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Tomorrow Never Knows
The Beatles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Turn off your mind relax and float down-stream
It is not dying, it is not dying
Lay down all thought surrender to the void
It is shining, it is shining

That you may see the meaning of within
It is being, it is being
That love is all and love is everyone
It is knowing, it is knowing

That ignorance and haste may mourn the dead
It is believing, it is believing
But listen to the color of your dreams
It is not living, it is not living

Or play the game "existence" to the end
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning

Overall Meaning

The Beatles’ Tomorrow Never Knows is a psychedelic classic that still holds a place in popular culture. The song has a hypnotic, dizzying quality to it, and the lyrics themselves invoke images of spiritual awakening and a journey into the unknown. The song is a meditation on the impermanence of life, the power of love, and the mystical quality of existence.


The lyrics themselves are a series of psychedelic mantras, urging the listener to turn off their mind, surrender to the void, and float downstream. The song embodies a philosophy of transcendence, urging the listener to let go of their thoughts and surrender to the present moment. The refrain "It is not dying" suggests that death is not an end, but rather a continuation of the cycle of life.


The middle section of the song emphasizes the power of love, and states that love is all and love is everyone. This suggests an interconnectedness between all things and that love is the ultimate form of transcendence. The lyrics urge the listener to listen to the color of their dreams to suggest that the journey towards enlightenment is deeply personal and subjective.


Line by Line Meaning

Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream
Clear your head of all thoughts and simply go with the flow


It is not dying
This experience may feel intense, but it's not the end of your life


It is not dying
This experience may feel intense, but it's not the end of your life


Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void
Let go of your mind and embrace the emptiness


It is shining
The void is not scary or dark, but rather a bright, positive force


It is shining
The void is not scary or dark, but rather a bright, positive force


That you may see the meaning of within
By embracing this emptiness, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself


It is being
The meaning of life is simply to exist


It is being
The meaning of life is simply to exist


That love is all and love is everyone
Love is the universal force that connects all of us


It is knowing
By embracing this love, you can gain a true understanding of the world


It is believing
Even when faced with ignorance and hate, we should hold onto our belief in love


But listen to the color of your dreams
Pay attention to your subconscious and use your dreams to gain insight


It is not living
Life is more than just going through the motions of daily living


It is not living
Life is more than just going through the motions of daily living


Or play the game 'Existence' to the end
Approach life as a game, knowing that eventually it will come to an end


Of the beginning
Life is a cycle of beginnings and endings


Of the beginning
Life is a cycle of beginnings and endings


Of the beginning
Life is a cycle of beginnings and endings


Of the beginning
Life is a cycle of beginnings and endings


Of the beginning
Life is a cycle of beginnings and endings


Of the beginning
Life is a cycle of beginnings and endings


Of the beginning
Life is a cycle of beginnings and endings




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Mugsy


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