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)
Steel and Glass
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who is it, who is it, who is it?
There you stand with your L.A. tan
And your New York walk and your New York talk
You're mother left you when you were small
But you're going to wish you wasn't born at all
Steel and glass
Steel and glass
Steel and glass
Your phone don't ring no one answers your call
How does it feel to be off the wall
Well your mouthpiece squawks as he spreads your lies
But you can't pull strings if your hands are tied
Well your teeth are clean but your mind is capped
You leave your smell like an alley cat
Steel and glass
Steel and glass
Steel and glass
Steel and glass
The lyrics of John Lennon's song 'Steel and Glass' tells the story of a man who is perceived to be successful and influential. However, the song suggests that this success is built on a foundation of lies, manipulation and misdeeds. The opening line of the song 'This is a story about your friend and mine' sets a tone of intrigue, suggesting that this story could be about anyone, not only the person being directly addressed in the song.
The lyrics go on to describe this person as having a 'L.A. tan' and a 'New York walk and talk', conveying a sense of someone who is well-travelled and worldly. However, they have suffered the abandonment of a mother during their childhood, indicating a troubled past. The song then takes on a more aggressive tone, stating that this person will 'wish [they] wasn't born at all'. The lyrics 'Steel and glass' are repeated throughout the song, perhaps referring to the cold and unfeeling nature of the person's life and surroundings, or perhaps serving as a metaphor for the facade this person has created for themselves.
The song also implies that this person's success is built on deceit and dishonesty, with 'spread[ing] your lies' and 'pull[ing] strings' mentioned in the song. The final line of the song, 'You leave your smell like an alley cat', suggests a sense of untrustworthiness and insincerity. Overall, 'Steel and Glass' is a scathing critique of the negative aspects of wealth, success, and fame.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a story about your friend and mine
The following song tells the story of someone who may be considered a friend to the listener.
Who is it, who is it, who is it?
The singer is questioning the identity of the person in question, prompting the listener to pay attention to the details that follow.
There you stand with your L.A. tan
The subject is located in Los Angeles, exhibiting a 'tan' that is associated with the location.
And your New York walk and your New York talk
Despite being in L.A., the subject's mannerisms and speech indicate that they are from New York.
You're mother left you when you were small
It is revealed that the subject has a troubled past, as their mother left them at an early age.
But you're going to wish you wasn't born at all
The singer predicts that the subject will come to regret their existence.
Steel and glass
The repeated phrase 'steel and glass' could potentially refer to the environment that the subject is located in, suggesting that they are in a cold, unfeeling urban environment.
Your phone don't ring no one answers your call
The subject appears to be isolated and unable to make connections with others, as evidenced by their unanswered phone calls.
How does it feel to be off the wall
The question is asked to prompt the subject to consider their current situation and the emotions that may arise from their isolation.
Well your mouthpiece squawks as he spreads your lies
The subject has someone advocating for them, but it is suggested that this person is dishonest and spreading falsehoods about them.
But you can't pull strings if your hands are tied
Despite any perceived influence, the subject is unable to act on it due to external constraints.
Well your teeth are clean but your mind is capped
Despite physical cleanliness, the subject's thoughts and actions are considered to be limited and restricted.
You leave your smell like an alley cat
The subject is seen as undesirable or unappealing, as denoted by the comparison to an alley cat.
Steel and glass
The phrase is repeated once more to emphasize the harsh, unforgiving environment that the subject is located in.
Steel and glass
The final repetition of the phrase serves as a conclusion to the song, driving home the bleakness of the situation described.
Lyrics © BUDDE MUSIC FRANCE, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dulce Natalia Hernandez
on Imagine - 2010 - Remaster
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