John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 – 8 Decem… Read Full Bio ↴John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His work included music, writing, drawings and film. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history.

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)

Let it Be
John Lennon Lyrics

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Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
cnd in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

cnd anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Hey Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better
Better, Better, Better, Better, Better
Ohhhhhh
Na-Na-Na Na-Na-Na
Na-Na-Na-Na, Hey Jude
Na-Na-Na Na-Na-Na
Na-Na-Na-Na, Hey Jude
cnd when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Hey Jude, there'll be an answer
Let it be

Overall Meaning

The song Let it Be is an ode to acceptance and peace during times of difficulty. The first verse speaks of seeking solace from Mother Mary, who is believed to be a symbol of comfort and purity in the Catholic faith. Her words of wisdom encourage acceptance and surrender to the present moment, instead of fighting against it. The chorus reinforces this message, urging the listener to let it be and trust that there is a greater plan at work.

The second verse acknowledges the struggles of the broken-hearted and suggests that there will be an answer or resolution to their pain. Despite feeling separated or isolated, there is still hope for a unifying solution. The line "let it be" serves as both a reassurance and a call to action, inviting individuals to release their pain and come together in a shared experience of healing. The final lines of the song describe the presence of a guiding light, shining even in the midst of darkness, and reinforce the idea that letting go and trusting in a higher power can lead to a brighter future.

Line by Line Meaning

When I find myself in times of trouble
In moments of difficulty

Mother Mary comes to me
I think of my mother, who is my guide

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
She advises me to let things take their natural course

And in my hour of darkness
During my darkest moments

She is standing right in front of me
I can count on her support and guidance

And when the broken hearted people
For those who are broken-hearted

Living in the world agree,
Who are living in this world

There will be an answer, let it be.
There will be a solution, let it happen on its own

And though they may be parted there is
Even if they are separated

Still a chance that they will see
There is still a possibility of resolution

Yeah there will be an answer, let it be.
Indeed, there will be a solution if we let it happen naturally