2
imagine the clouds dripping. dig a hole in your garden to put them in. yoko ’63
imagine
crippled inside
jealous guy
it’s so hard
i don’t wanna be a soldier
mama i don’t wanna die
gimme some truth
oh my love
how do you sleep?
how?
to critical praise but only muted approval in
the marketplace. The conclusions were,
to him, pretty obvious. He might be a
trail-blazer in all kinds of ways, but he was
at heart a populist – an artist but also an
entertainer. The task was to frame his ideas
in music that listeners loved and took inside
their hearts.
Plastic Ono Band had been
admired, but often from a distance. The role
of the next album – the record that became
Imagine – was an attempt for maximum
communication offering hopes to the
bleeding, battered world.
On the musical level he certainly succeeded.
Imagine is the best-loved album of his solo
career, while its title track is perhaps his
most revered. By contrast to its austere
predecessor the new music had melodies
in abundance, and colour and variety. It had
flashes of broad humour and moments of
absolute joy.
In his home outside London, at Tittenhurst
Park in Ascot, John had built a studio where
he could record the raw tracks, without
recourse to his traditional base at Abbey
Road. The producer Phil Spector returned to
help John oversee an informal family of
musicians. Among them were George
Harrison, and friends like Klaus Voormann
Just a year on from the
implosion of The Beatles,
John Lennon’s life had yet to
settle. In 1971, while lawyers
picked over the remains of
his old band, he travelled
with Yoko to meet her family
in Japan, and to America
pursuing custody of Kyoko,
her daughter by ex-husband
Tony Cox. Within John’s own,
ever-enquiring mind, a war
of ideas was raging.
In London and New York he had been drawn
to the radical underground, where hippy ideals
of the 1960s met the hard-edged politics of a
new decade. But this being John, nothing was
cut and dried. In parallel he was cultivating an
almost mystic line of thought, much of it
inspired by the art and poetry of Yoko Ono.
John’s first post-Beatles album,
John Lennon/
4
and the drummer Alan White, who had all
played on John’s tremendous debut
collaboration with Spector, ‘Instant Karma!’.
The Rolling Stones’ favourite pianist Nicky
Hopkins was there, and members of
the Apple label’s Badfinger.
As Yoko says: “It was so good to have
breakfast in our own home and walk right into
the new studio next to it. We could smell the
grass and the trees from the garden and heard
the birds chirping. We felt like they were
helping us.”
Imagine took shape in the early summer,
after which the tapes were taken to New York
for final overdubs (not least the magisterial
saxophone of King Curtis) at Record Plant
East. It seems that everyone involved, and
certainly John himself, had a sense of its
being exceptional. Here were songs that threw
revealing light on his whole personality at that
point – from the devout but imperfect lover to
the embattled former Beatle; a man
preoccupied by his inner doubts yet ready for
anyone when his righteous fury was aroused.
The keynote song itself was drawn from
Yoko’s work. It was so influential upon John
that he later said she deserved a co-credit.
As far back as 1964, in her collection of
poems called
Grapefruit, Yoko began each
piece with an invocation to “imagine”:
one example, from 1963’s
Cloud Piece,
is quoted on the album cover. Whether in
spiritual or earthly matters, the idea runs,
we must visualise our goals before we can
achieve them. It’s a theme to which Lennon
returned frequently, and the hymn-like
simplicity of its setting reflects his basic faith
– namely, that our collective imaginations are
a force for good.
The cover-art, from a photograph by Yoko,
further shows John in a dreamer’s role,
literally with “head in the clouds”. But typically
of Lennon there was an earthier touch, as well,
in a giveaway postcard of him wrestling a pig
– satirising, as most fans at the time would
have spotted – Paul McCartney’s pastoral
image on his own solo LP of that year,
Ram.
For all that ‘Imagine’ has a generosity of spirit,
the infamous ‘How Do You Sleep?’ is narrow
and hard, despite its lush and spacious
arrangement. John would later say that the
attack on his former musical partner was,
in fact, as much an assault upon himself.
‘Gimme Some Truth’ looks out with an
idealist’s impatience to the political world,
while ‘Crippled Inside’ has that quality (more
obviously than ‘How Do You Sleep?’) of a
tirade that is leavened with self-reproach.
Its knockabout honky-tonk contrasts with
Lennon’s previous album,
Plastic Ono Band,
though the lyric shares a “primal scream”
acuteness. Likewise ‘Jealous Guy’, another
unflinching look into the writer’s own sense
of failure, is spun into a different realm by its
ethereal melody. If John felt that his last
album – forbiddingly stark to some ears –
had not found the mass audience its songs
deserved, he was not about to make the
same mistake with
Imagine.
Emotional range is central to this record’s
enduring appeal, with light and shade at
every turn. From tough, grinding rockers like
‘It’s So Hard’ and ‘I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier
Mama’ we are sent to the solace of ‘Oh My
Love’ or the confessional vulnerability of
‘How?’. And the album skips away in a song
of sheer delight, ‘Oh Yoko!’, possibly the
happiest thing that John Lennon ever
committed to record.
On its release in September 1971, the
Imagine album was recognised as a rounded
self-portrait of this complex, candid,
passionate man. It re-established his
eminence in the commercial firmament,
among a rising generation of rock’n’roll stars
such as Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.
6
It was clear the 1970s John Lennon would not
sit in the shadow of his 1960s self.
When he left England for America, on 3
September 1971, it was just another trip in
John’s turbulent existence, probably in search
of some fresh cause to champion, more
battles to fight and unknown songs to sing.
Nobody knew, of course, that he would never
see his homeland again. For now, New York
looked like the city to be – the capital of the
world, as he believed – where new adventures
beckoned with siren allure.
8
Imagine
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 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 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
Crippled Inside
You can shine your shoes and wear a suit You can comb your hair and look quite cute You can hide your face behind a smile One thing you can‘t hide is when you’re crippled inside You can wear a mask and paint your face You can call yourself
the human race You can wear a collar And a tie
One thing you can‘t hide is when you‘re crippled inside Well now you know that your cat has nine lives babe Nine lives to itself But you only got one And a dog’s life ain’t fun Mamma take a look outside You can go to church and sing a hymn Judge me by the colour of my skin
You can live a lie until you die One thing you can’t hide is when you’re crippled inside
Jealous Guy
I was dreaming of the past And my heart was beating fast I began to lose control I began to lose control 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 I was feeling insecure You might not love me any more I was shivering inside I was shivering inside 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 I was trying to catch your eyes Thought that you were trying to hide I was swallowing my pain I was swallowing my pain
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
It’s So Hard
You got to live You got to love You got to be somebody You got to shove
But it’s so hard, it’s really hard Sometimes I feel like going down You got to eat
You got to drink You got to feel something You got to worry It’s so hard, it’s really hard Sometimes I feel like going down But when it’s good it’s oh so good And when I hold you in my arms baby Sometimes I feel like going down You got to run
You got to hide
You got to keep your woman satisfied But it’s so hard, it’s really hard Sometimes I feel like going down
I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die
Well, I don’t wanna be a soldier mama, I don’t wanna die
Well, I don’t wanna be a sailor mama, I don’t wanna fly
Well, I don’t wanna be a failure mama, I don’t wanna cry
Well, I don’t wanna be a soldier mama, I don’t wanna die
Oh no oh no oh no oh no Well, I don’t wanna be a rich man mama, I don’t wanna cry Well, I don’t wanna be a poor man
mama, I don’t wanna fly
Well, I don’t wanna be a lawyer mama, I don’t wanna lie
Well, I don’t wanna be a soldier mama, I don’t wanna die
Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no Well, I don’t wanna be a beggar mama, I don’t wanna die
Well, I don’t wanna be a thief now mama, I don’t wanna fly Well, I don’t wanna be a churchman mama, I don’t wanna cry
Well, I don’t wanna be a soldier mama, I don’t wanna die
Oh no oh no oh no oh no
Gimme Some Truth
I’m sick and tired of hearing things from uptight-short sighted-narrow minded hypocritics
All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth I’ve had enough of reading things by neurotic-psychotic-pig headed politicians
All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth No short haired-yellow bellied son of Tricky Dicky is gonna Mother Hubbard soft soap me
with just a pocketful of hope Money for dope
Money for rope
I’m sick to death of seeing things from tight lipped-condescending-mommies little chauvinists All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth
and since you’ve gone you’re just another day
How do you sleep? Ah how do you sleep at night? A pretty face may last a year or two But pretty soon they’ll see what you can do
The sound you make is muzak to my ears
You must have learned something in all those years How do you sleep? Ah how do you sleep at night?
How?
How can I go forward when I don’t know which way I’m facing? How can I go forward when I don’t know which way to turn? How can I go forward into something I’m not sure of?
Oh no, oh no
How can I have feeling when I don’t know if it’s a feeling? How can I feel something if I just don’t know how to feel
How can I have feelings when my feelings have always been denied? Oh no, oh no
You know life can be long and you got to be so strong And the world is so tough Sometimes I feel I’ve had enough oh no, oh no
How can I give love when I don‘t know what it is I’m giving?
How can I give love when I just don’t know how to give?
How can I give love when love is something I ain’t never had?
Oh no, oh no
How can we go forward when we don’t know which way we’re facing? How can we go forward when we don’t know which way to turn? How can we go forward into something we’re not sure of Oh no, oh no
Oh Yoko!
