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)
Living on Borrowed Time
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Living confusion and deep despair
When I was younger
Living illusion of freedom and power
When I was younger
Full of ideas and broken dreams (my friend)
When I was younger ah hah
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Now I am older
The more that I see the less that I know for sure
Now I am older
The future is brighter and now is the hour
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Good to be older
Would not exchange a single day or a year
Good to be older
Less complications everything clear
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
In John Lennon's song "Borrowed Time," he reflects on his youth and recklessness. He acknowledges that he was once full of confusion, broken dreams, and illusions of freedom and power. He also acknowledges that when he was younger, everything seemed simple but not necessarily clear. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who was once living without regard for tomorrow- someone who was living on borrowed time. The phrase "living on borrowed time" in the song means that the person is living life recklessly, without thinking of the consequences, and without a care for what tomorrow may bring.
As the song progresses, John Lennon notes that as he gets older, he has become more aware of his limitations. He recognizes that the more he sees, the less he knows, but at the same time, he realizes that the future is brighter than ever before. He notes that he is still living on borrowed time, but now he is more aware of the importance of life, and he has a clearer sense of what he wants to do with his remaining days.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was younger
Reflecting on a time in the past when the singer was filled with confusion and despair, while simultaneously carrying an illusion of being free and powerful.
Living confusion and deep despair
Describing how the singer felt when they were younger and less experienced, where life seemed like an incomprehensible chaos.
Living illusion of freedom and power
Describing how the singer had an unrealistic perception of the level of control they possessed over their own life.
Full of ideas and broken dreams (my friend)
Emphasizing how the artist felt very passionate about their creativity and purpose, but found that their reality often didn't meet their expectations.
Everything simple but not so clear
Despite feeling that life and their purpose were easy to understand back then, the artist now realizes that things were more complicated than they seemed.
Living on borrowed time
Describing how the singer feels that their existence is only temporary and that time is running out.
Without a thought for tomorrow
Going through life without really considering the future or the consequences of their actions, living in the present moment completely.
Now I am older
Signifies a current state of being for the artist, where they've experienced more of what life has to offer and gained more wisdom as a result.
The more that I see the less that I know for sure
After gaining more knowledge and experience, the artist realizes that there's still so much they don't understand or know with certainty.
The future is brighter and now is the hour
A hopeful statement about the future, as the artist believes that things will continue to improve and that they're currently living in a good moment.
Good to be older
Expressing contentment about aging and being able to look back on all of their life's experiences.
Would not exchange a single day or a year
Emphasizing how much the artist values their life, and would never trade any of it away, even if they had the chance to go back and change something.
Less complications everything clear
After living for a while, the singer has come to understand that sometimes simplicity is best, and that clarity is valuable in a way that wasn't obvious when they were younger.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@laodiceiasilva4770
When I was younger
Living confusion and deep dispair
When I was younger ah hah
Living illusion of freedom and power
When I was younger
Full of ideas and broken dreams (my friend)
When I was younger ah hah
Everything simple but not so clear
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Now I am older
The more that I see the less that I know for sure
Now I am older ah hah
The future is brighter and now is the hour
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Good to be older
Would not exchange a single day or a year
Good to be older ah hah
Less complications everything clear
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
@j.c7719
Yet another masterpiece from Lennon. That verse melody is something else ❤ the greatest songwriter of all time bar none.
@dawncharlonne1961
Happy Birthday John! 80 years old! Thank you for the wonderful music and wise words! Peace and Love!
@lisaparsons4124
Yes happy birthday to John Lennon
@johnlennon
"When I was younger..."
The John Lennon and Yoko Ono album 'Milk and Honey' was released #onthisday 9 Jan 1984
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WggUweuTFxg
@bellaangel2860
John had the nicest smile, love this song ❤
@graceland329
Baby John Lennon was so cute! 🥰
@carriad11
Sadly John is no longer with us but his music will live forever!
@lisaparsons4124
Yes I agree 💯 and love John Lennon
@theneweraofmusic5578
Not the same as meeting him live.
@bertenqvist7324
Stop mourning.