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)
Real Love
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 © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: John Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@virginiwoolf
Music always helps you get through many of your inner struggles 🤍
All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dreams
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for you
Just like little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
Seems like all they really were doing
Was waiting for love
Don't need to be alone
No need to be alone
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for love
Don't need to be afraid
No need to be afraid
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
Thought I'd been in love before
But in my heart, I wanted more
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you
Don't need to be alone
Don't need to be alone
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
@Talent-ke3wq
All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dreams
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for you
Just like little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
Seems like all they really were doing
Was waiting for love
Don't need to be alone
No need to be alone
It's real love, it's real
Yes it's real love, it's real
From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for love
Don't need to be afraid
No need to be afraid
It's real love, it's real
Yes it's real love, it's real
Thought I'd been in love before
But in my heart, I wanted more
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you
Don't need to be alone
Don't need to be alone
It's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
Yes it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
Yes it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
Yes it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
@CherylWhitestone
When you find your True Love for the first time. I wondered if true love existed, now I know it does. "All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dreams
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for you
Just like little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
Seems like all they really were doing
Was waiting for love
Don't need to be alone
No need to be alone
It's real love, it's real
Yes it's real love, it's real
From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for love
Don't need to be afraid
No need to be afraid
It's real love, it's real
Yes it's real love, it's real"
@mikeoneill9190
I've been listening to the Beatles Anthology version since it came out in 90's. This is the first time I heard the demo
I am shocked how much better, soulful and meaningful the original recording sounds/feels.
The video from anthology was wonderful with its graphics and feel.
BUT
It completely missed the heart of the song. It was a good video, but it really sold these lyrics and tonality short. This one touches the heart in a way the other doesn't.
Thx for posting it.
@radiolondra74
Real Love
/
Lyrics
All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dreams
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for you
Just like little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
Seems like all they really were doing
Was waiting for love
Don't need to be alone
No need to be alone
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for love
Don't need to be afraid
No need to be afraid
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
Thought I'd been in love before
But in my heart, I wanted more
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you
Don't need to be alone
Don't need to be alone
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
Yes, it's real love, it's real
It's real love, it's real
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Lennon
@adityaarvian9887
the way he sings "no need to be alone" somehow makes me feel safe
@hw343434
John was the greatest vocal communicator in rock
@faisalaldiansyah943
boong luh
@EPA18
You're full of it.
@maestrobjwa90
@@hw343434 He once told someone (it was a celebrity, will have to look up the name) that one of the keys to songwriting was "Just say exactly what you mean"...and he was a master at that!
@iam.aarisaa
Mantap bg
@maestrobjwa90
Wow...Ya know, John just had a certain way with his chords/chord progressions that I'm not sure was seen in pop music before or since. Thinking about chords in Imagine, Oh My Love, Free as a Bird, etc...his chord progressions are beautifully hypnotic, where more typical pop chords are interspersed with these sudden, gorgeous ethereal minor, diminished, and augmented chords that just take ya somewhere. I mean this song is a gorgeous example of this...Lennon genius!
@hw343434
Spot on! I always subconsciously admired John’s chord progressions, they spoke to me in a way. No I’m learning to appreciate consciously the way he builds cord progressions in such a unique and as you say ethereal manner. Reminds me a bit of Beethoven at times but in a totally different context
@tarosan1754
You forgot to mention 9# Dream, that song was hypnotizing. Sounds so good
@hw343434
“#9 Dream” is an epic track all the way. Incredible melody, arrangement and production all by John himself