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.
Walking on Thin Ice
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For throwing the dice in the air
Why must we learn it the hard way?
And play the game of life with your heart
Like a gush of wind in my hair
Why do we forget what's been said?
And play the game of life with our hearts
I may cry someday
But the tears will dry whichever way
And when our hearts return to ashes
It'll be just a story, it'll be just a story
The lyrics of "Walking on Thin Ice" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono are quite meaningful and deep. The theme of the song is about taking risks in life and the consequences that come along with it. The phrase "walking on thin ice" is a metaphor for living dangerously, and the line "I'm paying the price for throwing the dice in the air" suggests that taking a chance can sometimes lead to negative outcomes.
The lyrics, "why must we learn it the hard way and play the game of life with your heart," indicate the emotional risk that one takes by putting their heart into something or someone. The line "I gave you my knife, you gave me my life, like a gush of wind in my hair" showcases a powerful symbol of trust and vulnerability, where the knife represents a weapon or danger, and the wind represents freedom.
The verse, "I may cry someday, but the tears will dry whichever way, and when our hearts return to ashes, it'll be just a story," suggests that even if something intense and emotional happens, time will eventually heal the pain, and it becomes nothing but a story. Overall, the lyrics of "Walking on Thin Ice" are rich with meaning and symbolism and invite the listener to ponder life's risks.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking on thin ice, I'm paying the price
I am in a precarious situation and I am suffering the consequences of my actions.
For throwing the dice in the air
I took a risk by making a bold move without knowing the consequences.
Why must we learn it the hard way?
Why do we have to go through difficult experiences to learn the lessons of life?
And play the game of life with your heart
Why do we rely on emotions rather than logic in making important decisions in our lives?
I gave you my knife, you gave me my life
We exchanged roles in our relationship; the giver became the receiver, the attacker became the protector.
Like a gush of wind in my hair
The feeling of relief or excitement after a troubling situation has passed.
Why do we forget what's been said?
Why do we fail to remember the lessons learned in the past and repeat the same mistakes?
And play the game of life with our hearts
Why do we continue to make decisions based on emotions, even though we know that it is not always the best way?
I may cry someday
I might experience sadness or hardship at some point in my life.
But the tears will dry whichever way
Even though things might be difficult at the moment, it will eventually get better.
And when our hearts return to ashes
When our love and passion have faded or ended.
It'll be just a story, it'll be just a story
Our experiences, no matter how significant, will become a mere memory and will no longer affect us in the future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: YOKO ONO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Baroque Guitarist
This was Lennon’s final track he ever recorded. John supposedly used his original 1958 Rickenbacker 325 he used at the cavern club and the first Ed Sullivan appearance to record the surf like vibrato bar guitar parts with his Bigsby. Those guitar parts were the last thing John ever recorded before he passed away. Which is poetic because that 1958 Rickenbacker 325 was his first main electric guitar he recorded all the earliest beatle songs with and it was also the last instrument John ever recorded with coming full circle. John was all excited upon finishing this track telling Yoko and the studio engineers that Yoko has her first hit. I don’t know if I would go that far but this song is definitely the best piece of music with Yoko on it and too this day one of my favorites to listen too. Which makes the lyrics about walking on a thin ice a bit of an omen in hindsight. Such a pointless tragedy... the world got robbed of so much future music and getting to watch Johns character age and react to the changes in times after 1980. R.I.P John you are missed
red door
The Beatles will be remembered by future generations as much on the same level as Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky
Joshua Ross
It was confirmed about three years ago by Earl Slick at Winter NAMM ( 2019 ) that John Used his New Strat not his 58 Rickenbacker
Alan Tompas
This song gives us a glimmer of what the decade held for John if he got home from recording this in one piece. We were robbed of some great new work down the line. I tear up listening to this now.
Kent Huang
Actually Yoko wrote the song. John only played the guitar and produced it
Josh Diaz
@Kent Huang this song was John’s last recording session ever so that’s his point.
Jack Sano
His last work..on that day in 1980 a weighed driving to 72nd street and waiting for them so I could ask them for a job on the dairy farm they just bought. At the time I worked as a caretaker for jp Morgan's granddaughter in upstate new York. I didn't have the gas money to run down to the Manhattan and have gas for week. So I dint go . .
Rip John. I know you would've hired me if had stopped that demon .
May he rot in jail .
District 97
@Jack Sano that's a crazy story! Had you ever met them before?
Jack Sano
@District 97 sadly no. However in 1978 while deer hunting outside Delhi ny. I came out of the woods onto a dirt road. (OLD DIRT ROAD). IMAGINE I look up and see a black pick up coming . Not sure if I was on my friends land still. I said to myself. Look like you belong here keep your cool. As the truck approached I looked up and waved . Got a wave and pleasant smile back .
TO MY SHOCK. IT WAS JOHN . SAD TO SAY HE HAD TO SEE ME WITH A GUN. HAPPINESS WASN'T A WARM GUN AFTER ALL .
Bill Goerger
Don't care what anyone says. Her songs on Double Fantasy are very good and this single is fantastic. Haunting.