John Lennon

Seventy-six years ago today, on October 9, 1940, John Lennon was born into a working-class family in Liverpool, England.  In 1956, he formed a band called The Quarrymen, named after his high school.  In the following year, Lennon met another young musician, Paul McCartney, whom he invited to join his band.  When he was eighteen, Lennon wrote his first song, Hello Little Girl, which would become a hit song five years later.  

 

Hello little girl Hello little girl
Hello little girl

When I see you everyday
I say, "Mm mm hello little girl"
When you're passing on your way
I say, "Mm mm hello little girl"
When I see you passing by
I cry, "Mm mm hello little girl"
When I try to catch your eye
I cry, "Mm mm hello little girl"

I send you flowers but you don't care
You never seem to see me standing there
I often wonder what you're thinking of
I hope it's me and love love love

So I hope there'll come a day
When you'll say, "Mm you're my little girl"

It's not the first time that it's happened to me,
It's been a long lonely time
And it's funny funny to see that I'm about to lose my mind mind mind

So I hope there'll come a day
When you say, "Mm mm
You're my little girl, mm mm mm
You're my little girl, mm mm mm"
You're my little girl, oh yeah
You're my little girl Do do do do do   

 

McCartney suggested a teenage boy named George Harrison be the lead guitarist of their group.  In 1960, Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and a bassist named Stuart Sutcliffe formed a new band they called The Beatles (because the name, except for the a, refers to an insect, which they liked, but also because in French it would sound cool).  In August of that year, the band arranged for an extensive gig in Hamburg, Germany, but needed a drummer.  They invited Peter Best to join them.  The Beatles returned to Hamburg in April of 1961 and again in April of 1962.  Eventually, Sutcliffe quit the band and another drummer, Ringo Starr, replaced Best.  The band's first single, Love Me Do, written by Lennon and McCartney, was released in October of 1962 and reached 17th on the British charts.  I remember hearing it as a senior in high school. 

Love, love me do
You know I love you
I'll always be true
So please, love me do
Whoa, love me do

Love, love me do
You know I love you
I'll always be true
So please, love me do
Whoa, love me do

Someone to love
Somebody new
Someone to love
Someone like you

Love, love me do
You know I love you
I'll always be true
So please, love me do
Whoa, love me do

Love, love me do
You know I love you
I'll always be true
So please, love me do
Whoa, love me do
Yeah, love me do
Whoa, oh, love me do

 In 1963, The Beatles enjoyed great commercial success with many concerts and tours in Great Britain and in Europe.  In February 1964, they came to America amidst tremendous enthusiasm, especially because of their hit song, I Want to Hold Your Hand, which sold 1,500,000 copies in under three weeks just prior to their arrival at JFK Airport in New York.  It was also written by Lennon and McCartney. 

 

Oh yeah, I'll tell you something

I think you'll understand

When I'll say that something

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

 

Oh please, say to me

You'll let me be your man

And please, say to me

You'll let me hold your hand

I'll let me hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy

Inside

It's such a feeling that my love

I can't hide

I can't hide

I can't hide

Yeah, you've got that something

I think you'll understand

When I'll say that something

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy

Inside

It's such a feeling that my love

I can't hide

I can't hide

I can't hide

 

Yeah, you've got that something

I think you'll understand

When I'll feel that something

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

 

On Sunday night, February 9, 1964, The Beatles performed live on American TV on the popular Ed Sullivan Show, in front of an estimated audience of 73 million people.  "Never before had so many viewers tuned-in to a live television program."  The group also performed in Washington, D.C. and Miami Beach before returning home to England.  The trip cemented The Beatles as an international phenomenon.  Their hit songs would include Can't Buy Me Love, A Hard Day's Night, Help, Yesterday, and All You Need is Love.    

 

The Beatles returned to the USA for a month-long tour in August of 1964, performing at thirty concerts in cities from San Francisco to New York.  They returned to the USA again in August of 1965 and in August of 1966.      

 

Beginning in 1967, The Beatles stopped touring and instead worked on developing more songs and albums in their studio in England.  In September of 1969, Lennon left The Beatles, which led to the band being disbanded.  The following year, he started working as a solo artist.  My favorite song of Lennon's, Imagine, was published in 1971.    

 

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... Aha-ah...
 

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...

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...

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

 

In 1975, Lennon, now living in New York City, temporarily retired as a musician-singer-composer to take care of his new-born son, Sean, which he did for five years.  In October of 1980, he ended his retirement with the publication of a new single and a new album. 

 

Very sadly and tragically, John Lennon was murdered by a lone gunman on the night of December 8, 1980 as he was returning to his apartment at the Dakota in New York City.  He was only 40 years-old.  Lennon and his music will be remembered forever.