Log In
Register
Read the original blog post
3.28am
27 February 2017
Offline
Recently, I have listened to this album for the first and I’m only now finding words to describe it. It’s so incredibly honest, emotional, and disenchanted. These lyric they sum it all up:
Yoko and me
And that’s reality
The dream is over
What can I say?
But strangely, though I’m a very emotional, I didn’t even nearly cry when listening to God . The reason is that this song like the whole album is not only brutally honest; it also gives the listener hope. We just have to carry on, we can deal with our past like John did and we can finally reach a point where we can say ‘I live in the present, in this very moment and it’s ok like that’. Giving the world and your fans a message like that is so generous – it’s a sign that John is a very beautiful person.
Musically, I also find it remarkable how John uses the piano in some pieces. The smashing chords in ‘Mother ‘ contribute a lot to the painful feeling of the piece. The sequence ‘Remember’ – ‘Love’ is also an astonishing example. In the former, the piano really grooves and gives the song a drive, however, in the latter, the piano plays this beautiful, gentle, and comforting melody.
What a gorgeous album!
The following people thank Martha for this post:
sir walter raleigh, Beatlebug, WeepingAtlasCedars, QuarryManNot once does the diversity seem forced -- the genius of the record is how the vaudevillian "When I'm 64" seems like a logical extension of "Within You Without You" and how it provides a gateway to the chiming guitars of "Lovely Rita. - Stephen T. Erlewine on Sgt Pepper's
11.37am
26 January 2017
Offline Isolation is a standout as well. A perfect song listen to when you’re feeling down. It begins so gentle, and almost pitiful, before going into some of John’s most grungey and emotionally tormented vocals.
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
Martha, Beatlebug, WeepingAtlasCedars, Timothy"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
11.13pm
2 September 2016
Offline When I woke up today, the only thing that I wanted to hear was Plastic Ono Band. It was weird that I was dying to listen to this album despite the surrounding greatness from before and after. I think that John represents himself the best on this album. I can see John physically naked on Two Virgins but figuratively naked on Plastic Ono Band. Every song or fragment can be interpreted as a piece of John as they together become him. Listening to the album, despite of the melancholy nature, I was able to celebrate John as he was.
The following people thank Desmond for this post:
sir walter raleigh, Beatlebug, Ahhh Girl, Flyingbrians"Is it strange I should change?, I don't know, why don't you ask her?." - Neil Young
"As I'm sitting here doing nothing but aging, still my guitar gently weeps." -George Harrison
"Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you, forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you." -Bob Dylan
3.48pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline sir walter raleigh said
Isolation is a standout as well. A perfect song listen to when you’re feeling down. It begins so gentle, and almost pitiful, before going into some of John’s most grungey and emotionally tormented vocals.
I can’t recall where I read it, but I understand ‘Isolation ‘ was a standout in Julian’s mind as well.
The following people thank Zig for this post:
BeatlebugTo the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
9.33am
14 June 2016
Offline sir walter raleigh said
Isolation is a standout as well. A perfect song listen to when you’re feeling down. It begins so gentle, and almost pitiful, before going into some of John’s most grungey and emotionally tormented vocals.
It’s my favourite solo career Lennon song. I love it for the reasons you describe. It has tenderness and raw power. I love the concept of a man sitting down, playing the piano and singing about his troubles.
It’s a toss up between Plastic Ono Band and Imagine in terms of what album I prefer.
The following people thank Timothy for this post:
Jules1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine
Most Avid John Fan 2020 and 2021: 
10.10am
26 January 2017
Offline I’ve been loving Mind Games a lot as of late. You Are Here is the big standout this time around. Such a fantastic song, its hard to believe you don’t see it atop people’s best song ever lists.
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
Timothy"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
4.01pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline sir walter raleigh said
I’ve been loving Mind Games a lot as of late. You Are Here is the big standout this time around. Such a fantastic song, its hard to believe you don’t see it atop people’s best song ever lists.
The outtake on the ‘Anthology’ box set is beautiful.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
sir walter raleigh"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
5.06am
14 June 2016
Offline 
sir walter raleigh said
I’ve been loving Mind Games a lot as of late. You Are Here is the big standout this time around. Such a fantastic song, its hard to believe you don’t see it atop people’s best song ever lists.
His harmony/falsetto voice is probably my favourite, even more than his straight rock routine. Which is saying something.
1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine
Most Avid John Fan 2020 and 2021:
10.53am
26 January 2017
Offline meanmistermustard said
The outtake on the ‘Anthology’ box set is beautiful.
Sounds like Nicky Hopkins on the Fender Rhodes. Absolutely love his playing on this take. Well, I’ve loved note he’s ever played, but he really kills it here.
"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
2.38pm
26 January 2017
Offline I listened to this again recently and was struck by how brilliant it was. God again brought me to tears.
I've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound.
2.36am
24 September 2018
Offline I have always thought of John as the most talented Beatle and this is the one album I would take if I were to be exiled on a desert island.
The following people thank Rob for this post:
Timothy6.00am
12 May 2015
Offline Any one else noticed how “well well well” closely resembles the early takes of “helter skelter” ?
9.22am
14 June 2016
Offline Martha said
Recently, I have listened to this album for the first and I’m only now finding words to describe it. It’s so incredibly honest, emotional, and disenchanted. These lyric they sum it all up:Yoko and me
And that’s reality
The dream is over
What can I say?But strangely, though I’m a very emotional, I didn’t even nearly cry when listening to God . The reason is that this song like the whole album is not only brutally honest; it also gives the listener hope. We just have to carry on, we can deal with our past like John did and we can finally reach a point where we can say ‘I live in the present, in this very moment and it’s ok like that’. Giving the world and your fans a message like that is so generous – it’s a sign that John is a very beautiful person.
Reading this again brought back the very memories you refer to. Years after John recorded the song we can still live by his message. Back then, John decided to live for today and let the past stay in the past. We have no other choice. John is gone, and it hurts….but “that’s reality.” We carry on living for today. And living is beautiful. It’s all there is.
On the topic of Well Well Well, I love how John laughs at the end, because his voice is gone from all the yelling. Love how he injected humour there, considering the grungy tone it established beforehand.
The following people thank Timothy for this post:
Ahhh Girl1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine
Most Avid John Fan 2020 and 2021:
7.29am
22 December 2013
Offline Timothy said
Martha said
Recently, I have listened to this album for the first and I’m only now finding words to describe it. It’s so incredibly honest, emotional, and disenchanted. These lyric they sum it all up:Yoko and me
And that’s reality
The dream is over
What can I say?But strangely, though I’m a very emotional, I didn’t even nearly cry when listening to God . The reason is that this song like the whole album is not only brutally honest; it also gives the listener hope. We just have to carry on, we can deal with our past like John did and we can finally reach a point where we can say ‘I live in the present, in this very moment and it’s ok like that’. Giving the world and your fans a message like that is so generous – it’s a sign that John is a very beautiful person.
Reading this again brought back the very memories you refer to. Years after John recorded the song we can still live by his message. Back then, John decided to live for today and let the past stay in the past. We have no other choice. John is gone, and it hurts….but “that’s reality.” We carry on living for today. And living is beautiful. It’s all there is.
NOW is a GIFT… that’s why we call it THE PRESENT…:-)
The following people thank Billy Rhythm for this post:
Beatlebug4.44am
17 October 2013
Offline NOW is a GIFT… that’s why we call it THE PRESENT…:-)
I’m pinching that.
The following people thank Wigwam for this post:
Timothy, Beatlebug3.50pm
27 February 2019
Offline just listened to this album for the first time yesterday. played it about 3 or 4 times after. and this album makes me feel so depressed. the beginning and end are just depressing. the songs are great, not a rotten apple in the bunch. lennon feels more personal in his singing and writing than he did in the beatles. in the first song “mother” he felt like he was about to burst into tears. when listening, i wanted to get away just because the album made me feel depressed and awful. but i stuck with it. and i’m glad i did. there’s some good stuff here. god is a highlight of this album to me. hold on is also really sweet sounding. all in all, good album, but holy crap it’s emotionally hard for me to get through.
next up in the solo stuff list is a couple singles. an a-side and a b-side of paul’s and then an a-side by john. and then ram. and i really need some of paul’s positivity after listening to this.
The following people thank joshthenesnerd for this post:
Getbackintheussr, Beatlebugi guess i should set up a signature soon? maybe?
9.48am
18 April 2013
Offline1.41pm
26 January 2017
Offline Expert Textpert said
I never understood why God is such a favorite for people, but then I have always had faith in God .
I also have believed in God for my whole life. I love the song, but I’ve never thought that “God is a concept by which we measure our pain” was particularly poignant. It is the rest of the “I don’t believes as well as “the dream is over” section that make this song one of his best.
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
Beatlebug"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
1.49pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline
Yes, I think the melody/delivery is more poignant than the lyric there. I feel like ‘God is a concept with which we weather our pain’ might have been more accurate. 
My personal favourites from this album are Love and Look At Me because I like John’s ballads. 
([{BRACKETS!}])
New to Forumpool? You can introduce yourself here.
If you love The Beatles Bible, and you have adblock, don't forget to white-list this site! 
1.54pm
26 January 2017
Offline The melody is incredible. I’d tolorate much worse lyrics and still love the song. “I just believe in me, Yoko and Me” is the best line
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
Beatlebug"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
1 Guest(s)