cosell interrupted the game and said it was John Lennon, that he had been shot in the back, that he was rushed to the hospital, and that he was pronounced dead on arrival. I remember standing up from my chair in disbelief. All of a sudden, this game that meant so much to me only moments earlier meant absolutely nothing. The impact of knowing the Beatles would never, ever reunite was overwhelming. And that a man of peace was so brutally gunned down, assassinated for no apparent reason was really unbearable at the time. It was one of those life defining moments you never see coming. My heart goes out to his family every year on that sad anniversary. Rest in Peace John Lennon. PS I keep requesting, but you are one of my favorite reactors and it would be really great if you could react to some Beatles, the studio version of Stairway (by Zep) and studio version of Since Ive Been Lovin U (by Zep). Peace
That is the same way I heard the news. I was ironing and watching the game with my young son. I immediately sank to my knees and broke down. I had been following The Beatles and John since my dad was stationed in Scotland...1962.
He explained his inspiration whilst doing press around the song's release: "When you're in love with somebody, you tend to be jealous, and want to own them and possess them 100 percent, which I do." "Intellectually, I thought owning a person is rubbish, but I love Yoko, I want to possess her completely
Some of the best songs ever written ,were by post-Beatle John. This song is about Yoko. The video was probably put together by someone not connected with John, and long after he was gone. But it was cool. Love your reactions. Thank you for getting into Lennon
@esquinardo1086 I think he wrote "I know (I know)", from the "Mind Games" album to Paul. "Jealous Guy" is for Yoko, and probably extended to other women he hurt in the past.
@@docsavage8640 he could be justifying himself because of his past (abandoned by the one he loved). And I don't know why he could be jealous of Paul. He was still angry with him and included "How Do You Sleep?" in the same album. But there's no right or wrong here. It's open for free interpretation.
It's in the middle of it, but I love your comments about music being super subjective and I think your approach is great, just experienced it for the first time like we all did because none of us had Wikipedia or music videos or anything at the time. We would hear it on the radio and then maybe go by the album. A very lucky few would go see them live and experience that. So I think you're right on
When he was shot and killed I was a teenager and MY HEART WAS CRUSHED. I cried and cried and was so upset. I had bought his latest album not long before and was listening to it over and over. Thank you for reacting to this 🥰
It was a song about mother nature. He flipped around some words to make it an apology song when John split from Yoko for over a year until Paul McCartney visited him in his drunken state in Los Angeles, and Paul convinced him to stop being miserable and go back to Yoko. Paul and John jammed that day with other musicians also hanging around, drinking with John.
For John, mostly a song does not have much meaning other than clever rhymes, turns of words, and imagery poetry. He is hoping you will close your eyes and develop your own picture in your own head instead of wondering about his.
Correct@@thewalrus6833 . It was not a great song and kind of echoes one of Paul's at the time (similar title/can't remember right now). The melody was great though, so very glad he recycled it
Love your reactions! Keep on doing what you do. This is just so John. More heartbreaking because of how he was taken away from us. Two people he really hurt were 1st wife Cynthia and son Julian.
I always saw this song as an apology to John's first wife Cynthia (who he admittedly assaulted when he was an aggressive teenager due to her dancing with another boy). There's some lines in it like "you might not love me anymore" that point to this. They were already divorced by this point.
Lennon began writing the song in 1968, when, as "Child of Nature", it was among the many songs demoed by the Beatles before they recorded their self-titled double album (also known as the "White Album"). The lyrics were originally inspired by a lecture given by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in early 1968, when the Beatles attended his spiritual retreat in Rishikesh, India. In January 1969, The Beatles (primarily John) jammed the song during their Get Back / Let It Be recording sessions, where it was referred to as "On the Road to Marrakesh". "Jealous Guy" is one of the most commonly recorded Lennon songs, with at least 92 cover versions. -WIKIPEDIA
John's voice and the way he used it to enhance and add to any song he sang, was part of his genius as a Beatle and their music and in his solo years. Much overlooked part of his talent. My favorite artist of all.
John admitted he was always an insecure person. That was probably because he felt very abandoned in his childhood. As he couldn't express that insecureness he tended to be mean to the one he feared to lose. Basically, the song is about this. Yoko was probably the inspiration because she was with him those days but it could be very easily applied to other women he hurt. An interesting note: the melody of that song was composed in 1968 when he was in India studying Transcendental Meditation and used to have different lyrics. It was about nature (a theme from Maharishi's lecture that day). It used to be called "I'm Just a Child of Nature". It didn't find its way into any Beatles album.
Those first couple of solo albums were all about working through his past and trying to become a better person. In his life he was trying various things such as primal scream. therapy.
I REALLY FEEL A LOT OF SADNESS, I'M VERY VERY SAD, BECAUSE THE NEW GENERATIONS DON'T KNOW JOHN LENON YOKO, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. JOHN LENON'S WORK SHOULD BE PART OF STUDY IN SCHOOLS. AN ART THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, A WORLD THAT HAD COME OUT OF WORLD WARS WITHOUT LOVE IN THE HEART.
From what I heard, this song may have been directed at his wife Yoko, another source I read was that it was directed at Paul McCartney because of friction between them at that time. I sounds like a love song to me so I think it was about Yoko.
Your sense of his journey of discovery is right on the mark. You're smart with insight. I think Yoko had a lot to do with that. She, as an artist, encouraged him to be real, and do things of worth.
Lennon was one of the most honest and raw artists/celebrities in history. He put it all out there, the good and the bad. He was probably the most important person in rock/pop history as well, his rebellious and non-conformist personality really pushed some boundaries musically, lyrically and culturally. In 1969 he was nominated as 1 of 3 people as Man of the Decade, together with JFK and someone else. He was also known for his political activism, being against the Vietnam war and for alot of at the time progressive ideas. This made him a very controversial person that is still being hotly debated to this day. He was surveilled by the FBI, they were afraid he´d influence the youth against Richard Nixon. They tried to have him deported from the US. Lennon´s cultural importance also attracted some crazy people, and he was assassinated in 1980 by a madman who was triggered by Lennon´s words. Lennon was an antihero, because he had flaws, but society needs rebels that challenge the status quo. He was a true genius, not only in music, but other areas as well. We´ll never see another person like him.
Lennon preferred this raw approach to production early in his solo career because it matched the raw emotion and transparency of the songs and their performances.
The footage used in the video is from the 1988 documentary “Imagine: John Lennon”. This video even got played in rotation on MTV in the fall of 1988. For me, this song opened me up to know more of Lennon’s solo recordings.
John Lennon was always my favourite, there was a rawness and self awareness (whatever that means?) to his songs. I also loved George Harrison’s songs. Watching The Wheels is a great Lennon song. 👍
You're close, very astute. The song is to Paul (people automatically think it's about Yoko cause that is easy) - the tune was written in '68 (Child of Nature), but he put these words to the melody in '71, then later admits this was an apology to Paul. Ironically he wrote a hate song to Paul on the same album (How Do You Sleep?). It takes great self-esteem and confidence to say I'm Sorry, you have great insight and appreciation for "growth" you see in Lennon. At the end he was talking to Phil Spector. The Stones would re-write this song a year later on acoustic and call it Angie.
Very insightful! As I'm watching this for the first time I only see this as an apology to Paul. I had always got the impression that John wanted to be seen as the leader of the Beatles but that was always in question with the obvious talent of Paul. I'm sure Paul didn't care too much and was more band centric then John was. Everyone has quirks and personality traits that can work against us. Not saying John was a bad guy just that he wasn't built at the time to deal with some things that he realized later in life.
The original video was part his 1972 film Imagine. It had a video for every song on the Imagine album, as well as several Yoko songs from the era. You tell when you see it because it only has video of John from 1971-72.
John's advice to David Bowie as a songwriter was "say what you mean and put a backbeat to it". Bowie said he keeps coming back to that as a principle. That is something I really value in John Lennon - his honesty and straightforwardness.. and this early stuff from his solo career is phenomenal. Thanks for a great reaction!
An autobiography is when you write about your own life. A biography is when someone else writes about your life. (And a memoir is when you write about your own memories, but limited to just a specific time period or place or event.)
A lot of Lennons work was introspective and honest and of course socially conscious. Help, Woman, Mother and so on, Imagine, Merry Christmas(war is over). McCartney wrote stories, commentary, and pop. Harrison was spiritual and wrote of that and emotions. The Beatles had quite the song writing well to dip into, and continued as themselves in their individual careers. We were/are blessed to have them. Be well.
This Song ss for Yoko! 💖 After a bad time with lots of drugs, alcohol and a break-up with Yoko, he eventually went into therapy. One result is this song. He realized that he was just a jealous guy who had really hurt Yoko. He worked through that in this song.
Everyone assumes it was about Yoko, but Paul McCartney has said that John told him that the song was about him (Paul). It was an apology to Paul for what happened when the band broke up.
One of my sons is forever 32, and when he was a very very young child and first heard this song he went and apologized to his next younger brother for treating him badly when they were even younger. I was amazed at his insight for one so very young. To date this period of time, he heard the song at the end of Look Who's Talking, Too. It was to Yoko.
The clips used were of John's Beatle years(from the documentary "Imagine: John Lennon") but the song is meant for his wife, Yoko (Who is 91 now), as an apology and a love song to her. If you liked this song of John's, I'd recommend "Woman" from 1980.
Theres a complete documentary done with most of the footage from when this sing was done. Just incredible how simple ideas bloom into great songs. The "Wall of Sound" guru Phil Spector produced a lot of this album, but John began to fizzle on his heavy-handed technique on songs that he had a complete idea start to finish how it was to sound (a rarity for Lennon).
I can't believe the number of people who give misinformation in the comments below that could be corrected by looking up basic facts from Wikipedia. Jealous Guy came out on the 1971 Imagine album. John's "Lost Weekend" was in 1973-75 so, no this song has NOTHING to do with that. People seem to love to celebrate their ignorance and lack of concern for possessing correct knowledge nowadays (and that goes all across the political spectrum). The song is about Johns's insecurity about Yoko's love; John was ALWAYS insecure and obsessed with Yoko til the day he died. He was also a VERY jealous guy as his earlier song Run For Your Life ("I'd rather see you dead little girl than to be with another man" ) documents. He was always emotionally honest even if it made him look bad though.
That's what they're saying. It's partially about Yoko. It's easier for people to read through a few comments after they listen to a video, than read through tons of paragraphs on Wikipedia or read a biography. I was around back then, and my memory of John's affair seemed soon after the Beatles broke up. That's how I seem to remember it. Yoko was messing round, so he got jealous and did the same. He was sorry he hurt her.
Not the fans. Overtly it's about Yoko but Paul said that John told him it was partially about Paul. The two would often send messages to each other in songs post break-up.
Lennon was a very dynamic person. He was this rebellious, aggressive, wild, dark person that could get into fights, that could insult you, that could get jealous. But few were so self-aware, few exposed their own flaws like he did, few tried so hard to change for the better. I think both sides were 100% real. This made him very interesting and very respected. Look and listen to interviews with Lennon, and listen to him speak. You can tell he was not only a musical genius, he was a renaissance man of sort, a genius in multiple areas.
This (1971) was years before the "lost weekend (1973/74)," it's likely Paul McCartney he is singing to. Paul has said John told him it was to Paul. But people for whatever reason don't trust Paul. But, John is on record of having jealousy towards Paul.
@@brettholcomb3763 Correct. This song was released before John and Yoko separated. I always thought John wrote this to Yoko. Even though they were together at the time, John came from a background of not respecting women. John became a family man after he and Yoko got back together. But John could have been directing the song to everyone that he mistreated over the years.
@DJ-bj8ku Source? I'm sure he caused Yoko hurt at various points, no doubt. But, the timeline fits with Paul and well Paul is the only source we have so I'll choose to believe him.
John Lennon, difficult parents, great musician and human. One of the best we've had. R.I.P. John Here's a fantastic song by the Beatles about John and Yoko The Beatles - The Ballad Of John And Yoko Written mainly by John Lennon. Often played by fans, at his grave, on the anniversary of his death
The melodi from a song from late unfished song john made back in days 1969 the beatles) i cant remember the name of it... I nice that he took back that melodi make masterpice of it =)
You need to hear the Bryan Ferry ,(band is called Roxy Music) version. They originally sang it just as a tribute at a concert in Germany on the night John was sjot and killed, but it became a classic.
I would recommend that not every song requires being decoded upon first listening. John’s music was very introspective. Sometimes, it's better just to enjoy it, for he was a brilliant songwriter.
He owes no one an apology other than his first wife, his widow and his first born son, Julian Lennon. He had no reason to feel envious about the love people had for him, as he was the most beloved Beatle, even before he died.
It's certainly an apology to Yoko for some incident or pattern of behaviour. It certainly wasn't an apology to McCartney or the Beatles _ after all, the same album (Imagine) contains a song called "How do You Sleep", a pretty vicious attack on McCartney (" a pretty face may last a year or two, but pretty soon they'll see what you can do") and possibly the Beatles more generally. Happily, this rift didn't even last right through the 70s. He and Paul had reconciled by 1980 and in fact had plans to record together in 1981. Sadly, we all know how that ended.
Personal? Yes - that's how he wrote. And yes - he was a very jealous guy. He came from the Heart. After all these years - I think he was writing (singing) about Yoko. They had their ups and downs.
I heard an interview with him. He said only 3 people were involved in each song. Obviously him, he mentions an engineer. The third must have been Yoko. I'm just guessing. I think these songs are very literal. But John was a deliberate enigma.
The video was made way after he died. I think this song is more about Yoko.But he's also said that he was a jealous guy throughout his life. With his first wife, with friends. And yes he DID work on himself. Primal therapy, which was big back then. Screaming with the therapist!
i never knew the reason behind this song . i only knew the cover version by Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry which was a massive hit for Roxy Music bak in the Day . But now reading the comments here know why John Lennon wrote the song . . Its good to know and find out the real reason . Thanks Britt .
He's writing about Cyn (first wife), presumably. Maybe Yoko too? He was terribly insecure and jealous and "used to be cruel to my woman I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved" (from "Getting Better"). He'd lash out. He tried to change and grow and be a better person.
I'm pretty sure this was about him and Yoko, but something to keep in mind with performers...especially from the 60s and 70s, is that singing in an authentic manner was the style...the singer being a storyteller. So many or most songs don't have a 'meaning' per se...they told a story and/or sounded good, and that was good enough.
You just experienced what we've been doing for years. Letting our imagination trying to figure out what they were singing about. 😂 I just learned that Ride was an island from the song "Ticket to Ride". Welcome to the club. 🙂
Also, Sean is Lennon's second son, a product from his marriage to Yoko. John had been married before to Cynthia, and they had a son Julian, who sadly seems to have been pushed into the background of general awareness. In that video of collective Beatles/Lennon footage, Julian appears a couple of times (when he was a child). Julian I believe now would be aged about 62-ish and his mother Cynthia sadly died about 3 or 4 years ago.
Just remember that so many of the videos for 50, 60, 70 year old tracks were not made when the records came out, but were put together by fans to post on RUclips.
The song "Jealous Guy" started off as a song called "Child of Nature",. The song is on the Beatles white album Deluxe edition. In January 1969, he recorded again, but Doug Sulpy renamed it "On the Road to Marakesh". it later changed to "Jealous Guy" and it was recorded on May 24, 1971". But during the 1972 election of Richard Nixon while at a party John had a Sexual relationship with some blonde woman while Yoko was in the next room. After he recorded the "Mind Games" album Yoko kicked him out and gave him May Pang. In Jan. 1975, he got back with Yoko and Sean was born that October. In 1979 Yoko began a relationship with Sam Havadtoy of where John Lennon wrote the song "Stranger's Room" which morphed into the song "I'm Losing You". When John Lennon was murdered Dec. 1980, Sam started wearing John's outfits. His relationship with Yoko lasted until 2001.
