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)
Love Is Real
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing with their little toys
All they really needed from you
Was, maybe, some love
All the little boys and girls
Living in this crazy world
All they really needed from you
Was, maybe, some love
Why must we be alone?
Why must we be alone?
It's real life
Yes, it's real
I don't expect you to understand
The kingdom of Heaven is in your hands
I don't expect you to wake from the dream
Too late for crying, now, that it seems
All their little plans and schemes
Ain't nothing but a bunch of dreams
All you really needed to do
Was, maybe, some love
John Lennon's Real Love appears to be addressing the basic human need for love, one which is often overlooked. The song seems to be directed towards the adults of the world- to those older, wiser, and more experienced, asking them to provide the love that the children need. The opening verses speak of children playing with their toys, living in a crazy world, and ultimately needing love from those they look up to. Throughout the song, Lennon asks why we must be alone in this particular journey? Yes, it's real life, but it could be a little easier if we just had some love - if we provided love to those who need it most.
In contrast to the opening verses, the bridge of the song shifts. Lennon sings, "I don't expect you to understand, the kingdom of heaven is in your hands. I don't expect you to wake from the dream, too late for crying now, that it seems" - almost in a passive-aggressive way, acknowledging that some people do not always see the importance of love. Lennon implies that showing love is difficult, but it is what is necessary to create a better reality for those who need it.
Line by Line Meaning
All the little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
All they really needed from you
Was, maybe, some love
Children are playing with their toys, but their true need is love.
All the little boys and girls
Living in this crazy world
All they really needed from you
Was, maybe, some love
Children are living in a crazy world, but their true need is love.
Why must we be alone?
Why must we be alone?
It's real life
Yes, it's real
The singer is questioning why being alone is a part of real life.
I don't expect you to understand
The kingdom of Heaven is in your hands
I don't expect you to wake from the dream
Too late for crying, now, that it seems
The singer believes that understanding the concept of heaven is difficult and it is too late to cry about one's lack of understanding.
All their little plans and schemes
Ain't nothing but a bunch of dreams
All you really needed to do
Was, maybe, some love
The plans and schemes of children are nothing but dreams, and what they really need is love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tommyl.dayandtherunaways820
“Ask me why, I’ll say I love you” - John Lennon, 1963
“Say the word, the word is love” - John Lennon, 1965
“In my life, I love you more” - John Lennon, 1965
“All you need is love” - John Lennon, 1967
“Love is real, real is love” - John Lennon, 1970
“Oh my love, for the first time in my life, my eyes are wide open” - John Lennon, 1971
“It’s like we both are falling in love again” - John Lennon, 1980
“I love you, yeah yeah, now and forever” - John Lennon, 1980
“Just like little girls and boys, playing with their little toys, seems like all they really were doing, was looking for love” - John Lennon 1994
All John wanted all his life was to be loved and to find someone he could entrust his heart to in return. That was the theme of his music from the very beginning to the very end. I like to think that at least in the final years of his life, he was finally, truly, happy and loved. And he is still loved today. Thank you for your beautiful message John, we still believe in love ❤️✌️
@richardsyoutubechannel995
To me this is with out doubt one of the greatest lyrical love songs john lennon ever wrote .its amazingly beautiful
@kkennedy1773
Love this, shared. John Lennon lives on through his music.
@tiffanyroseangeles7517
RIP JOHN LENNON! My beautiful cat is in a lot of pain
I'm in a dark place,but this song is absolute GENUIS & perfection!
John was the greatest most iconic lyricist ever!! Wonderful tune very sombre
@ingridredfern5065
So sorry to hear your cat is suffering
but hope the pain will subside soon ❤️🐱
@rachaelsiders9658
This song is so Beautiful !!! Makes me Cry !!!!
@juanlaron5103
https://youtu.be/qRyZ9Oe0uaE
@tiffanyroseangeles7517
Yes beautiful the feelings it evokes
@renatodemavibas3367
Still very beautiful to listen to
@kkennedy1773
One of my favorites of John...LOVE
@juanlaron5103
https://youtu.be/qRyZ9Oe0uaE