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.
Let Me Count the Ways
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's like that gentle wind you feel at dawn
It's like that first sun that hits the dew
It's like that cloud with a gold lining telling us softly
That it'll be a good day, a good day for us
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Let me count the ways how I miss you
It's like that first summer I spent in Egypt
It's like that warm evening you read to me
Both knowing deeply
That it's a good time, a good time for us
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Let me count the ways how I see you
It's like that lake in the mountain you heard about
It's like that autumn sky that stays so blue
It's like that air around me that holds me gently
Whispering strongly that you're always there, always for me
Thank you, thank you, thank you
In Let Me Count The Ways, John Lennon and Yoko Ono express their love, longing, and appreciation for one another through three different verses. Each verse compares the way they feel to a different natural element – a gentle wind, an oak tree, and a mountain lake.
In the first verse, Lennon compares his love for Ono to a "gentle wind you feel at dawn" and "that first sun that hits the dew." Both are fleeting but special moments that signify the beginning of something new and beautiful. The gold lining in a cloud also represents hope and the promise of a good day.
In the second verse, Lennon uses the metaphor of an oak tree in his childhood garden and his first summer in Egypt to describe the depth of his longing for Ono. Reading together on a warm evening represents a shared moment of peace and contentment.
Finally, in the third verse, Lennon sees Ono in everything around him - the mountain lake, the autumn sky, and even the air. Her constant presence is comforting and reassuring to him.
Overall, the lyrics are a beautiful tribute to the couple's love for one another and the ways in which they continue to find happiness in each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me count the ways how I love you
I will express my love for you in multiple ways
It's like that gentle wind you feel at dawn
My love for you is like a soft, gentle breeze that you feel at the beginning of a new day
It's like that first sun that hits the dew
My love for you is like the warmth of the sun that greets the dew in the morning
It's like that cloud with a gold lining telling us softly
My love for you is like a beautiful cloud with a golden lining that brings a peaceful message of hope and happiness
That it'll be a good day, a good day for us
It's a sign that we will have a good day together
Thank you, thank you, thank you
I am grateful for this love and for you
Let me count the ways how I miss you
I will express how much I miss you in different ways
It's like that oak tree in my childhood garden
Missing you is like remembering an old, familiar oak tree from my childhood garden
It's like that first summer I spent in Egypt
Missing you is like the nostalgia of my first summer spent in Egypt
It's like that warm evening you read to me
Missing you is like longing for the warmth of evenings when you read to me
Both knowing deeply
We both deeply understand this feeling
That it's a good time, a good time for us
We had good times together
Thank you, thank you, thank you
I am grateful for the memories of our time together
Let me count the ways how I see you
I will describe how I see you in different ways
It's like that lake in the mountain you heard about
I see you as a serene and beautiful mountain lake that I have heard about
It's like that autumn sky that stays so blue
I see you as an autumn sky that remains bright blue and clear despite the season's changes
It's like that air around me that holds me gently
I see you as a comforting and gentle presence that surrounds me like air
Whispering strongly that you're always there, always for me
I feel the strength of your constant presence and support for me
Thank you, thank you, thank you
I am thankful for the way I see and feel you in my life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: YOKO ONO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind