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Read the original blog post6.03am
31 March 2008
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Written by: Lennon
Recorded: July-August 1973
Producer: John Lennon
Released: 16 November 1973 (UK), 29 October 1973 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, guitar
David Spinozza: guitar
Ken Ascher: keyboards
Gordon Edwards: bass guitar
Jim Keltner: drums
Available on:
Mind Games
John Lennon Anthology
I Know (I Know) was a plaintive ballad in which John Lennon continued the self-exploration that…
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5.44pm
12 May 2015
Offline This is a fascinating song.
So clearly a song of apology and devotion to Paul, and a blatant statement that he loved him more than “the beatles”. Its full of riffs and quotes of Paul songs lyrically and musically there is no denying it.
John gives it a really strong vocal and guitar part. Sounds very much like he wanted to heal things with Paul at this point.
“I put myself in your place, as you did for me”
“I love you more than yesterday”
“I Know…I know” was apparently what John and Paul said to each other repeatedly on their first acid trip together.
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Reviewers
17 December 2012
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I didn’t come here to comment on the previous post but may as well since I’m here.
With John’s relationship with Yoko starting to hit the rough patch that led to the Lost Weekend, it’s equally likely to be one of his string of apology songs to her, ranging from Jealous Guy to Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) from the same album as I Know (I Know), Mind Games , through to I’m Losing You .
“I love you more than yesterday,” doesn’t have to be a Paul reference just because it includes the word “yesterday”, it can also be seen as John saying Yoko means more to him than his life before her does.
A message to Paul is just one reading, and nothing’s clear when there’s another interpretation that can’t be dismissed.
Anyhow, why I came here, two acoustic demos, two overdubbed demos, and an alternate studio take…
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
1.08am
4 September 2019
Offline Ron Nasty said
“I love you more than yesterday,” doesn’t have to be a Paul reference just because it includes the word “yesterday”, it can also be seen as John saying Yoko means more to him than his life before her does
It also says “it’s getting better, all the time”, so there’s another reference to Paul that lends credibility that it’s about him. And the “I know, I know” LSD quote.
But songs are very loose in form, they can easily be referring to many different things at once. I do think there’s some Paul in there though. There may well be some Yoko too, and maybe other people as well.
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Richard5.03am
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline Or John could just be using the Jimmy Nicol quote, just as Paul did, or his own “I used to be cruel to my woman…” verse in relation to his relationship to Yoko.
"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
9.56pm
12 May 2015
Offline The opening chords are also basically “I’ve Got A Feeling “……. If its really for yoko then its odd it has such prominent references to Paul in it.
Either way its a great song.
11.03pm
12 May 2015
Offline forn said
Ron Nasty said
“I love you more than yesterday,” doesn’t have to be a Paul reference just because it includes the word “yesterday”, it can also be seen as John saying Yoko means more to him than his life before her does
It also says “it’s getting better, all the time”, so there’s another reference to Paul that lends credibility that it’s about him. And the “I know, I know” LSD quote.
But songs are very loose in form, they can easily be referring to many different things at once. I do think there’s some Paul in there though. There may well be some Yoko too, and maybe other people as well.
The tone of the lyric suggests Johns referring to a much longer standing relationship than his one with Yoko. He wrote this at the time he was getting it on with May Pang, and as we know she makes it clear that John very much had reconciliation with Paul on his mind at this time.
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