Almost everything Lennon did at this time was autobiographical. Here he sings about the inner insecurity that he has had throughout his life. Here in reference to his wife Yoko Ono. "You might not love me anymore". It's 1970. There may have been some separation pain caused by the end of the Beatles, but Lennon wouldn't have admitted that and dismissed it. So maybe you are right and this is a letter to the fans without saying it loud. On a related note: in a late interview, Lennon was asked that many fans blame Yoko Ono, his wife, for the end of the Beatles, and Lennon replied: "Then you should be grateful to her, because otherwise you would never have had to know that great solo stuff from John, Paul, George and Ringo."
out of curiosity, I'm the same age as this song by John Lennon, as this was the last song he produced in his life, as later one afternoon when he was returning to his hotel a fan came after him and shot him with a revolver and unfortunately John ended up dying, this song actually besides expressing feelings we can also say that it was a sentimental testament, it may not seem like it but when my fiancée died 3 years and 7 months ago, the first song of more than 20 This was what listening more than 20 times, John Lennon always conveyed messages in his songs and to this day he always makes us have a rollercoaster of feelings
This is one of my absolute favorites. I believe it is about Yoko. He was a jealous and possessive lover. He hit Cynthia for dancing with John's friend Pete Best I think it was in the early days. He could be a brute. They broke up but got back together.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Long live Lennon. Sadly gone too soon
He was spared from growing old. Those whom the gods love, they let die young.
the piano gave off a lot of 'a day in the life' vibes!!!
Absolutely, miss George and John. Gone to early.
george was nearly killed before he actually died!! when paul & ringo die, there will be beatles music played for a week, maybe 8 days a week!!
there will be non stop beatle marathons going on all over the world, such is their legacy as a band & as individuals!!!@@JohnDoe-tw8es
The day before John Lennon died he gave an interview, which is a must read, and in it he admitted that he was a controlling macho man, who in his youth used to hit women. He said that he was actually very insecure and could very jealous at times.
This song is an apology to Yoko and the other women he loved and mistreated through the years.
🕊❤️🎼
THE SONG IS REALLY AN APOLOGY TO PAUL MCCARTNEY.
@@rafaelesquinardo1086 no man. General apology or for his wife or wives. "look out baby"
@@ricardo_miguel13Agreed, especially if you consider the timeframe when the song was written and that it is on the same album as "How Do You Sleep?"
Except it was about Paul. Think about it. He barely had a "past" with Yoko at this point.
Perhaps a mix of the two?
I remember watching Monday Night Football 43 years ago on December 8, 1980. The Miami Dolphins vs The New England Patriots. I remember rooting for one team, although I cant remember which, because it had some sort of potential playoff implications for my Buffalo Bills. Towards the end of the regulation game, a scroll came across the bottom of the screen saying a former Beatle had been shot in NYC. It didn't say who, or what kind of physical condition they were in. Immediately, I thought of Paul McCartney. Paul had been busted for Marijuana possession in Japan earlier that year, and although improbable, the only thing I could think of was maybe some sort of drug deal gone bad. I remember hoping he'd be okay. Then, a short while later, Howard Cosell interrupted the game and said it was John Lennon, that he had been shot in the back, that he was rushed to the hospital, and that he was pronounced dead on arrival. I remember standing up from my chair in disbelief. All of a sudden, this game that meant so much to me only moments earlier meant absolutely nothing. The impact of knowing the Beatles would never, ever reunite was overwhelming. And that a man of peace was so brutally gunned down, assassinated for no apparent reason was really unbearable at the time. It was one of those life defining moments you never see coming. My heart goes out to his family every year on that sad anniversary. Rest in Peace John Lennon.
PS I keep requesting, but you are one of my favorite reactors and it would be really great if you could react to some Beatles, the studio version of Stairway (by Zep) and studio version of Since Ive Been Lovin U (by Zep).
Peace
That is the same way I heard the news. I was ironing and watching the game with my young son. I immediately sank to my knees and broke down. I had been following The Beatles and John since my dad was stationed in Scotland...1962.
I remember watching that Monday night game too. The Cosell announcement was a surreal moment.
I saw that game too as a Patriot fan.
After that announcement bad mojo hit the Patriots.
Me too!!! Very Sad. RIP John
"How", is the absolute gold standard by John Lennon dealing with all of his doubt and insecurities! ☮
@G-MAN1958
Maybe my favorite
Great introspective song
He explained his inspiration whilst doing press around the song's release: "When you're in love with somebody, you tend to be jealous, and want to own them and possess them 100 percent, which I do." "Intellectually, I thought owning a person is rubbish, but I love Yoko, I want to possess her completely
One of the most beautiful piano pieces of John's ever
Yes, Nicky Hopkins was great as always. Out the Blue's piano solo by Ken Ascher from the Mind Games album was also perfect👍
I love John and miss him so. What a beautiful, heartfelt, and transparent composition.
Some of the best songs ever written ,were by post-Beatle John. This song is about Yoko. The video was probably put together by someone not connected with John, and long after he was gone. But it was cool. Love your reactions. Thank you for getting into Lennon
ITS ABOUT PAUL REALLY.
