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.
Mildred Mildred
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Lyrics
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Remember the joke you told me
While we had our midnight tea.
That was the funniest joke I ever heard in my life,
I didn't tell you then 'cause I was drinking the tea.
Alfred, now Alfred, you used to call me so.
And told me how it would be nice to open a plant shop.
I didn't tell you then 'cause I was reading the papers.
Mildred, oh, Mildred, how I love you so,
Remember how you were angry when I talked to the box.
You kept trying to tell me something, something about your life,
But I didn't hear you then 'cause I was watching the box.
I bought a pot of plant now
And I'm watering it ev'ry day.
I watched the late night talk show
And asked the man in a suit
Why he was laughing so when my wife was dead.
He didn't reply,
No, he didn't reply at all.
And I burnt the box the next morning
And buried in our garden.
Mildred, oh, Mildred, how I miss you so,
How I wish to tell you a lot of things about our life.
But of course you aren't around, you aren't around no more
And I hear the box still laughing in the next door apartment.
The lyrics to "Mildred Mildred" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono revolve around the theme of missed opportunities and communication breakdown within a relationship. The song is a reflection on a lost love and the regret that comes with not appreciating the moments and connections while they were still present.
In the first paragraph, the singer addresses Mildred and expresses their deep love for her. They recall a joke she once told during a late-night tea, noting that it was the funniest joke they had ever heard. However, they admit that they didn't express their appreciation at that time because they were too focused on drinking the tea. This illustrates how sometimes we may overlook the significance of a moment or fail to fully value someone's presence due to distractions or preoccupations.
The second paragraph introduces Alfred, a name the singer was once called by Mildred. Alfred had shared the idea of opening a plant shop, which the singer considers as the most sensible notion they had ever discussed together. However, the singer confesses that they didn't acknowledge the brilliance of this idea at the time because they were preoccupied with reading the papers. This highlights how missed opportunities can arise from prioritizing external distractions over meaningful conversations or shared dreams.
The third paragraph highlights a specific instance of failed communication. Mildred became angry when the singer paid more attention to watching television, symbolized by "the box," rather than actively listening to her. The singer realizes that Mildred was trying to share something important about her life, but they missed her message because their attention was consumed by the screen. This highlights the danger of neglecting and failing to truly hear one another's voices in a relationship.
The last paragraph represents a turning point in the singer's perspective. They have bought a plant and care for it daily, symbolizing their desire to nurture and appreciate life in the wake of Mildred's absence. The singer confronts a man in a suit on a late-night talk show, questioning why he finds humor in their wife's death. The lack of response from the man illustrates the disconnect between personal pain and the indifference of the outside world. In response, the singer burns the television and buries it in their garden, symbolizing a definitive break from the superficial distractions that hindered their connection with Mildred.
The song concludes with the singer expressing their longing to share all the things they never got the chance to with Mildred. However, they realize that she is no longer alive and can no longer be spoken to. In a poignant final line, the singer notes that they can still hear the laughter from the neighboring apartment, indicating that the cycle of missed connections and emotional disconnection continues around them. Overall, the lyrics of "Mildred Mildred" serve as a powerful reminder to cherish and prioritize meaningful connections and open lines of communication before they are lost forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Mildred, Mildred, how I love you so
I have deep, intense love for you, Mildred.
Remember the joke you told me while we had our midnight tea
I have fond memories of the joke you shared during our late-night tea time.
That was the funniest joke I ever heard in my life, I didn't tell you then 'cause I was drinking the tea.
It was the most hilarious joke I ever heard, but I couldn't express my laughter because I was in the middle of taking a sip of tea.
Alfred, now Alfred, you used to call me so
You affectionately called me Alfred in the past.
And told me how it would be nice to open a plant shop
We discussed the appealing idea of starting our own plant shop.
That was the most sensible idea we had in our life, I didn't tell you then 'cause I was reading the papers.
It was the most logical and practical plan we ever considered, but I didn't mention it because I was engrossed in reading the newspaper.
Remember how you were angry when I talked to the box
Recall the time you became upset when I conversed with the television set.
You kept trying to tell me something, something about your life
You attempted to communicate something important relating to your own experiences.
But I didn't hear you then 'cause I was watching the box
Regrettably, I didn't pay attention to your words because I was engrossed in watching the television.
I bought a pot of plant now and I'm watering it ev'ry day
Currently, I have purchased a plant pot and diligently care for it by watering it daily.
I watched the late night talk show and asked the man in a suit why he was laughing so when my wife was dead
While tuning into a late-night talk show, I questioned a well-dressed man on why he found amusement while my wife had passed away.
He didn't reply, no, he didn't reply at all
Regrettably, he chose not to respond to my inquiry, completely disregarding my question.
And I burnt the box the next morning and buried in our garden
Feeling an overwhelming sense of anger and frustration, I set fire to the television set the following morning and buried its remains in our garden.
Mildred, oh, Mildred, how I miss you so
Mildred, I deeply long for your presence and companionship.
How I wish to tell you a lot of things about our life
I yearn for the opportunity to share numerous details about our shared life together.
But of course you aren't around, you aren't around no more
However, I must acknowledge the fact that you are no longer with me.
And I hear the box still laughing in the next door apartment
Ironically, I can hear the sound of a television set laughing in the neighboring apartment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: YOKO ONO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind