Introduction
John Lennon is a legendary musician who has left a mark in the music industry. One of his most popular songs is “How Do You Sleep?” This song was released in 1971 and was directed towards his former bandmate, Paul McCartney. The song has a lot of meaning behind it and is loved by many fans. In this article, we will take a closer look at the lyrics of “How Do You Sleep?” by John Lennon.
Verse 1
The first verse of the song starts with the lyrics, “So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise.” This line is referring to the Beatles’ album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” which was released in 1967. John Lennon is questioning why Paul McCartney was surprised by the album’s success, considering it was a collaborative effort. The line “You better see right through that mother’s eyes” is a reference to Paul McCartney’s mother, who passed away when he was young.
Chorus
The chorus of the song is one of the most memorable parts. It goes, “How do you sleep at night? How do you walk with your head held high?” John Lennon is questioning how Paul McCartney can live with himself after everything that has happened between them. The line “All the people that you made die” is a reference to the Beatles’ former manager, Brian Epstein, who passed away in 1967.
Verse 2
The second verse starts with the lyrics, “A pretty face may last a year or two.” John Lennon is saying that looks can only take you so far and that Paul McCartney’s success won’t last forever. He then goes on to say, “But I won’t be surprised if it lasts till I’m with you.” This line is referring to John Lennon’s belief that Paul McCartney’s fame will only last until they are both in the afterlife.
Bridge
The bridge of the song is a bit more upbeat than the previous verses. John Lennon sings, “The sound you make is muzak to my ears.” He is saying that Paul McCartney’s music is no longer anything special to him and that it’s just background noise. The line “You must have learned something in all those years” is a reference to the fact that Paul McCartney had been in the music industry for a longer time than John Lennon.
Verse 3
The third and final verse starts with the lyrics, “The only thing you done was ‘Yesterday’.” John Lennon is saying that Paul McCartney’s most popular song is “Yesterday” and that he hasn’t done anything significant since then. The line “And since you’re gone you’re just another day” is a reference to the fact that John Lennon no longer considers Paul McCartney a friend or even a significant person in his life.
Conclusion
“How Do You Sleep?” by John Lennon is a powerful song with a lot of meaning behind it. The lyrics are a direct attack on his former bandmate, Paul McCartney. The song was released in 1971 and is still loved by many fans today. The song’s chorus is particularly memorable, questioning how Paul McCartney can live with himself after everything that has happened between them. The song is a testament to John Lennon’s talent and his ability to express his emotions through music.
