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)
Whatever Gets You Through the Night
John Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's alright, it's alright
It's your money or your life
It's alright, it's alright
Don't need a sword to cut through flowers
No-no, oh-no
Whatever gets you through your life
Do it wrong, or do it right
It's alright, it's alright
Don't need a watch to waste your time
Oh-no, oh-no
Hold me, darlin', come on, listen to me
I won't do you no harm
Trust me, darlin', come on, listen to me
Come on, listen to me, come on, listen, listen
Whatever gets you to the light
It's alright, it's alright
Out of the blue, or out of sight
It's alright, it's alright
Don't need a gun to blow you mind
Oh-no, oh-no
Hold me, darlin', come on, listen to me
I won't do you no harm
Trust me, darlin', come on, listen to me
Come on, listen to me, come on, listen, listen
The lyrics of John Lennon's song "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" are a celebration of individuality and self-expression. He encourages listeners to do whatever they need to do in order to survive and thrive, whether that means indulging in vices, taking unconventional paths, or simply being true to oneself. He affirms that whatever makes you feel alive and brings you to the light is valid, and that you don't need to conform to societal norms or expectations to live a fulfilling life.
The repeated refrain of "it's alright, it's alright" emphasizes that whatever choices you make, they are acceptable and should not be judged by others. The line "It's your money or your life" suggests that sometimes you may need to make sacrifices or difficult decisions in order to survive or achieve your goals. The mention of flowers and timelessness in the verses further highlight the idea that life is about finding your own path and not being tied down to convention or societal expectations.
The repetition of the phrase "hold me, darlin', come on, listen to me" creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the singer and the listener. It is almost as if Lennon is telling the listener that he understands their struggles and is there to support them, no matter what.
Overall, "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" is a message of hope and encouragement to stay true to oneself and persevere through whatever challenges come your way.
Line by Line Meaning
Whatever gets you through the night
No matter what helps you get through the difficult times
It's alright, it's alright
It's okay, don't worry
It's your money or your life
You have to do what it takes to survive
Don't need a sword to cut through flowers
You don't need to use force when something gentle will suffice
Whatever gets you through your life
Whatever helps you cope with the challenges of living
Do it wrong, or do it right
Do it the best way you know how, regardless of what others say
Don't need a watch to waste your time
Life is too short to worry about every second; enjoy every moment
Hold me, darlin', come on, listen to me
Let's spend some time together and talk about what's on our minds
I won't do you no harm
I won't hurt you; you can trust me
Trust me, darlin', come on, listen to me
Believe in me and what I'm telling you
Whatever gets you to the light
Whatever helps you see the way forward
Out of the blue, or out of sight
Unexpected or hidden, but still there
Don't need a gun to blow your mind
You don't need something drastic or violent to make a big impact
Lyrics © Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Imagine - 2010 - Remaster
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