John Lennon Lyrics

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People say we got it made
Don't they know we're so afraid
Isolation
We're afraid to be alone
Everybody got to have a home
Isolation

Just a boy and a little girl

Trying to change the whole wide world
Isolation
The world is just a little town
Everybody trying to put us down
Isolation

I don't expect you, to understand
After you caused so much pain
But then again, you're not to blame
You're just a human, a victim of the insane

We're afraid of everyone
Afraid of the sun
Isolation
The sun will never disappear

But the world may not have many years
Isolation

Overall Meaning

The song "Isolation" by John Lennon is a melancholic reflection on the loneliness and fear of modern living. The song starts off with the lines: "People say we got it made, don't they know we're so afraid, isolation". Lennon is pointing out that despite the comforts and luxuries many people have, isolation is a common problem that everyone's facing. The loneliness and fear of being alone have crept into our lives, and we are unaware of how much it's affecting us.

The next verse talks about a boy and a girl who are trying to change the world but are constantly put down by others. Here "Isolation" means that people want to bring the couple down by creating an environment where they're isolated and powerless to create change. Lennon shines a light on how people who oppose change create a situation that isolates and excludes the people who want to transform the world.

Then, Lennon addresses someone whom he believes has caused him a lot of pain. The lines "I don't expect you to understand after you caused so much pain, but then again, you're not to blame, you're just a human, a victim of the insane" exhibit that while he's in pain, he understands that the person who caused him harm is also a product of their environment. Lennon's message here is that people should strive to understand others, even if they cause pain, because everyone is a victim of their circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

People say we got it made
The society thinks that we are living a perfect life.

Don't they know we're so afraid
But they are unaware of our constant fear.

Isolation
Our overwhelming loneliness is suffocating us.

We're afraid to be alone
We are scared to be left with our thoughts and feelings.

Everybody got to have a home
We all crave a place where we feel safe and secure.

Just a boy and a little girl
We are two innocent individuals.

Trying to change the whole wide world
We wish to make the world a better place for everyone.

The world is just a little town
But the world seems small with everyone trying to bring us down.

Everybody trying to put us down
The world is against our goals, aspirations, and dreams.

I don't expect you, to understand
I know it's difficult for you to comprehend our experience.

After you caused so much pain
Considering you have caused us so much heartache and suffering.

But then again, you're not to blame
However, I know that you are not wholly responsible for your actions.

You're just a human, a victim of the insane
Like us, you are another human being, just as broken and flawed.

We're afraid of everyone
Our fear has now extended to every person we come across.

Afraid of the sun
Even the brightness of the sun now intimidates us.

The sun will never disappear
But the sun will never cease to exist.

But the world may not have many years
However, the future of our world looks uncertain and precarious.

Isolation
We are still trapped in our isolation, unable to escape our reality.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JOHN WINSTON LENNON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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