@esquinardo1086 I think he wrote "I know (I know)", from the "Mind Games" album to Paul. "Jealous Guy" is for Yoko, and probably extended to other women he hurt in the past.
Except it was about Paul. Think about it. He barely had a "past" with Yoko at this point.
@@docsavage8640 he could be justifying himself because of his past (abandoned by the one he loved).
And I don't know why he could be jealous of Paul. He was still angry with him and included "How Do You Sleep?" in the same album.
But there's no right or wrong here. It's open for free interpretation.
Paul said it was for him. Playgirl magazine 1982
Classic and very moving song from the most emotional singer ever.
I really like the way you comment the songs. Many times you give a surpricing perspective - its really cool to listen to
John loved to do quick raw mixes...many of his solo songs are bare bones! It's about Yoko...
*Paul
@@brettholcomb3763No, bro, it was to Yoko.
@@DJ-bj8ku Source?
brettholcomb3763 John's song to Paul was "How Do You Sleep"
@@lgeyser1 That one too. And there are more. There can be more than one, you know?
This song is gorgeous.
It's in the middle of it, but I love your comments about music being super subjective and I think your approach is great, just experienced it for the first time like we all did because none of us had Wikipedia or music videos or anything at the time. We would hear it on the radio and then maybe go by the album. A very lucky few would go see them live and experience that. So I think you're right on
I don't know why but I come close to crying every time I hear this song. 😢
When he was shot and killed I was a teenager and MY HEART WAS CRUSHED. I cried and cried and was so upset. I had bought his latest album not long before and was listening to it over and over. Thank you for reacting to this 🥰
I was not alive When that happened But I feel like I was. I love his voice
Same, I was looking forward to a tour!!! it was mind blowing devastating😢😢✌✌
Originally this was written in India, in 1968, and was called something like " I am a son of nature". He totally revamped the song for these lyrics.
It was a song about mother nature. He flipped around some words to make it an apology song when John split from Yoko for over a year until Paul McCartney visited him in his drunken state in Los Angeles, and Paul convinced him to stop being miserable and go back to Yoko. Paul and John jammed that day with other musicians also hanging around, drinking with John.
For John, mostly a song does not have much meaning other than clever rhymes, turns of words, and imagery poetry. He is hoping you will close your eyes and develop your own picture in your own head instead of wondering about his.
Child Of Nature
@@mikefetterman6782 This was recorded between May and July of 1971. They split in 1973.
Correct@@thewalrus6833 . It was not a great song and kind of echoes one of Paul's at the time (similar title/can't remember right now). The melody was great though, so very glad he recycled it
Love your reactions! Keep on doing what you do. This is just so John. More heartbreaking because of how he was taken away from us. Two people he really hurt were 1st wife Cynthia and son Julian.
This song is 53 years old, 1971.
It's even older given he wrote the melody in 1968
I always saw this song as an apology to John's first wife Cynthia (who he admittedly assaulted when he was an aggressive teenager due to her dancing with another boy). There's some lines in it like "you might not love me anymore" that point to this. They were already divorced by this point.
Originally this was "Chlild of Nature"(1968).
Lennon began writing the song in 1968, when, as "Child of Nature", it was among the many songs demoed by the Beatles before they recorded their self-titled double album (also known as the "White Album"). The lyrics were originally inspired by a lecture given by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in early 1968, when the Beatles attended his spiritual retreat in Rishikesh, India. In January 1969, The Beatles (primarily John) jammed the song during their Get Back / Let It Be recording sessions, where it was referred to as "On the Road to Marrakesh".
"Jealous Guy" is one of the most commonly recorded Lennon songs, with at least 92 cover versions.
-WIKIPEDIA
John's voice and the way he used it to enhance and add to any song he sang, was part of his genius as a Beatle and their music and in his solo years. Much overlooked part of his talent. My favorite artist of all.
You Will Love The Beatles /The Ballard of John and Yoko
and checkout the dress attire on St. Pepper's Album
John admitted he was always an insecure person. That was probably because he felt very abandoned in his childhood. As he couldn't express that insecureness he tended to be mean to the one he feared to lose. Basically, the song is about this. Yoko was probably the inspiration because she was with him those days but it could be very easily applied to other women he hurt.
An interesting note: the melody of that song was composed in 1968 when he was in India studying Transcendental Meditation and used to have different lyrics. It was about nature (a theme from Maharishi's lecture that day). It used to be called "I'm Just a Child of Nature". It didn't find its way into any Beatles album.
Those first couple of solo albums were all about working through his past and trying to become a better person. In his life he was trying various things such as primal scream. therapy.
Bryan Ferry does a great cover. Roxy Music
Roxy music had a big hit with jealous guy after John Lennon died their tribute to him
I'll check it out!
You should do JohnLennon's "Working class hero" or "God" next.
Nobody but nooobody ,has a better rock ‘n’ roll voice than John Lennon. Noooobody !
Elvis Presley proved you wrong.
I REALLY FEEL A LOT OF SADNESS, I'M VERY VERY SAD, BECAUSE THE NEW GENERATIONS DON'T KNOW JOHN LENON YOKO, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. JOHN LENON'S WORK SHOULD BE PART OF STUDY IN SCHOOLS. AN ART THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, A WORLD THAT HAD COME OUT OF WORLD WARS WITHOUT LOVE IN THE HEART.
