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)
Sleepless Night
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The moon is bright
All I'm asking for is
Three minute love
Legs
What am I going to do with my legs
They're so hot
And they're screaming!
Sleepless night
The moon is bright
All I'm asking for is
Three minute love
Head
What am I going to do with my head
It's so light
It just gives me the fright
It's full of champagne and dreams
Sleepless night
All um umm
All I'm asking for is
Three minute love
This brush must sell like crazy
I mean there's a lot of lonely people out there
I want to go to the ball
I want to give it all
I'll take it all
Sleepless night
All I'm asking for is
What am I asking for?
In "Sleepless Night," John Lennon and Yoko Ono explore the theme of sex and desire. The song expresses the desperation and longing for intimacy that can be felt during a sleepless night. The repeated line "All I'm asking for is three minute love" speaks to the idea that sometimes all we need is a brief moment of physical connection to satisfy our cravings. The moon being bright creates a sense of a lonely night where the singer is left to their own thoughts and desires.
The use of the body as a metaphor for desire is evident in the lines "legs" and "head." The singer's legs are too hot and restless, suggesting a physical discomfort caused by desire. The head is described as light and full of champagne and dreams, which may represent the dizzying and intoxicating effects of sexual longing. The song also implies that sex can be a solution to the restlessness and anxiety of a sleepless night.
The lyric "This brush must sell like crazy, I mean there's a lot of lonely people out there" highlights the commercial nature of the beauty industry and its promise of fulfilling our desires for love and romance. Despite its brief duration, "Sleepless Night" is a deeply personal and intimate song that reveals the depths of human longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleepless night
Unable to sleep, staying up through the night
The moon is bright
The moon is shining brightly in the sky
All I'm asking for is
I only desire or wish for
Three minute love
A brief moment of love or affection
Legs
My legs, referring to the physical part of my body
What am I going to do with my legs
I am unsure about what to do with my legs, what action or movement to take
They're so hot
My legs are feeling very warm, and uncomfortable
They won't stay on the cot
I am unable to keep my legs still, they are moving around restlessly
And they're screaming!
Metaphorically, my legs are loudly expressing discomfort or agitation
Head
My head, referring to the physical part of my body
What am I going to do with my head
I am unsure about what to do with my head, what thought or decision to make
It's so light
My head feels unusually light or dizzy
It just gives me the fright
My head is causing me fear, anxiety or unease
It's full of champagne and dreams
My head is full of excitement, imagination and carefree thoughts, like being drunk on champagne
All um umm
An expression of confusion or uncertainty
This brush must sell like crazy
This particular item must be selling very well, possibly because many people feel lonely
I mean there's a lot of lonely people out there
There are many people who feel isolated and alone, and they may buy certain products to fill the void
I want to go to the ball
I want to attend a fancy event, like a ball or party
I want to give it all
I want to put all my energy, enthusiasm, and passion into the experience
I'll take it all
I am willing to accept everything that comes with the experience, good or bad
What am I asking for?
I am questioning what exactly I am hoping to achieve or gain, or what is the true nature of my desire
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: YOKO ONO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trishpaytas2773
george is really just sittin there knowin damn well this song is about paul
@luisleal7301
I think he shared thoughts with John:/
@valvortexx5628
None of these hoes are loyal
@el34glo59
Lol. He's like just playing some guitar. Don't hear nothing
@humanbeing8068
Luis Leal yeah that’s something i picked up on after watching living in the Material World world and the John and Yoko movie on Netflix. John, George And Ringo all played on each other’s post-Beatles songs at one point. Kinda makes me feel bad for Paul.
@ClassicRock1973
@@valvortexx5628 shut up
@Ziontrainism
John: "How do you sleep?"
Paul: "Woke up, fell out of bed!"
@doodle2763
Ziontrainism dragged a comb across my head
@ronpicavet1738
found my way upstairs and had a smoke. Somebody spoke and I went into a dream.
@clawster1655
@@ronpicavet1738 You skipped a few lines