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)
I Don't Want to Be a Soldier
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, i don't wanna be a sailor mama, i don't wanna fly
Well, i don't wanna be a failure mama, i don't wanna cry
Well, i don't wanna be a soldier mama, i don't wanna die
Oh no oh no oh no oh no
Well, i don't wanna be a rich man mama, i don't wanna cry
Well, i don't wanna be a poor man mama, i don't wanna fly
Well, i don't wanna be a soldier mama, i don't wanna die
Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no
Well, i don't wanna be a beggar mama, i don't wanna die
Well, i don't wanna be a thief now mama, i don't wanna fly
Well, i don't wanna be a churchman mama, i don't wanna cry
Well, i don't wanna be a soldier mama, i don't wanna die
Oh no oh no oh no oh no
The lyrics to "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die" express John Lennon's desire to avoid the draft and the war in Vietnam. The song begins by stating that he does not want to be a soldier or a sailor, and he does not want to die. The following verses state that he also does not want to be rich or poor, a lawyer or a beggar, a thief or a churchman. This repetition emphasizes his desire to avoid any situation that may result in his death, even if it means not achieving success in other areas of life.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase "Oh no" several times, highlighting Lennon's apprehension and fear of being conscripted to the military. The lyrics illustrate the anti-war sentiment that was prevalent during the Vietnam War, and Lennon's personal angst over the possibility of being drafted.
Overall, "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die" is a powerful protest song that reflects Lennon's political views and aversion to violence. It is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the individual sacrifices made by those who are forced to fight.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, i don't wanna be a soldier mama, i don't wanna die
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a soldier and face the possibility of death.
Well, i don't wanna be a sailor mama, i don't wanna fly
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a sailor and face the possibility of flying-related dangers.
Well, i don't wanna be a failure mama, i don't wanna cry
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a failure and the resulting emotions he might feel.
Oh no oh no oh no oh no
The singer is reinforcing his reluctance to a fate he wants to avoid by repeating a mournful refrain.
Well, i don't wanna be a rich man mama, i don't wanna cry
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a rich man and the resulting emotions he might feel.
Well, i don't wanna be a poor man mama, i don't wanna fly
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a poor man and face the possibility of flying-related dangers.
Well, i don't wanna be a lawyer mama, i don't wanna lie
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a lawyer due to the need to resort to dishonesty during the course of his work.
Well, i don't wanna be a beggar mama, i don't wanna die
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a beggar and face the possibility of death.
Well, i don't wanna be a thief now mama, i don't wanna fly
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a thief and face the possibility of flying-related dangers.
Well, i don't wanna be a churchman mama, i don't wanna cry
The singer is expressing his reluctance to be a member of the clergy and the resulting emotions he might feel.
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