You're making it more complicated than you need to. When people are in love but insecure, they can become irrationally jealous..
This song was released in 1971. It has over 50 years!
Almost all his songs after the Beatles are about His wife
Except for the ones about Paul. Like this one. He barely had a "past" with Yoko to be sorry about in 1971.
From what I heard, this song may have been directed at his wife Yoko, another source I read was that it was directed at Paul McCartney because of friction between them at that time. I sounds like a love song to me so I think it was about Yoko.
Your sense of his journey of discovery is right on the mark. You're smart with insight. I think Yoko had a lot to do with that. She, as an artist, encouraged him to be real, and do things of worth.
John was a certified genius, not just musically, but as a person...
Lennon was one of the most honest and raw artists/celebrities in history. He put it all out there, the good and the bad. He was probably the most important person in rock/pop history as well, his rebellious and non-conformist personality really pushed some boundaries musically, lyrically and culturally. In 1969 he was nominated as 1 of 3 people as Man of the Decade, together with JFK and someone else. He was also known for his political activism, being against the Vietnam war and for alot of at the time progressive ideas. This made him a very controversial person that is still being hotly debated to this day. He was surveilled by the FBI, they were afraid he´d influence the youth against Richard Nixon. They tried to have him deported from the US. Lennon´s cultural importance also attracted some crazy people, and he was assassinated in 1980 by a madman who was triggered by Lennon´s words. Lennon was an antihero, because he had flaws, but society needs rebels that challenge the status quo. He was a true genius, not only in music, but other areas as well. We´ll never see another person like him.
Lennon preferred this raw approach to production early in his solo career because it matched the raw emotion and transparency of the songs and their performances.
It was an apology to Yoko
Except it was about Paul. Think about it. He barely had a "past" with Yoko at this point.
@@docsavage8640i It was aout Ringo
it should be an apology to hisfirst wife, Cynthia, whom he abandoned with his son Julian, for Yoko .
@@thomastimlin1724 I can’t argue with you there
@@docsavage8640is it necessary a "long" past to apologize somebody ?
Don't be distracted by the video. The song is about a relationship, self-recrimination.
The footage used in the video is from the 1988 documentary “Imagine: John Lennon”. This video even got played in rotation on MTV in the fall of 1988.
For me, this song opened me up to know more of Lennon’s solo recordings.
John Lennon use to like to wear the color white often.
John Lennon was always my favourite, there was a rawness and self awareness (whatever that means?) to his songs. I also loved George Harrison’s songs. Watching The Wheels is a great Lennon song. 👍
autobiography is when you write about yourself while driving
You're close, very astute. The song is to Paul (people automatically think it's about Yoko cause that is easy) - the tune was written in '68 (Child of Nature), but he put these words to the melody in '71, then later admits this was an apology to Paul. Ironically he wrote a hate song to Paul on the same album (How Do You Sleep?). It takes great self-esteem and confidence to say I'm Sorry, you have great insight and appreciation for "growth" you see in Lennon. At the end he was talking to Phil Spector. The Stones would re-write this song a year later on acoustic and call it Angie.
Very insightful! As I'm watching this for the first time I only see this as an apology to Paul. I had always got the impression that John wanted to be seen as the leader of the Beatles but that was always in question with the obvious talent of Paul. I'm sure Paul didn't care too much and was more band centric then John was. Everyone has quirks and personality traits that can work against us. Not saying John was a bad guy just that he wasn't built at the time to deal with some things that he realized later in life.
“It was some kind of jealousy. He wrote Jealous Guy and said it was for me” Paul McCartney, Playgirl 1982
Hi from Brasil. Very happy fouding young people listening good music...
Lennon died before music videos became a thing so this video was put together after he died. And long after he made the actual song.
The original video was part his 1972 film Imagine. It had a video for every song on the Imagine album, as well as several Yoko songs from the era. You tell when you see it because it only has video of John from 1971-72.
Listen to Oh My Love and How from the Imagine Lp which Jealous Guy was from.
John's advice to David Bowie as a songwriter was "say what you mean and put a backbeat to it". Bowie said he keeps coming back to that as a principle. That is something I really value in John Lennon - his honesty and straightforwardness.. and this early stuff from his solo career is phenomenal. Thanks for a great reaction!
Except Bowie seldom said what he meant in songs. He resorted to cut-up and didn't even know what half his lyrics meant.
@@docsavage8640maybe that's why he needed that ideal so badly xD
An autobiography is when you write about your own life. A biography is when someone else writes about your life.
(And a memoir is when you write about your own memories, but limited to just a specific time period or place or event.)
You are 100% correct. Not doing research before is the way to go. A lot of times the songs have no meaning. In this case, it is about Yoko.
A lot of Lennons work was introspective and honest and of course socially conscious. Help, Woman, Mother and so on, Imagine, Merry Christmas(war is over). McCartney wrote stories, commentary, and pop. Harrison was spiritual and wrote of that and emotions. The Beatles had quite the song writing well to dip into, and continued as themselves in their individual careers. We were/are blessed to have them. Be well.
This Song ss for Yoko! 💖
After a bad time with lots of drugs, alcohol and a break-up with Yoko, he eventually went into therapy. One result is this song. He realized that he was just a jealous guy who had really hurt Yoko. He worked through that in this song.
Everyone assumes it was about Yoko, but Paul McCartney has said that John told him that the song was about him (Paul). It was an apology to Paul for what happened when the band broke up.
