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1.32am
31 October 2013
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John and Paul’s trip to New York in May 1968 feels like an immensely important moment to me, for a few reasons, one of which is that–just look at the timeline–it was just after they returned that John had his idea that he was Jesus Christ reborn, and just after *that* that he truly began an affair with Yoko.
There’s a great account of that trip, by the way: Lillian Roxon’s “101 Hours with John Lennon & Paul McCartney .”
Anyway, one of the things that has always puzzled me is John’s line in the interview with Larry Kane.
Kane asked:
“Do you ever envision a time of just ceasing being the Beatles and going off on your or, or even working together…” He didn’t finish his question before John and Paul jumped in. They talked over each other for just a moment. Then:
John: “We do work on our own anyway now.”
Paul: “We are the Beatles. That’s what we are.”
John: “We’re also Apple as well you see and Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Brown. They’re meant to be nice, you see.”
So the question is, what’s up with the “Mrs. Brown” reference? I’ve seen it suggested that John is alluding to the Virginia Woolf essay, “Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown” which makes sense as a mash-up with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and it does help explain the sentence as John saying, “Look, we’re people you see in one way, but we’re actually much more complicated underneath the surface. You think we’re nice, and you want to put us in some kind of box, but we’ve got a lot more going on than you realize.” But I’m out on such a limb here, especially not even knowing if he meant to point to Woolf’s essay. Any thoughts or intel on this?
5.34am
14 December 2009
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Would John have been familiar with the Virginia Woolf essay? I suspect that the “Mrs. Brown” of the Herman’s Hermits hit would be more likely to be on John’s mind, as far as “actual” Mrs. Browns are concerned.
I wasn’t familiar with the quote (entertaining interview btw, thanx for posting it!) , but in context, I would just guess that “Mrs. Brown” is the name that John comes up with to represent somebody “nice”, some nice English granny sort. As opposed to Dr. Jekyll, that is. Although “Mrs. Brown and Mr. Hyde” would be the even greater contrasting pair (but it isn’t as much fun to say.)
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
4.56am
24 April 2013
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Von Bontee said
Would John have been familiar with the Virginia Woolf essay?
John was very well-read, let’s not forget, and I’d imagine that was the Mrs. Brown he was referring to. It seems to make sense because Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Brown are both literary references and both are the “nicer” half of a pair. It’s like he was saying, “We’re Apple, the kinder, gentler side of the recording industry.” I’m not going to say that’s definitely what he meant or that’s definitely the Mrs. Brown he was referring to, but that’s the way I hear it.
What I love in that interview is that Paul is supposedly totally stoned and he looks like all he wants is to have a larf. He looks like he’s in a giggly mood, and if he were off camera, I’d bet he’d be having a good ol’ time. I also love their relationship, they are totally comfortable with each other… and they like Larry, unlike most of their interviewers.
8.13am
15 May 2014
Offline jwshenk said
John and Paul’s trip to New York in May 1968 feels like an immensely important moment to me, for a few reasons, one of which is that–just look at the timeline–it was just after they returned that John had his idea that he was Jesus Christ reborn, and just after *that* that he truly began an affair with Yoko.
Did I read that right or am I especially obtuse today? Did John ever think he actually was Jesus reborn? What are your sources? Or is it something everybody but Old Silly Me knows about? I had intuited in him a messiah complex, especially during the politically-committed years, but what you’re saying is that he was delirious. Please somebody provide more information about this.
Thanks a lot,
Oudis.
“Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit” (“Perhaps one day it will be a pleasure to look back on even this”; Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 1, line 203, where Aeneas says this to his men after the shipwreck that put them on the shores of Africa)
10.49am
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20 August 2013
Offline @Oudis, See posts 21 and 23.
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8.54pm
15 May 2014
Offline I’ve read what DrBeatle wrote: “…toward the end of 1968 he went on a massive drug binge and called an emergency meeting at Apple to announce to everyone that he was himself Jesus Christ.” I didn’t know that. Oh my my, the poor guy was more deranged than I thought he was. Now I can see where all the imagery of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds or I Am The Walrus came from. I can’t help but thinking of Van Gogh’s crazy sky in Starry Night.
Thanks to DrBeatle and thanks to you Ahhh Girl.
Oudis.
“Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit” (“Perhaps one day it will be a pleasure to look back on even this”; Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 1, line 203, where Aeneas says this to his men after the shipwreck that put them on the shores of Africa)
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