So Sgt. Pepper Took You By Surprise?
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You all know the first line from John's scathing lyrical attack on Paul in his song "How Do You Sleep?" Since John referred to Sgt. Pepper as "Paul's album" why would it have taken Paul by surprise? Wouldn't it have opened John's eyes as to what Paul could really do? I've never really understood that first line. What's your take? Apparently John and Yoko had these paranoid ideas that Paul had put all of these references to them all over Ram. According to Paul there was only a veiled reference or two in the song Too Many People. Paul supposedly wrote Dear Friend as an answer to How Do You Sleep, but it's a rather kind and hauntingly beautiful song. I understand that George played on HDYS which I thought was nasty too. Any inside info on this? Was Ringo approached too? I read that even Allen Klein got in the act by writing the lyric "And since you're gone you're just Another Day". John had written something like "You probably pinched that bitch anyway." An ironic line being John got sued over Come Together and George got sued over My Sweet Lord. Thoughts/comments on this?
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Erik in NJ:
You all know the first line from John's scathing lyrical attack on Paul in his song "How Do You Sleep?" Since John referred to Sgt. Pepper as "Paul's album" why would it have taken Paul by surprise? Wouldn't it have opened John's eyes as to what Paul could really do? I've never really understood that first line. What's your take? Apparently John and Yoko had these paranoid ideas that Paul had put all of these references to them all over Ram. According to Paul there was only a veiled reference or two in the song Too Many People. Paul supposedly wrote Dear Friend as an answer to How Do You Sleep, but it's a rather kind and hauntingly beautiful song. I understand that George played on HDYS which I thought was nasty too. Any inside info on this? Was Ringo approached too? I read that even Allen Klein got in the act by writing the lyric "And since you're gone you're just Another Day". John had written something like "You probably pinched that bitch anyway." An ironic line being John got sued over Come Together and George got sued over My Sweet Lord. Thoughts/comments on this?
Ringo apparently visited the studio when John was recording HDYS and was upset by the song, and said: "That's enough, John."
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Sgt._Pepper:
Ringo apparently visited the studio when John was recording HDYS and was upset by the song, and said: "That's enough, John."
Interesting. Though it seems that our friend George had no problem with it and relished the project. There are certainly some nasty lines in it. I also found it terribly ironic that John wrote "Jump when your momma tell you anything" when he certainly seemed to be much more controlled by Yoko than Paul ever was by Linda. Paul certainly could have taken some real cheap shots at Yoko in his songs, but didn't. One thing I noticed back in college though I don't know if it was intentional or not was in the song "Wino Junko" which I know wasn't written by Paul, at the very end where they sing "Wino Junko" way in the background with heavy reverb if you close your eyes and listen it does sound a lot like "John and Yoko" though that's hardly a slight. Anyone else notice this? Intentional?
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And what did he mean by the following line: "You better see right through that mother's eyes" Is this addressed to himself, Paul, or the public? I'm assuming that "mother's eyes" is short for "that mother f***er's eyes" or am I interpreting it incorrectly? The rest of the song is obviously addressed to Paul so it's a bit confusing.
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If I remember correctly, the assumption is that he is referencing LSD. Sgt Pepper being the psychedelic album was used to refer to LSD. And I think Paul said that one time when they were both tripping they just stared into each others eyes and they saw themselves in the other's eyes. Or something like that. I think I read it in Barry Miles' book Many years From Now.
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Erik in NJ:
And what did he mean by the following line: "You better see right through that mother's eyes"
"Jump when your mama tells you anything" I always interpreted these 2 lines as John's way of trying to imply that he felt that Paul was henpecked.
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I think this is all "Much Ado About Nothing."
Really. Why doesn't someone just come up with a "Let's Bash John Lennon" thread? (No offense to the author.) I happen to love John and find it all so sad that some still find ways to belittle him in death, and he has no way to defend himself except by people like me. If you are really intelligent you can go on youtube and find an interview where he explains how he felt about the song in retrospect. How John says he felt not only was he writing it at the time about Paul, but as he was older he realizes he was also writing it about himself too. I went to find it but got distracted. Has anyone ever been pissed at their best friend and had a falling out? Yes. I have many times, I just never wrote a song about it. Peace Out! 
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Exactly! People who pick one beatle over the other...have totally missed the point...to begin with
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Indeed!
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hey_kittay:
I think this is all "Much Ado About Nothing."
Really. Why doesn't someone just come up with a "Let's Bash John Lennon" thread? (No offense to the author.) I happen to love John and find it all so sad that some still find ways to belittle him in death, and he has no way to defend himself except by people like me. If you are really intelligent you can go on youtube and find an interview where he explains how he felt about the song in retrospect. How John says he felt not only was he writing it at the time about Paul, but as he was older he realizes he was also writing it about himself too. I went to find it but got distracted. Has anyone ever been pissed at their best friend and had a falling out? Yes. I have many times, I just never wrote a song about it. Peace Out! 
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Erik in NJ:
You all know the first line from John's scathing lyrical attack on Paul in his song "How Do You Sleep?" Since John referred to Sgt. Pepper as "Paul's album" why would it have taken Paul by surprise? Wouldn't it have opened John's eyes as to what Paul could really do? I've never really understood that first line. What's your take? Apparently John and Yoko had these paranoid ideas that Paul had put all of these references to them all over Ram. According to Paul there was only a veiled reference or two in the song Too Many People. Paul supposedly wrote Dear Friend as an answer to How Do You Sleep, but it's a rather kind and hauntingly beautiful song. I understand that George played on HDYS which I thought was nasty too. Any inside info on this? Was Ringo approached too? I read that even Allen Klein got in the act by writing the lyric "And since you're gone you're just Another Day". John had written something like "You probably pinched that bitch anyway." An ironic line being John got sued over Come Together and George got sued over My Sweet Lord. Thoughts/comments on this?
