|
John Lennon:
Music, Philosophy and Mission
Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge
|
Lennon, Ono and son Sean |
My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and
express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a
preacher no a leader, but as a reflection of us all." John Lennon
John Lennon who was an inspirational character, changed music in to a
new direction. He was one of the key figures in the Post War generation
whose music and the ideology changed the world. Lennon was a
humanitarian. He condemned violence and truthfully worked for peace.
John Lennon's music, philosophy and mission is still adored by millions
of people. He is an immortal in people's hearts.
Lennon was born to a working-class family in Liverpool in 1940. His
childhood was disrupted when his mother got killed in an accident. All
the suffering he felt in his heart was expressed in the form of lyrics
in later years. In 1956 he met Paul McCartney-turning point in his life.
They began writing songs together and formed the most popular group of
all time-the Beatles.
The Beatles were young revolutionists in the field of music. Wherever
they went they captured the hearts of millions creating a Beatle's
mania. John Lennon was considered as the most energetic and the driving
force behind the Beatles. John was enthusiastic and transforming in to a
new wave. When he met his future wife and soul companion-Yoko Ono-they
began to work collaboratively.
|
John Pen non in the Quarry Men Sniffle Group |
Strawberry fields Memorial to John Lennon in Central Park |
The Beatles pronounced their official breakup, in 1970. With the
breakup Lennon began his solo career in a more advanced way. Lennon's
songs began exploring profoundly political, psychological and
existential themes.
John Lennon's song Imagine is one of the greatest songs of all time
an anthem of universal hope. In this song Lennon tells us about an
imaginary world where people live in peace and harmony.
He further says ....
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...
One critic described Lennon's masterpiece Imagine as thus:
|
Paper cutting announcing John Lennon’s assassination |
Imagine, the song was unquestionably Lennon's finest moment. Its
lyrical and conceptual clarity shone sunlight of vision upon our dark
and violent world. It urged us to imagine a world without property,
without religion, without nations and living in peace.
It postulated an economic order in which both greed and hunger would
be impossible".
John Lennon provided the intellectual, political and aesthetic
influence to nations. They openly protested against the Vietnam war.
John Lennon began to make history with his painfully honest and
political songs. He wanted to change the world but not through violence.
Lennon clearly gives this message in his song Revolution.
|
The Beatles-from Left-George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr
and Paul McCartney |
You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out?
October 1968, Lennon recorded Give Peace a Chance, now which is a
motto of the peace-loving community. His Nowhere Man, and Rubber Soul
(1965) carried a philosophical as well as psychological theme which
described about alienation. He was sort of the vicar of Art Rock.
|
Lennon with wife Yoho Ono |
Lennon's song-writing genius was uncanny. Author John Stevens
explains Lennon's intuitive talent from a technical point of view,
through the lens of song-writing three basic elements: melody, harmony
and lyric. John Lennon's mission was unexpectedly stopped on December 8,
1980. When Lennon was returning with Ono to their Dakota apartment on
New York City he was shot by Mark David Chapman-a Beatles fan and a
person who suffered paranoid delusions. Although Lennon is dead his
music legacy continues to inspire people around the world.
Killing of a Butterfly
On that doom's day
Near the Dakota Building NY
Mark David Chapman gun downed a legend
The ex beatle with circular lenses
Paid the prize for the Generation of 60s
He is a phony
Yelled the killer
Hi is the one who said
Imagine there is no possession
But he had everything
Expensive cars, boats and houses
All the way Chapman came from Hawaii
Waited many hours near the Dakota Building
Until his prey returned with Yoko
He was a nowhere man from nowhere land
But he made his plans to kill somebody
As Chapman said
I was nobody until I killed somebody |