Beautiful, and mature.
One of my sons is forever 32, and when he was a very very young child and first heard this song he went and apologized to his next younger brother for treating him badly when they were even younger. I was amazed at his insight for one so very young. To date this period of time, he heard the song at the end of Look Who's Talking, Too. It was to Yoko.
The clips used were of John's Beatle years(from the documentary "Imagine: John Lennon") but the song is meant for his wife, Yoko (Who is 91 now), as an apology and a love song to her. If you liked this song of John's, I'd recommend "Woman" from 1980.
I appreciate that you react without influence! great video, thank you!!
Loving the John Lennon / Billy Joel kick you are on !
Hi from the UK . This was for Yoko Ono . They had a " Lovers Tiff " And he became unsecure . Always singing from his own experience and the heart !
1967 Eric Burdon and the Animials/When I Was Young
John was ready to take on the world with a major concert tour and another LP in the works when he was shot, which ended it all! Sadly!
Theres a complete documentary done with most of the footage from when this sing was done. Just incredible how simple ideas bloom into great songs. The "Wall of Sound" guru Phil Spector produced a lot of this album, but John began to fizzle on his heavy-handed technique on songs that he had a complete idea start to finish how it was to sound (a rarity for Lennon).
I can't believe the number of people who give misinformation in the comments below that could be corrected by looking up basic facts from Wikipedia. Jealous Guy came out on the 1971 Imagine album. John's "Lost Weekend" was in 1973-75 so, no this song has NOTHING to do with that. People seem to love to celebrate their ignorance and lack of concern for possessing correct knowledge nowadays (and that goes all across the political spectrum).
The song is about Johns's insecurity about Yoko's love; John was ALWAYS insecure and obsessed with Yoko til the day he died. He was also a VERY jealous guy as his earlier song Run For Your Life ("I'd rather see you dead little girl than to be with another man" ) documents. He was always emotionally honest even if it made him look bad though.
That's what they're saying. It's partially about Yoko. It's easier for people to read through a few comments after they listen to a video, than read through tons of paragraphs on Wikipedia or read a biography. I was around back then, and my memory of John's affair seemed soon after the Beatles broke up. That's how I seem to remember it. Yoko was messing round, so he got jealous and did the same. He was sorry he hurt her.
You'd think folks could take the trouble to read a wikipedia article about a topic before opinionating.
Not the fans. Overtly it's about Yoko but Paul said that John told him it was partially about Paul. The two would often send messages to each other in songs post break-up.
The simplicity of the music and production makes the song feel so much more innocent and guileless.
It is an apology to his Wife Yoko Ono.
“The text is clear: I was very jealous and possessive.”
- John Lennon, 1980
Some people says it’s about Paul McCartney (including Paul)
Lennon was a very dynamic person. He was this rebellious, aggressive, wild, dark person that could get into fights, that could insult you, that could get jealous. But few were so self-aware, few exposed their own flaws like he did, few tried so hard to change for the better. I think both sides were 100% real. This made him very interesting and very respected. Look and listen to interviews with Lennon, and listen to him speak. You can tell he was not only a musical genius, he was a renaissance man of sort, a genius in multiple areas.
The song was released on the Imagine album in 1971. So it’s now 53 years old.
It's about his famous lost weekend with Yoko Ono's assitant May Pang. It lasted 18 months.
This (1971) was years before the "lost weekend (1973/74)," it's likely Paul McCartney he is singing to. Paul has said John told him it was to Paul. But people for whatever reason don't trust Paul. But, John is on record of having jealousy towards Paul.
@@brettholcomb3763 Correct. This song was released before John and Yoko separated. I always thought John wrote this to Yoko. Even though they were together at the time, John came from a background of not respecting women. John became a family man after he and Yoko got back together. But John could have been directing the song to everyone that he mistreated over the years.
@@brettholcomb3763Nope, it’s to Yoko for the hurt he caused her.
@DJ-bj8ku Source? I'm sure he caused Yoko hurt at various points, no doubt. But, the timeline fits with Paul and well Paul is the only source we have so I'll choose to believe him.
Not true. John wrote and recorded this before the Lost Weekend.
John Lennon, difficult parents, great musician
and human. One of the best we've had. R.I.P. John
Here's a fantastic song by the Beatles about John and Yoko
The Beatles - The Ballad Of John And Yoko
Written mainly by John Lennon.
Often played by fans, at his grave, on the anniversary of his death
The melodi from a song from late unfished song john made back in days 1969 the beatles) i cant remember the name of it... I nice that he took back that melodi make masterpice of it =)
You need to hear the Bryan Ferry ,(band is called Roxy Music) version.
They originally sang it just as a tribute at a concert in Germany on the night John was sjot and killed, but it became a classic.
I would recommend that not every song requires being decoded upon first listening. John’s music was very introspective. Sometimes, it's better just to enjoy it, for he was a brilliant songwriter.
He owes no one an apology other than his first wife, his widow and his first born son, Julian Lennon. He had no reason to feel envious about the love people had for him, as he was the most beloved Beatle, even before he died.
Great insight so many people thought the same, he was sorry
It actually is 56 years old since the original writing in India.
56*
It is to Yoko
it's too Paul - he admits it.
McCartney
@@brettholcomb3763Bud, give it a rest. It’s to Yoko.
