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)

Nobody Loves You
John Lennon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nobody loves you when you're down and out
Nobody sees you when you're on cloud nine
Everybody's hustlin' for a buck and a dime
I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine

I've been across to the other side
I've shown you everything, I got nothing to hide
And still you ask me do I love you, what it is, what it is

All I can tell you is it's all show biz
All I can tell you is it's all show biz

Nobody loves you when you're down and out
Nobody knows you when you're on cloud nine
Everybody's hustlin' for a buck and a dime
I'll scratch your back and you knife mine

I've been across the water now so many times
I've seen the one eyed witchdoctor leading the blind
And still you ask me do I love you, what you say, what you say
Every time I put my finger on it, it slips away
Every time I put my finger on it, it slips away

Well I get up in the morning and I'm looking in the mirror to see, ooo wee
Then I'm lying in the darkness and I know I can't get to sleep, ooo wee

Nobody loves you when you're old and grey
Nobody needs you when you're upside down

Everybody's hollerin' 'bout their own birthday
Everybody loves you when you're six foot in the ground

Overall Meaning

In "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)," John Lennon reflects on the harsh reality of fame and fortune. He notes that during his most vulnerable moments, there is no one there for him. He labels it as a showbiz phrase, hinting that fame is temporary and the love that people offer can be superficial. This song exhibits how fame can provide a sense of isolation, revealing how people quickly desert those who are not directly helpful to their interest.

The poet uses a metaphor of a person heading from cloud nine down to the ground. When an individual is on top, everyone wants to associate themselves with them, but as soon as they are down and out, nobody wants to associate with them. The lyrics make reference to a showbiz phrase: "what it is, what it is." This line highlights how often links in the industry are only formed to gain mutual benefit rather than actual affection for the other person. Lastly, the song's chorus repeats this message twice, signifying how familiar John Lennon was with the sentiment.

Line by Line Meaning

Nobody loves you when you're down and out
When you're struggling and experiencing hardships in life, people tend to distance themselves from you and show less love and care towards you.

Nobody sees you when you're on cloud nine
When you're successful and happy in life, people only acknowledge you and pay attention to you because of your success or high-status.

Everybody's hustlin' for a buck and a dime
People are constantly striving to make money and willing to do whatever it takes to get there, even if it means compromising their values or relationships.

I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine
People often have ulterior motives when attempting to help others, ultimately seeking something in return - a favor, a connection, or some form of benefit.

I've been across to the other side
The artist has experienced both successes and hardships in life, gaining perspectives on both sides of the spectrum.

I've shown you everything, I got nothing to hide
The singer has been open and honest towards someone, revealing everything they have about themselves, yet the person questions the validity of the love or relationship.

And still you ask me do I love you, what it is, what it is
Even after showing complete transparency and honesty, the person questions the sincerity of the love or relationship.

All I can tell you is it's all show biz
The artist suggests that love and relationships can be viewed as a form of business, where people put on a show and pretend to care for their own benefit.

I'll scratch your back and you knife mine
People are willing to betray or harm others in order to get ahead, especially in situations where they believe that they are not getting anything in return.

I've been across the water now so many times
The artist has traveled extensively, gaining knowledge and perspective from different cultures and perspectives.

I've seen the one eyed witchdoctor leading the blind
The singer has witnessed people following or being led by those who are not necessarily capable or knowledgeable, yet they seek guidance and support nonetheless.

And still you ask me do I love you, what you say, what you say
Despite the wealth of knowledge and experience, the person still questions the validity of the love or relationship.

Every time I put my finger on it, it slips away
The love or relationship is elusive and can never be fully understood or grasped, slipping away from understanding every time one thinks they have it figured out.

Well I get up in the morning and I'm looking in the mirror to see, ooo wee
The singer looks at themselves in the mirror, perhaps struggling with self-confidence or identity.

Then I'm lying in the darkness and I know I can't get to sleep, ooo wee
In moments of quiet reflection, the singer struggles with insomnia or anxiety about their life and relationships.

Nobody loves you when you're old and grey
As people age, they are less likely to receive love and affection from others, becoming more invisible and forgotten.

Nobody needs you when you're upside down
When people are at their lowest point, others tend to ignore or avoid them, neither loving nor needing them.

Everybody's hollerin' 'bout their own birthday
People are often more concerned with their own needs and desires, specifically their own birthday celebrations, than with the needs or desires of others.

Everybody loves you when you're six foot in the ground
People often express love and appreciation towards someone only after they have passed away or died, taking the person for granted while they were alive.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN WINSTON LENNON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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