I think you are reading too much into it...you have to put it into perspective. It was right after Paul started the lawsuit to dissolve the Beatles' partnership to get out of the management contract all four had with Allen Klein. John was incredibly angry at Paul at the time for that, and Paul had also written Too Many People on Ram, which John heard as a swipe at him and Yoko (Paul admitted many years later that it was). John said Paul wrote that in his coy manner, then said he didn't do anything coyly, so How Do You Sleep? did not mince words. Having George play on it was him aligning himself with John in agreement over the lawsuit. It was more hurt than anger. George also wrote Sue Me, Sue You Blues about it. '71 and '72 were crazy times for the "ex" Beatles, and they definitely put it on record forever how bitter The Beatles' breakup really was. If you think How Do You Sleep? is harsh, you should read John's unedited '71 Rolling Stone interview! John later said that How Do You Sleep? was also about himself, and that him and Paul were OK.
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beatlesfanrandy:
Erik in NJ:
You all know the first line from John's scathing lyrical attack on Paul in his song "How Do You Sleep?" Since John referred to Sgt. Pepper as "Paul's album" why would it have taken Paul by surprise? Wouldn't it have opened John's eyes as to what Paul could really do? I've never really understood that first line. What's your take? Apparently John and Yoko had these paranoid ideas that Paul had put all of these references to them all over Ram. According to Paul there was only a veiled reference or two in the song Too Many People. Paul supposedly wrote Dear Friend as an answer to How Do You Sleep, but it's a rather kind and hauntingly beautiful song. I understand that George played on HDYS which I thought was nasty too. Any inside info on this? Was Ringo approached too? I read that even Allen Klein got in the act by writing the lyric "And since you're gone you're just Another Day". John had written something like "You probably pinched that bitch anyway." An ironic line being John got sued over Come Together and George got sued over My Sweet Lord. Thoughts/comments on this?
I think you are reading too much into it...you have to put it into perspective. It was right after Paul started the lawsuit to dissolve the Beatles' partnership to get out of the management contract all four had with Allen Klein. John was incredibly angry at Paul at the time for that, and Paul had also written Too Many People on Ram, which John heard as a swipe at him and Yoko (Paul admitted many years later that it was). John said Paul wrote that in his coy manner, then said he didn't do anything coyly, so How Do You Sleep? did not mince words. Having George play on it was him aligning himself with John in agreement over the lawsuit. It was more hurt than anger. George also wrote Sue Me, Sue You Blues about it. '71 and '72 were crazy times for the "ex" Beatles, and they definitely put it on record forever how bitter The Beatles' breakup really was. If you think How Do You Sleep? is harsh, you should read John's unedited '71 Rolling Stone interview! John later said that How Do You Sleep? was also about himself, and that him and Paul were OK.
Just good mates letting things rip. And later they would probably acknowledge they could've done things differently. I love them both. That particular moment is captured and frozen on video and record. A lot of time transpired since then where their feelings changed, mellowed. It shouldn't be looked at as the defining ending moment in their relationship, charged by total ill-feeling. Just a transient moment of indifference. Like many of us, with our mates and family. They truly loved one another. Have a look at today's times. Millions have a gripe and post in on Facebook or Twitter (which, I am sure George would agree is the "Devil's Radio"). I'm sure in a few years they get over it and wish they hadn't posted anything. Hell, most "celebrities" who post something on twitter end up removing it by the next day. As for Allen Klein, he got his right due, his own song written about him.
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What song was written about Allen Klein?
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Erik in NJ:
What song was written about Allen Klein?
You Never Give Me Your Money by Paul/Beatles Steel and Glass by John on Walls and Bridges
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dappa-macca:
Erik in NJ:
What song was written about Allen Klein?
You Never Give Me Your Money by Paul/Beatles Steel and Glass by John on Walls and Bridges
"There you stand with your L.A. tan, and your New York walk, and your New York talk..." It was around this time Klein was being indicted for tax evasion and defrauding The Concert for Bangladesh, and Paul was being proved right about his original misgivings about Klein. Nobody made a fool of Lennon and got away with it!
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Steel and Glass could be about LENNON too..since John said HOW DO YOU SLEEP? was about him..(not Paul) ...but it does sound like words about PAUL...IT is mean..
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The following line made me always believe the song was about Lennon: "You're mother left you when you were small" Was this true about Klein? "Steel and glass" sounds like it was written about a Manhattan skyscraper. What does the title really refer to? I think the lyrics to HDYS are much more direct and also much harsher. What was Klein's reaction to the song?
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I think Klein's mother left him too when he was small. Don't know if he had a comment about Steel and Glass. (which was just a metaphor)
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There was a little more info on Wiki though not much: Despite Lennon's animosity towards Klein, he was staying at Klein's home when he wrote "Steel and Glass".[13] Whenever Lennon was asked if the song was about Klein, Lennon denied it.[13]
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John was always a "shoot first, ask questions later" type. John was generally o.k. with how Paul announced the breakup. He even admired him for that. And, John told Spector how envious he was of Paul's solo records sold so well, while POB, Mother single was a commercial failure. What changed was the lawsuit. All 3 Beatles hated Paul for doing that. I think the Ram lyrics was just a lame excuse to lash out at Paul at that time. Over the years, Paul was proven right about Klein, & the lawsuit might have saved them all financially. John mellowed out starting in 1972 & all was good again. John was probably embarrassed over How Do You Sleep & scenes from the Imagine movie & starting telling people the song was really about him.
