Lennon was given his first guitar by his father at age 11 and formed his first band at age 13 with school friend Justin Clayton, who has since played on each of Lennon’s albums. “Justin and I spent all our time learning the classic rock and roll songs, like ‘Roll Over Beethoven,’ Lennon recalls. “As I got older, I began to listen to the Beatles more carefully and became fascinated by the intelligence that went into their songwriting — the arrangements, melodies, and lyrics, which was great as I began to write my own songs. Crafting a great song is always my final goal.”
Though Lennon was also interested in pursuing acting (and was offered an education through the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company), he decided to stick with music. “I'd fallen madly in love with being able to play three or four chords, and everybody standing up and yelling and screaming,” he says. “The simplicity and ease of it drove me toward a career in music more than anything else.”
In 1983 Lennon, then aged 20, was offered his first record deal and released Valotte the following year. Produced by Phil Ramone, the album was certified platinum and earned Lennon a Grammy Award nomination for “Best New Artist.” It also included two major hits, the title track, which was a fixture on the Billboard Top 40 chart for 12 weeks, peaking at No. 9, followed by Too Late For Goodbyes, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Noted film director Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch, The Getaway) directed the videos for both singles, the success of which made Lennon an international star, necessitating a global tour of Asia, Europe, the U.S., and Australia. “It was bonkers,” Lennon says. “Coming out of hotels, people would literally trying to rip the clothes off you. I had spent my last year of school in the middle of nowhere in North Wales. To go from that to doing a world tour and having screaming girls after you was crazy.”
Because of his popularity, the record company urged Lennon to make a follow-up album immediately, which he did, releasing The Secret Value of Daydreaming in March 1986. Though Lennon felt he did not have enough time to write or record the album, Daydreaming (also produced by Phil Ramone) went on to gold certification and spawned the hit “Stick Around,” which earned him his first No. 1 on the Billboard Rock chart. (Eighties stars Michael J. Fox and Jami Gertz appear in the song’s video.) After taking a much-needed break, Lennon released the vocally experimental Mr. Jordan in 1989, which featured the rock radio hit Now You’re In Heaven, followed by 1991’s Help Yourself, whose highlights include Saltwater, a plea for environmental responsibility, and Other Side of Town, featuring Blue Nile singer Paul Buchanan.
Lennon decided to take a hiatus following the release of Help Yourself to focus on other creative pursuits, including his interest in acting. In 1993, he was featured as the voice of David Copperfield in an animated NBC special of the Dickens classic. In 1995, film director Mike Figgis asked Lennon to make a cameo in his new film Leaving Las Vegas. “I was told to dress like an ’80s English rock and roll bartender,” Lennon says, “So I rode my Harley to the set wearing clothes I would normally wear and Mike said, ‘That’s great!’” (Nicolas Cage, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his role, orders a beer from Lennon’s bartender character before getting head-butted by another patron and thrown out by Lennon.)
In 1996, Lennon contributed the original composition “Cole’s Song” to the soundtrack to the film Mr. Holland’s Opus, which starred Richard Dreyfuss and featured a score by the late renowned composer Michael Kamen. “I’d met Michael a few times and thought he was an incredible writer and orchestrator,” Lennon says. “I got word that he thought of me for writing this song, not only because of the subject matter, but because two of Dad’s songs were also in the film,” Lennon says. “He thought it would be a nice touch for me to come up with something that would work at the end of the film.” Also that year, Lennon made a cameo in the independent comedy film Cannes Man, directed by Richard Martini and starring Seymour Cassel and Francesco Quinn.
Lennon returned to the music business in 1998 with Photograph Smile.
In 2002, he recorded a version of "When I'm Sixty-Four", from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, for an Allstate Insurance commercial.
In 2009, Lennon released a tribute song and EP, "Lucy", honouring the memory of Lucy Vodden (née O'Donnell), the little girl who inspired the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".
Lennon released his sixth solo album, the self-produced Everything Changes, in the UK on September 26th, 2011, through British independent label Conehead Management Ltd.
The seventh studio album by Lennon, Jude, was released on 9 September 2022. The album's title is a reference to the Beatles 1968 song "Hey Jude", written by Paul McCartney (and credited to Lennon–McCartney) for the then five-year-old Julian.
Lookin' 4 Luv
Julian Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when I’m trying to see your soul
I want a love that grows in every way
But my heart can’t find resolve
I just want peace of mind
with a love I can depend
with a lover and a friend
with the purest heart and mind
It’s the hardest thing to find
I’m looking for love
but I’m searching in all the wrong places
Oh God from above
can’t you help me see through all these faces?
I want to feel that feeling deep inside
when my heart begins to burst
I want to find a love that’s not a lie
So I know that I’m not cursed
I just want peace of mind
with a love I can depend
with a lover and a friend
I need to find someone
with the purest heart and mind
It’s the hardest thing to find
I’m looking for love
but I’m searching in all the wrong places
Oh God from above
Can’t you help me see through all these faces?
I’m looking for love
I’m looking for love
I'm looking for love
The underlying theme of Julian Lennon's "Looking 4 Luv" is the search for genuine love, which can appear elusive and difficult to locate. The singer longs for an authentic connection that goes beyond simple physical attraction and instead is founded on a deep emotional and spiritual connection. The song is constructed around questions, with the singer asking why those whom he encounters seem to look away and shroud their genuine selves in mystery. The song is constructed with a wistful and plaintive tone, which echoes the emotional refrain of the song.
The lyricist is on the lookout for someone that he can trust wholeheartedly, someone who not only understands the complexities of love but also embodies it in all its forms. He wants to find peace of mind, and he seeks a love that he can depend on. He longs for a union that is both intimate and platonic, a friend and a lover all rolled up into one. Despite his existential quest, he is unsure where to begin, and it often leads him to the wrong people who do not have the same sincerity or the depths of feelings.
Julian Lennon's lyrics are confessional and candid, and they expose the artist's own search for love and intimacy. Looking for love is no easy task, and the questions that the singer poses are poignant and powerful. It's an excellent song that captures the struggles of many people when it comes to love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do you always look the other way
I am trying to see your soul, but you avoid eye contact.
when I’m trying to see your soul
I am seeking a deeper connection with you, beyond just physical appearance.
I want a love that grows in every way
I desire a love that is constantly evolving and improving in all aspects.
But my heart can’t find resolve
Unfortunately, my heart is unable to find a solution to this problem.
I just want peace of mind
All I really desire is to feel calm and content within myself.
with a love I can depend
I need a love that I can count on and rely upon.
with a lover and a friend
I am looking for a partner who can fulfill both romantic and platonic roles in my life.
I need to find someone
It is essential that I find a compatible and loving partner.
with the purest heart and mind
I am seeking someone who is genuine, sincere, and kind-hearted.
It’s the hardest thing to find
Sadly, finding someone who embodies all these qualities is incredibly challenging.
I’m looking for love
My ultimate goal is to find a deep and meaningful romantic connection with someone.
but I’m searching in all the wrong places
Unfortunately, my search for love has been unsuccessful so far due to my tendency to look in the wrong places.
Oh God from above
I am calling out to a higher power for guidance and help in finding love.
can’t you help me see through all these faces?
I am asking for divine assistance in seeing past people's outward appearances and into their true nature.
I want to feel that feeling deep inside
I crave the intense emotion that comes from being in love.
when my heart begins to burst
I long for the overwhelming feeling of love that makes my heart feel as though it is going to burst with joy.
I want to find a love that’s not a lie
I am searching for an authentic and genuine love that is not based on lies or deception.
So I know that I’m not cursed
By finding true love, I hope to dispel any fears or beliefs that I may be cursed when it comes to relationships.
I’m looking for love
Once again, my primary objective is to find love.
Contributed by Wyatt Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dianix
Such a beautiful song!!. Wishing you the best, Julian. God bless you. Thanks for your magical music, i love it.
carolineofborneo
love your voice 💖
Lourdes Martínez
No entiendo el idioma y sin embargo me mueves los sentimientos con tu voz y tu música 💞 eres un verdadero artista cobijado de exelente música
Cathi Hixson Mingus
Julian never ceases to amaze me....have been a fan since 84!!! His music keeps getting better and better
Joelle Brodeur
Cathi Hixson Pominski I have also been a fan since '84 (I was 8 yrs old at the time). He just gets better with every record. I love him❤
Silvia Garcia Armengol
Beautiful voice!!!
fernando sosa
Wonderful!!!!. Este CD contiene muchos sonidos del gran disco de Photograph Smile, ambos discos son maravillosos!!!.
MultiBeatle4ever
Julian this is an awesome song! You have your father's determination and feeling for everything. You are so gifted!
Teresa Hatfield
What a great song. So beautiful and Julian's voice is so wonderful!!
Lizeth
This is one of my favorites Julian´s song. You have a great talent and beautiful voice Julian. Lamentablemente la música actual está direccionada a otros lados y bueno cada uno con su estilo musical. We are happy to know your music, value it and enjoy it, there those who do not. A huge hug from Perú <3