Born in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager. In 1956, he formed The Quarrymen, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Sometimes called "the smart Beatle", Lennon initially was the group's de facto leader, a role he gradually ceded to McCartney. Through his songwriting in the Beatles, he embraced myriad musical influences, initially writing and co-writing rock and pop-oriented hit songs in the band's early years, then later incorporating experimental elements into his compositions in the latter half of the Beatles' career as his songs became known for their increasing innovation. Lennon soon expanded his work into other media by participating in numerous films, including How I Won the War, and authoring In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works, both collections of nonsense writings and line drawings. Starting with "All You Need Is Love", his songs were adopted as anthems by the anti-war movement and the larger counterculture of the 1960s. In 1969, he started the Plastic Ono Band with his second wife, multimedia artist Yoko Ono, held the two-week-long anti-war demonstration Bed-ins for Peace and left the Beatles to embark on a solo career.
Between 1968 and 1972, Lennon and Ono collaborated on many works, including a trilogy of avant-garde albums, several more films, his solo debut John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and the international top-10 singles "Give Peace a Chance", "Instant Karma!", "Imagine", and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". Moving to New York City in 1971, his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a three-year deportation attempt by the Nixon administration. Lennon and Ono separated from 1973 to 1975, during which time he produced Harry Nilsson's album Pussy Cats. He also had chart-topping collaborations with Elton John ("Whatever Gets You thru the Night") and David Bowie ("Fame"). Following a five-year hiatus, Lennon returned to music in 1980 with the Ono collaboration Double Fantasy. He was murdered by a Beatles fan, Mark David Chapman, three weeks after the album's release.
As a performer, writer or co-writer, Lennon had 25 number-one singles in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Double Fantasy, his best-selling album, won the 1981 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. That year, he won the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2002, Lennon was voted eighth in a BBC history poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth-greatest singer and 38th greatest artist of all time. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (in 1997) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice, as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1994).
Studio albums
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Imagine (1971)
Some Time in New York City (with Yoko Ono, 1972)
Mind Games (1973)
Walls and Bridges (1974)
Rock 'n' Roll (1975)
Double Fantasy (with Yoko Ono, 1980)
Milk and Honey (Posthumous with Yoko Ono, 1984)
Experimental studio albums with Yoko Ono
Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins (1968)
Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions (1969)
Wedding Album (1969)
Happy Christmas
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
cNOTHER YEcR OVER, cND c NEW ONE JUST BEGUN
cND SO THIS IS CHRISTMcS, I HOPE YOU HcVE FUN
THE NEcR cND THE DEcR ONE, THE OLD cND THE YOUNG
CHORUS:
c VERY MERRY CHRISTMcS - cND c HcPPY NEW YEcR
LET'S HOPE IT'S c GOOD ONE - WITHOUT cNY FEcR
cND SO THIS IS CHRISTMcS, FOR WEcK cND FOR STRONG
FOR RICH cND THE POOR ONES, THE ROcD IS SO LONG
cND SO HcPPY CHRISTMcS, FOR BLcCK cND FOR WHITE
FOR YELLOW cND RED ONES, LET'S STOP cLL THE FIGHT
CHORUS:
cND SO THIS IS CHRISTMcS, cND WHcT HcVE WE DONE
cNOTHER YEcR OVER, c NEW ONE JUST BEGUN
cND SO HcPPY CHRISTMcS, WE HOPE YOU HcVE FUN
THE NEcR cND THE DEcR ONE, THE OLD cND THE YOUNG
CHORUS:
BRIDGE
WcR IS OVER, IF YOU WcNT IT
WcR IS OVER, NOW
cND SO HcPPY CHRISTMcS, WE HOPE YOU HcVE FUN
THE NEcR cND THE DEcR ONE, THE OLD cND THE YOUNG
CHORUS
The song "Happy Xmas" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono is a touching ballad of hope and peace, released in December 1971. The lyrics convey the message of reflection on the current year and approaching the new year with positivity and a renewed sense of optimism. The opening lines, "So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, and a new one just begun" are a reminder of the passage of time and the importance of making the most of it.