@@DJ-bj8ku I take it your source is "trust me, bro."
Paul said this in Playgirl magazine 1982. Take it up with him.
It's certainly an apology to Yoko for some incident or pattern of behaviour. It certainly wasn't an apology to McCartney or the Beatles _ after all, the same album (Imagine) contains a song called "How do You Sleep", a pretty vicious attack on McCartney (" a pretty face may last a year or two, but pretty soon they'll see what you can do") and possibly the Beatles more generally. Happily, this rift didn't even last right through the 70s. He and Paul had reconciled by 1980 and in fact had plans to record together in 1981. Sadly, we all know how that ended.
Donnie Hathaway did an amazing cover of this❤
Personal? Yes - that's how he wrote. And yes - he was a very jealous guy. He came from the Heart. After all these years - I think he was writing (singing) about Yoko. They had their ups and downs.
Yeah not bad for a 56 year old song?? Epic!!
I heard an interview with him. He said only 3 people were involved in each song. Obviously him, he mentions an engineer. The third must have been Yoko. I'm just guessing. I think these songs are very literal. But John was a deliberate enigma.
The video was made way after he died. I think this song is more about Yoko.But he's also said that he was a jealous guy throughout his life. With his first wife, with friends. And yes he DID work on himself. Primal therapy, which was big back then. Screaming with the therapist!
i never knew the reason behind this song . i only knew the cover version by Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry which was a massive hit for Roxy Music bak in the Day . But now reading the comments here know why John Lennon wrote the song . . Its good to know and find out the real reason . Thanks Britt .
Is a Song for Yoko. After a big trouble. "Sorry Yoko!" ☮💝
He's writing about Cyn (first wife), presumably. Maybe Yoko too? He was terribly insecure and jealous and "used to be cruel to my woman I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved" (from "Getting Better"). He'd lash out. He tried to change and grow and be a better person.
I'm pretty sure this was about him and Yoko, but something to keep in mind with performers...especially from the 60s and 70s, is that singing in an authentic manner was the style...the singer being a storyteller. So many or most songs don't have a 'meaning' per se...they told a story and/or sounded good, and that was good enough.
You just experienced what we've been doing for years. Letting our imagination trying to figure out what they were singing about. 😂 I just learned that Ride was an island from the song "Ticket to Ride". Welcome to the club. 🙂
Also, Sean is Lennon's second son, a product from his marriage to Yoko. John had been married before to Cynthia, and they had a son Julian, who sadly seems to have been pushed into the background of general awareness. In that video of collective Beatles/Lennon footage, Julian appears a couple of times (when he was a child). Julian I believe now would be aged about 62-ish and his mother Cynthia sadly died about 3 or 4 years ago.
Hes one of the best! Liked
He was Yoko 24/7. Even if he had other liaison with her blessing
She loved Him too.
Some of John's songs were personal and literal, not needing much interpretation. This is one of those, along with songs like "Help!" and "In My Life".
Just remember that so many of the videos for 50, 60, 70 year old tracks were not made when the records came out, but were put together by fans to post on RUclips.
Love your reactions, listen hard to the old stuff, it's better than you might think.
The song "Jealous Guy" started off as a song called "Child of Nature",. The song is on the Beatles white album Deluxe edition. In January 1969, he recorded again, but Doug Sulpy renamed it "On the Road to Marakesh". it later changed to "Jealous Guy" and it was recorded on May 24, 1971". But during the 1972 election of Richard Nixon while at a party John had a Sexual relationship with some blonde woman while Yoko was in the next room. After he recorded the "Mind Games" album Yoko kicked him out and gave him May Pang. In Jan. 1975, he got back with Yoko and Sean was born that October. In 1979 Yoko began a relationship with Sam Havadtoy of where John Lennon wrote the song "Stranger's Room" which morphed into the song "I'm Losing You". When John Lennon was murdered Dec. 1980, Sam started wearing John's outfits. His relationship with Yoko lasted until 2001.
Almost everything Lennon did at this time was autobiographical. Here he sings about the inner insecurity that he has had throughout his life. Here in reference to his wife Yoko Ono. "You might not love me anymore".
It's 1970. There may have been some separation pain caused by the end of the Beatles, but Lennon wouldn't have admitted that and dismissed it.
So maybe you are right and this is a letter to the fans without saying it loud.
On a related note: in a late interview, Lennon was asked that many fans blame Yoko Ono, his wife, for the end of the Beatles, and Lennon replied: "Then you should be grateful to her, because otherwise you would never have had to know that great solo stuff from John, Paul, George and Ringo."
out of curiosity, I'm the same age as this song by John Lennon, as this was the last song he produced in his life, as later one afternoon when he was returning to his hotel a fan came after him and shot him with a revolver and unfortunately John ended up dying, this song actually besides expressing feelings we can also say that it was a sentimental testament, it may not seem like it but when my fiancée died 3 years and 7 months ago, the first song of more than 20 This was what listening more than 20 times, John Lennon always conveyed messages in his songs and to this day he always makes us have a rollercoaster of feelings
my dad is an excellent whistler, but i cant whistle worth a damn, damn...thanks for the reaction! =)
This is one of my absolute favorites. I believe it is about Yoko. He was a jealous and possessive lover. He hit Cynthia for dancing with John's friend Pete Best I think it was in the early days. He could be a brute. They broke up but got back together.