Several of their later albums were released under the name The Plastic Ono Band, and often featured other musicians such as Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, and Alan White. The Plastic Ono Band's first album, Live Peace in Toronto 1969, was recorded during the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Festival. The first half of their performance consisted of rock standards, and during the second half, Ono took the microphone and along with the band performed what may be one of the first expressions of the avant garde during a rock concert. The set ended with music that consisted mainly of feedback, while Ono screamed and sang.
Their fifth album together, Some Time in New York City, released in 1972, is fiercely motivated by political issues the couple found themselves confronted with upon moving to New York City in September, 1971. The album was highly controversial but is generally seen as the beginning of Ono's emergence as a songwriter with "Sisters O Sisters", "Born In A Prison", and "We're All Water"
With the birth of their son Sean in 1975, Lennon put his career on hold to raise the boy and rekindle his relationship with his older son Julian. In the summer of 1980, both Lennon and Ono felt ready to resume to work and began composing. They made the decision to release their impending songs together on the same album. Subtitled "A Heart Play", Double Fantasy would be a collection of songs whereby John and Yoko would be singing to each other.
Released in 1984, Milk and Honey is notable for being Lennon's first posthumous release of music, having been recorded in the last months of his life during and following the sessions for Double Fantasy. Though Lennon's death caused a temporary shelving of the project, Ono was later capable of returning to complete it.
Cold Turkey
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Lyrics
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Fever is high
Can't see no future
Can't see no sky
My feet are so heavy
So is my head
I wish I was a baby
Cold turkey has got me on the run
My body is aching
Goose-pimple bone
Can't see no body
Leave me alone
My eyes are wide open
Can't get to sleep
One thing I'm sure of
I'm at the deep freeze
Cold turkey has got me on the run
Cold turkey has got me on the run
Thirty-six hours
Rolling in pain
Praying to someone
Free me again
Oh I'll be a good boy
Please make me well
I promise you anything
Get me out of this hell
Cold turkey has got me on the run
The song Cold Turkey by John Lennon and Yoko Ono is a reflection of the painful experience of withdrawal from drug addiction, specifically heroin. The lyrics vividly portray the physical and emotional turmoil that come with trying to quit the drug. The opening lines, "Temperature's rising, fever is high, can't see no future, can't see no sky," suggest a feeling of hopelessness and despair. The singer is physically and mentally exhausted, feeling like they can't see beyond the immediate pain.
The imagery in the lyrics is graphic and unsettling, with references to heavy feet and head, wishing to be dead, and being at the deep freeze. These lines suggest the physical pains of withdrawal, the mental anguish of addiction, and the desire to be free from it all. The repeated refrain "cold turkey has got me on the run" emphasizes the urgent need to escape from the grip of addiction.
The song ends with a plea for help, with the singer praying to be free from the pain of withdrawal. The desperate tone of the lyrics reflects the devastating effects of heroin addiction, and serves as a cautionary tale for those considering drug use.
Line by Line Meaning
Temperature's rising
I feel more agitated and frustrated because of my addiction.
Fever is high
The intensity of my addiction is reaching its peak and I'm struggling to control it.
Can't see no future
My addiction makes it difficult for me to plan ahead and imagine a brighter, healthier future for myself.
Can't see no sky
My addiction is like a dark cloud that obscures any hope or optimism I have about the future.
My feet are so heavy
My addiction has become a burden that weighs me down and slows my progress in life.
So is my head
My addiction is affecting my mental health and cognitive function, making it difficult to think clearly or make sound decisions.
I wish I was a baby
I yearn for a time when I wasn't chained down by my addiction and could experience the innocence and purity of youth once again.
I wish I was dead
I'm in so much pain and despair because of my addiction that death seems like a better option than trying to deal with it.
Cold turkey has got me on the run
I'm trying to quit my addiction suddenly, without any gradual reduction, and it's causing me to feel overwhelmed and out of control.
My body is aching
The physical symptoms of my addiction withdrawal are making my body feel sore and uncomfortable.
Goose-pimple bone
My addiction withdrawal is so intense that it's physically affecting my bones and causing me to feel chills or shivers.
Can't see no body
I feel so disconnected from my own body because of my addiction, like I'm just an empty shell going through the motions of life.
Leave me alone
I just want to be left alone to deal with my addiction and the pain it's causing me.
My eyes are wide open
I'm suffering from insomnia and my addiction is making it difficult for me to sleep or relax.
Can't get to sleep
My thoughts are racing and I'm unable to quiet my mind enough to fall asleep because of my addiction.
One thing I'm sure of
Despite all the uncertainty and chaos in my life, I'm confident that my addiction is the root of my problems.
I'm at the deep freeze
My addiction has frozen me in place, making it difficult for me to progress or make any positive changes in my life.
Thirty-six hours
I've been suffering from addiction withdrawal for over a day and a half and it's taking a serious toll on me.
Rolling in pain
I'm writhing in agony and discomfort because of my addiction withdrawal.
Praying to someone
I'm reaching out to a higher power or someone who can help me through this difficult time because I feel helpless on my own.
Free me again
I'm desperate to be freed from the grip of my addiction and to reclaim my life and happiness.
Oh I'll be a good boy
I'm making promises to myself and to a higher power that I'll be a better and more responsible person if I can just overcome my addiction.
Please make me well
I'm begging for help and healing from my addiction and its withdrawal symptoms.
I promise you anything
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to overcome my addiction and to become a better, healthier person.
Get me out of this hell
I'm suffering so much because of my addiction and its withdrawal that it feels like I'm living in a personal hell.
Lyrics © Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN WINSTON LENNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind