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.
Watching the Wheels
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doing what I'm doing
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings
To save me from ruin
When I say that I'm okay, well they look at me kinda strange
"Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game"
People say I'm lazy
Well they give me all kinds of advice
Designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
"Don't you miss the big time boy, you're no longer on the ball?"
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
Ah, people asking questions
Lost in confusion
Well, I tell them there's no problem
Only solutions
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me, as if I've lost my mind
I tell them there's no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
"Watching the Wheels" is a song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It was released on Double Fantasy, the last album recorded by John Lennon before his death in 1980. The song was written during a period when Lennon had withdrawn from the music industry and was focusing on raising his son, Sean. The song expresses Lennon's contentment in leaving behind the pressures of the music industry and society's expectations for him to continue being a "successful" musician. The lyrics speak of how he is perfectly happy watching the world go by without participating in it.
The first verse speaks of people calling Lennon crazy for leaving the music game, but he insists that he is happy and content with his decision. The second verse speaks of people calling Lennon lazy for not striving for more, but again, he insists that he is happy and content with his simple life of watching shadows on the wall. The chorus speaks of Lennon's love for watching the wheels go round and round, emphasizing his contentment in just being an observer instead of a participant.
The last verse speaks of people asking Lennon questions, confused as to why he is no longer striving for success. He tells them that there is no hurry and that he is just "doing time," suggesting that he is simply living out the natural course of his life. The repetition of the line "I just had to let it go" emphasizes Lennon's acceptance and peace with his decision to leave the music industry and just watch the world go by.
Overall, "Watching the Wheels" is a song about finding contentment in leaving behind societal pressures and expectations in favor of a simpler, quieter life. The song could be seen as a reflection of Lennon's own personal struggles with fame and the expectations placed upon him as a musician.
Line by Line Meaning
People say I'm crazy
People think I'm insane
Doing what I'm doing
For living my way of life
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings
They try to caution me
To save me from ruin
To protect me from danger
When I say that I'm okay, well they look at me kinda strange
When I tell them I'm fine, they give me weird looks
Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game
They assume that I can't be happy because I'm not following their norms
People say I'm lazy
People think I'm unproductive
Dreaming my life away
For spending my time lost in thoughts
Well they give me all kinds of advice
They try to counsel me
Designed to enlighten me
So that I can see things from their perspective
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
When I say I'm enjoying the simple things in life
Don't you miss the big time boy, you're no longer on the ball?
Aren't you upset that you're not chasing success anymore?
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I'm just observing the world go around
I really love to watch them roll
I find joy in watching it all happen
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I'm not part of the rat race anymore
I just had to let it go
I had to let go of societal expectations
Ah, people ask me questions
People often ask me things
Lost in confusion
They don't understand my perspective
Well, I tell them there's no problem
I explain to them that everything's okay
Only solutions
There are always solutions to everything
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me, as if I've lost my mind
They think I'm crazy because I'm not following society's rules
I tell them there's no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time
I tell them that I'm taking my time and enjoying myself
I just had to let it go
I had to let go of societal expectations
I just had to let it go
I had to let go of societal expectations
I just had to let it go
I had to let go of societal expectations
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
People say I'm crazy
Doing what I'm doing
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings
To save me from ruin
When I say that I'm okay, well they look at me kinda strange
"Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game"
People say I'm lazy
Dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice
Designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
"Don't you miss the big time boy, you're no longer on the ball?"
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
Ah, people asking questions
Lost in confusion
Well, I tell them there's no problem
Only solutions
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me, as if I've lost my mind
I tell them there's no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time
@louiscaruso4167
Back in the day, I saw John with Sean in Cental Park...he was the happiest man alive then...RIP...
@Evan.harrison
Really lucky man
@BaconFrisbee
Hard to begrudge him his happiness just because it cost us a few more Beatles songs. Not as though the band members didn't keep releasing amazing tracks on their own.
@faridaichour9569
@@Evan.harrison
Non answer
@sergiojulianlopezpuebla9720
Louis Can you talk More about that day when you Saw John and Sean in Central Park?
@louiscaruso4167
@@sergiojulianlopezpuebla9720 Yes, back then I worked in Central Park...John would take Sean to what is now...Strawberry Fields and the playground...John lived in the prestigious...Dakota on 72nd Street & Central Park West...he was approachable but guarded when he was with Sean...he was a very happy and carefree man...may he RIP...
@mauricioramirez9744
Rest in peace John. You may not be here but your voice can still be heard around the world.
@lauraketter334
John Lennon was truly a man of peace. He accepted people as they were, not what they should be or what they could be. He loved to he loved even if others may not have accepted interracial relationships. If more people today were like John, it would indeed be a better world. Sad to say, this world is going to hell in a hand basket because of the decisions that people choose to make. It could be such a beautiful world if we could eliminate hatred and if more people became humanitarians. Peace and love Laura
@michellejackson8973
❤❤
@dipawalishrestha5073
Njkhi@@michellejackson8973