In the middle of the night In the middle of the night I call your name
Oh Yoko, oh Yoko My love will turn you on In the middle of a bath In the middle of a bath I call your name
Oh Yoko, oh Yoko My love will turn you on My love will turn you on In the middle of a shave in the middle of a shave I call your name
Oh Yoko, oh Yoko My love will turn you on In the middle of a dream In the middle of a dream I call your name
Oh Yoko, oh Yoko My love will turn you on My love will turn you on In the middle of a cloud In the middle of a cloud I call your name
Oh Yoko, oh Yoko My love will turn you on
Oh Yoko, oh Yoko, oh Yoko, oh Yoko, oh Yoko
I’ve had enough of watching scenes of Schizophrenic-ego-centric-paranoic-prima-donnas All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth
Oh My Love
Oh my love for the first time in my life my eyes are wide open
Oh my lover for the first time in my life my eyes can see
I see the wind, oh I see the trees Everything is clear in my heart I see the clouds, oh I see the sky Everything is clear in our world Oh my love for the first time in my life my mind is wide open
Oh my lover for the first time in my life my mind can feel
I feel sorrow, oh I feel dreams Everything is clear in my heart I feel life, oh I feel love Everything is clear in our world
How Do You Sleep?
So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise You better see right thru that mother’s eyes
Those freaks was right when they said you was dead
The one mistake you made was in your head
How do you sleep? Ah how do you sleep at night? You live with straights who tell you you was king
Jump when your mamma tell you anything
10
John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band (with the Flux Fiddlers)
Produced by John & Yoko and Phil Spector
Imagine: John Lennon: Pianos. Klaus
Voormann: Bass. Alan White: Drums
Crippled Inside: John Lennon: Electric
Guitar. Klaus Voormann & Steve Brendell: Upright Bass. George Harrison: Dobro. Nicky Hopkins: Piano. Ted Turner, Rod Linton & John Tout: Acoustic Guitars
Jealous Guy: John Lennon: Guitar/
Whistling: Klaus Voormann: Bass. Jim Keltner: Drums. John Barham: Harmonium. Alan White: Good Vibes
It’s So Hard: John Lennon: Guitar.
Klaus Voormann: Bass. Jim Gordon: Drums. King Curtis: Sax
I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die: John Lennon:
Guitar. Klaus Voormann: Bass. Jim Keltner: Drums. George Harrison: Slide Guitar. Nicky Hopkins: Piano. Joey & Tommy Badfinger: Acoustic Guitars. Mike Pinder: Tambourine. Steve Brendell: Marracas. King Curtis: Sax
Gimme Some Truth: John Lennon:
Guitars. George Harrison: Lead Guitar. Klaus Voormann: Bass. Alan White: Drums. Rod Linton & Andy: Acoustic Guitars. Nicky Hopkins: Piano
Oh My Love: John Lennon: Piano.
Nicky Hopkins: Electric Piano. Klaus Voormann: Bass. Alan White: Drums/ Tibetan Cymbals. George Harrison: Guitar
How Do You Sleep?: John Lennon:
Guitar. George Harrison: Slide Guitar. Klaus Voormann: Bass. Alan White: Drums. Nicky Hopkins: Piano
How?:John Lennon: Piano. Klaus Voormann: Bass. Alan White: Drums. John Barham: Vibes. Nicky Hopkins: Piano
Oh Yoko!: John Lennon: Guitar/
Mouth Organ. Klaus Voormann: Bass. Alan White: Drums. Nicky Hopkins: Piano. Rod Linton & Andy: Acoustic Guitar. Plus the J & P duo All songs written by John Lennon except track 7 by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Tracks 1, 3, 10 c Lenono Music. 2, 8, 9 c Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. 4, 5 c Northern Songs Ltd/Lenono Music. 6 c Lennon Music administered by Sony/ATV. 7 c Lenono Music/Ono Music
A joint interest in ‘Oh My Love’ claimed by Ono Music Ltd. Whip and Mirror by Yoko Ono. Cover Design and Photo: Yoko Ono; Typography: George Maciunas
Basic tracks made at Ascot Sound Studios. Engineers: Philip McDonald, Eddie Klein (no relations), Eddie Offor, Eddie Veal, Eddie Beer. Food by Val and Diana. John & Yoko’s personal assistant: Dan Richter. This and that: Mal Evans and Peter Bendry. Flux Fiddlers overdubbed at Record Plant, NY. Engineers: Roy Sicala, Jack Douglas, Shelly Yukus (sleep). This and that: Tom and Arlene and Al Steckler. String orchestrations: Torrie Zito. Cloud Piece, 1963 by Yoko Ono, on back cover
All arrangements by Lennon except ‘Oh My Love’ by Lennon/Ono. Alan White appears by courtesy of Wizard Records Ltd. An Apple Record. An EMI Recording
Remaster Project Production
Producer: Yoko Ono.
Project Co-ordinator: Allan Rouse. Remaster Engineers: Paul Hicks, Sean Magee. Audio Restoration: Simon Gibson. Remastered at Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 2010 Sleeve notes by Paul Du Noyer. Additional Photography: Peter Fordham (c 1971 Yoko Ono), Spud Murphy (c 1971 Yoko Ono). Drawing by John Lennon Art direction by Yoko Ono. Design by Peacock. Artwork Co-ordinator: Karla Merrifield. Photo research: Xilonen Oreshnick. Project management by Timothy Ryan, Jane Ventom, Kris Perera and Guy Hayden
Digital remaster. p 2010. The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd. c 2010 EMI Records Ltd. This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. c 2010 EMI Records Ltd.
