This song was very controversial upon its release, dealing with religious themes.
Meaning
The first movement of the song discusses Lennon's disdain for popular religious belief. He believed that God was something different to everyone, and that most people did not focus enough on the moral lessons of religion.[citation needed] He describes God as "a concept by which we measure our pain".
In the second section of the song, Lennon lists many idols that he does not believe in (including The Beatles), ending by stating that he just believes in himself and Yoko. The idols he lists are: magic, I Ching, the Bible, tarot, Hitler, Jesus, Kennedy, Buddha, mantra, Gita, yoga, kings, Elvis, Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) and The Beatles.
The final section of the song describes Lennon's change since the breakup of The Beatles. He states that he is no longer the "Dreamweaver" or "The Walrus," but just "John." The final line of the song, "The dream is over," represents Lennon's stance that the myth "the Beatles were God" had come to an end. "If there is a God," Lennon explained, "we're all it."[1]
Personnel
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:[2]
* John Lennon - vocals
* Billy Preston - piano
* Ringo Starr - drums
* Klaus Voormann - bass
Appearances in popular culture
* The line "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me" was referenced in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
* The song has been performed by Queen guitarist Brian May.[3]
* Irish rock band U2 wrote a song entitled "God Part II", referring to the original Lennon song. The lyrics, written by lead singer Bono, continue the pattern of stating things he doesn't believe in.
* "God" (and the album Plastic Ono Band generally) was mocked in the National Lampoon Comedy Radio song "Magical Misery Tour". This parody reportedly consists entirely of actual quotes from Lennon's famous Rolling Stone magazine interview following the breakup of The Beatles. It ends with "Lennon" crying out, "Mother! They're trying to crucify me!", followed by a heavily-echoed fadeout of repeated primal screams "Fuck! Fuck!".[4]
* "God" was covered by Jack's Mannequin and Mick Fleetwood, released on Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur (2007).
GOD
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By which we measure
Our pain
I'll say it again
God is a concept
By which we measure
Our pain
I don't believe in I-Ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't believe in mantra
I don't believe in Gita
I don't believe in yoga
I don't believe in kings
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in Beatles
I just believe in me
Yoko and me
And that's reality
The dream is over
What can I say?
The dream is over
Yesterday
I was the dream weaver
But now I'm reborn
I was the Walrus
But now I'm John
And so dear friends
You'll just have to carry on
The dream is over
The lyrics to John Lennon's "God" demonstrate a significant shift in the artist's beliefs and ideologies. The song essentially disavows religion and other fixed beliefs that Lennon had grown up with and embraced in his youth. The opening lines of the song assert that God is a concept that humans use to measure their pain. This suggests that God is not a divine entity, but rather a human construct used to make sense of the world's chaos and suffering. Lennon then begins to list a string of beliefs he no longer ascribes to, including magic, the I-Ching, the Bible, tarot, and various historical figures like Hitler and Jesus. By doing this, he makes it clear he no longer identifies as Christian or subscribes to the spiritual beliefs that religion teaches.
The chorus of the song stresses that the dream is over, and the artist was once the dream weaver, who's now reborn as John Lennon. He reminds his friends and listeners that they must continue, even if the dream or ideal they hold dear is gone. This could signify a potential message to people that although their beliefs or aspirations may end, life must go on, and they must continue to hold on to their true identities, regardless of the external changes in the world or even oneself.
The song can be seen as a radical affirmation of individualism, as Lennon concludes that the only concept he believes in is himself and Yoko, and this is the reality he must adhere to. While the song may initially seem pessimistic, it could also be viewed as an extremely empowering anthem for people to find their own purpose and fulfill their own desires, not needing any external supernatural entity to guide them.
Line by Line Meaning
God is a concept
The notion of God is simply an idea that human beings have created.
By which we measure
It serves as a standard of comparison for evaluating our experiences.
Our pain
The suffering we endure and the struggles we face in life.
I don't believe in magic
I don't believe that supernatural powers or forces influence our lives.
I don't believe in I-Ching
I don't accept the Chinese divination system as a predictor of the future.
I don't believe in Bible
I don't consider the Christian scripture as a source of divine revelation.
I don't believe in tarot
I don't trust in the method of predicting the future through the use of special cards.
I don't believe in Hitler
I reject the ideology and actions of this notorious German dictator.
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't acknowledge the existence, teachings or divinity of this religious figure.
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't endorse or hold a belief in the policies or leadership of this former US president.
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't recognize the authority, doctrine or legacy of this spiritual master.
I don't believe in mantra
I don't believe that repeating certain words or phrases can bring spiritual benefits.
I don't believe in Gita
I don't accept the philosophical or religious teachings contained in the ancient Indian scripture.
I don't believe in yoga
I don't put faith in the physical or mental practices of this ancient Indian tradition.
I don't believe in kings
I don't approve of the idea of a monarch or ruler having absolute power over a society.
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't hold Elvis Presley in high regard as a musician, icon or cultural figure.
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't support or admire the work of Robert Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan, a famous songwriter and musician.
I don't believe in Beatles
I don't place any special importance or value on the band known as The Beatles.
I just believe in me
I have confidence and self-belief in my own abilities, thoughts and feelings.
Yoko and me
My partner, Yoko Ono, and I share a mutual respect and support in our creative and personal lives together.
And that's reality
This is the truth of my beliefs and experiences, which I am expressing through this song.
The dream is over
The utopian vision of a better world and a more peaceful society has been disillusioned and shattered.
What can I say?
I don't know how to express the sadness and disappointment I feel about this reality.
Yesterday
In the past, I had the hope and optimism that better things were possible.
I was the dream weaver
I had the ability to inspire and create ideals that people could aspire to.
But now I'm reborn
I have changed and evolved into a new version of myself, with a different outlook and perspective.
I was the Walrus
I was a symbol and icon of the counterculture of the 1960s and its values.
But now I'm John
I am returning to my true identity and beliefs, beyond the persona and image I had created before.
And so dear friends
To those who have followed me and supported me, especially The Beatles' fans.
You'll just have to carry on
It's up to you to continue working towards the goals and aspirations that we once shared together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Winston Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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