The song emphasizes the significance of spending time with loved ones and embracing diversity, regardless of race or class. The lines, "For black and for white, for yellow and red one, let's stop all the fight" are a direct message of inclusivity and unity. Focusing on the good in the world and prioritizing love and kindness over hate and division are reoccurring themes throughout.
Additionally, the song ends with the hopeful declaration, "War is over, if you want it… War is over now." The phrase is repeated multiple times, emphasizing the importance of taking action in ending war and bringing about global peace. The song encourages individuals to take responsibility for cultivating a more peaceful and harmonious world.
Overall, the song is a deeply emotive and inspiring holiday classic. It encourages listeners to reflect on the year past and enter the new one with a sense of possibility, hope, and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
So this is Christmas
It is Christmas time, an annual celebration of the birth of Jesus. It's a reflection point for people to determine their accomplishments throughout the year just gone.
And what have you done
It is a questioning moment that provokes us to ponder over the achievements and failures we have experienced during the year that is coming to an end.
Another year over
This highlights the fact that everyone in the world has spent 365 days trying to achieve their goals and to make life better.
And a new one just begun
The year has been concluded and everyone has got a clean slate to pen their new goals for a new year with renewed hope and energy.
And so this is Christmas
It emphasizes the celebratory mood as Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for everyone; regardless of age, gender, or worldview.
I hope you have fun
The lyricist has a wish for every individual to enjoy their time with their loved ones, embrace the joy, and cherish these moments for the rest of the year.
The near and the dear one
Every person should spend Christmas with family, loved ones, and friends who add meaning and value to life.
The old and the young
Christmas is a time for the elderly and the young, where the young bring the joy and the old brings the wisdom and experience that make the day perfect and vibrant.
A very Merry Christmas
It's a direct wish to have a cheerful and enjoyable Christmas day.
And a happy new year
It's a wish for a beautiful year ahead that awaits everyone.
Let's hope it's a good one
This line signifies the desire for the new year to be prosperous, with fewer bad events and more illustrious moments.
Without any fear
The goal is for there to be no obstacles, giving everyone a chance to enjoy their time without fear of something adverse happening.
For weak and for strong
It emphasizes that Christmas is for everyone, including the weak and the strong, and everyone should have an equal chance to have joy and happiness.
For rich and the poor ones
This line affirms that Christmas extends to every economic class, giving a chance for the rich and poor to come together to celebrate.
The world is so wrong
This refers to the rampant injustice, poverty, and inequality in the world, which is in contrast to Christmas's spirit, a time of love and unity.
And so happy Christmas
It's an expression wishing individuals a merry Christmas, filled with happiness and warmth.
For black and for white
It is a call for unity, acknowledging that regardless of skin color, everyone should come together to celebrate Christmas as one people, having the same purpose and values.
For yellow and red one
This line extends the previous notion to include people from different cultural backgrounds, emphasizing that Christmas should not have a cultural barrier.
Let's stop all the fight
It's a reflection point that the world has experienced a lot of fights, misunderstandings, and wars, but Christmas should be a chance for everyone to rekindle peace and forgive each other.
And what have we done
This line reflects upon society's shortcomings and failure to realize peace, unity, and love for one another.
A new one just begun
It affirms that society has recognized their past failures and are given a new year to do better in ensuring that their purpose and goals are well established.
War is over if you want it
It's an invitation that embracing peace, unity and forgiveness can work wonders in society. It highlights the need for individuals to choose love and peace over war and discord.
la, la, ah, ah
It's just an interlude musical display that doesn't add to the song's overall meaning.
Happy Christmas
It's an affirmation that everyone should have a lively and significant celebration of Christmas.
Happy Christmas (happy Christmas)
It's a repetition of the affirmation of jubilation, love, and unity that should accompany Christmas.
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